Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep
Union Territory District
Clock wise from top: Agatti Island, Viringili, Kavaratti Island, Bangaram Island
Coordinates: 10°34′N 72°38′E / 10.57°N 72.64°E / 10.57; 72.64
Country	India
Formation	1 November 1956
Capital	Kavaratti
Government
• Administrator	Praful Khoda Patel
• MP	Mohammed Faizal P. P. (NCP)
Area
• Total	32.62 km2 (12.59 sq mi)
• Rank	36th
Population  (2021 Census)
• Total	70,365
• Density	2,200/km2 (5,600/sq mi)
Languages[1]
• Official Languages	Malayalam, English
• Spoken	Jeseri, Dhivehi
Ethnicity
• Ethnic groups	≈83% Malayali ≈17% Mahls
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 code	IN-LD
Vehicle registration	LD
No. of districts	1
Largest city	Andrott
HDI	0.796
HDI Year	2005
HDI Category	high
Literacy	91.85%
Website	lakshadweep.gov.in

Lakshdweep, formerly known as the Laccadive, Minicoy and Aminidivi Islands are a group of islands in the Arabian Sea. They belong to India. Their capital is Kavaratti. It covers an area of 11 square miles (28 km²). Eleven of the 36 coral atoll islands of Lakshadweep are inhabited. Lakshadweep is known for its exotic and sun-kissed beaches and lush green landscape. The name Lakshadweep in Malayalam and Sanskrit means 'a hundred thousand islands'.

The islands are the only coral atolls in India. The people living there are Malayalam and Mahl people, who have been influenced by Arab traders. Lakshadweep is a Muslim region just like the neighbouring Maldives, where tourism is strictly regulated. Lakshadweep has the largest percentage of Muslims - 98%, even larger percentage than Jammu and Kashmir and is the only Muslim-majority Indian administrative division entirely within India.

Apart from the emerging tourism, government jobs, fishing and coconut production are the mainstays of the Lakshadweep economy.

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  Provincial bird of Laksahdweep
• 
  Provincial animal of Laksahdweep
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  Provincial tree of Laksahdweep

Media related to Lakshadweep at Wikimedia Commons

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