Amindivi Islands, Lakshadweep - Timings, Water Sports, Activities, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 300 km from Kochi, the Amindivi Islands are one of the three island subgroups in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. It is one of the most inhabited islands in the archipelago and among the must-include places in Lakshadweep tour packages.

Amindivi Islands form the northern part of Lakshadweep and consist of several small islands, namely - Chetlat, Kadmat, Bitra, Amini, and Kiltan. The name Amindivi is derived from the Arabic word 'Amin' which means faithful. According to another belief, the name came from the word 'Amini', which roughly translates to a heavenly place. So, a visit to this spot is highly recommended for travelers coming to Lakshadweep.

The islands were inhabited from ancient times by people of nearby Kerala, and people of Arab descent. In the mid-16th century, all the inhabited islands of Lakshadweep were conferred as jagir under the Arakkal Kingdom by the Kolattiri Raja to grant protection from the Portuguese. In the late 18th century, the islands of the Amindivi group revolted owing to the rigors of the enforcement of the monopoly of the coir rope trade, and put themselves under the rule of the Kingdom of Mysore in 1784, then ruled by Tippu Sultan. However, the southern group of the islands remained loyal to the Arakkal Kingdom. In 1792, as a consequence of the Third Anglo-Mysore War and the defeat of Tippu Sultan, the Amindivi Islands came under the British following the treaty of Srirangapatna. The Amindivi subgroup was then attached to the Kasaragod taluk of South Canara in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj in 1799, hence they were also called the South Canara Islands.

Spread across an area of around 9.26 km, the island is blessed with spectacular beaches, picturesque views, sparkling azure water, and magnetic views of sunrise and sunset. Coral reefs, lagoons, and coconut trees add more beauty to the island. Also, the island is known for its coir products made from coconut fiber across the country. Besides, visitors can indulge in water activities like swimming, scuba diving, etc. Aminidivi has the highest recorded rainfall in India in 24 hours, at 1,168 mm on 6th May 2004.

Agatti Airport is the only civilian airport in Lakshadweep which can be reached from Kochi. From Agatti, one can further take a ship or boat to reach the Aminidivi Islands. Due to government regulations, foreign tourists are not allowed to visit this island.

There aren't many hotels on Aminidivi Island you can choose from. The only place to stay here is Kadmat Island Beach Resort. Adorned with 28 sea-facing spacious AC and non-AC rooms and a beachfront restaurant, the resort has a private beach and one can enjoy stunning views of sunrise and sunset, leisure beach strolls, or indulge in exciting water sports.