The Lakshadweep Islands are estimated to be over 12,000 years old, making them the oldest in the Lakshadweep-Maldives-Chagos group of islands. Its reefs are home to some of the oldest corals in the world, with some individuals over a thousand years old. Part of the historically important trade route between India and the Middle East, the islands boast of a rich maritime heritage and have produced skilled fishermen and navigators for generations.
The ‘here and now’ of climate-change induced migration
Climate-vulnerable Lakshadweep islanders perceive environmental changes through local experiences rather than global climate change narratives.
Giant Clams from Lakshadweep remember the past
Dr. AA Fousiya, one of Lakshadweep’s first woman doctorates, studies past ocean temperatures through giant clam analysis.
Islands of environmental innovation
When you are living on tiny coral islands hundreds of kilometres from the mainland, necessity truly becomes the mother of invention.
Paradise has a waitlist
Be it through praying for permits, clear weather or tickets, Lakshadweep makes you earn your visit. Maybe that's why it remains paradise.
Islands between silence and sound
With each unnecessary honk, Lakshadweep’s quiet magic is being replaced by a relentless, chaotic cacophony.
Democracy at sea
Politics in Lakshadweep has evolved from a quiet affair to a full-blown performance, complete with its own unique flair.
The changing rhythms of Lakshadweep weather
For now, life in Lakshadweep still follows the basic pattern of sun and rain. But something about this ancient rhythm no longer seems quite right.
The Lakshadweep of Tim Severin’s time
A remarkable British explorer's 1982 visit documented the last days of a unique island society that had remained unchanged for centuries.
Islands of steam and stillness
In Lakshadweep, tea is not just a drink. It is a way of being, of life itself distilled into a moment of warmth and connection.
What’s in a Name? The Lakshadweep origin story
The story behind the renaming of Lakshadweep and its islands holds layers of historical, linguistic, and cultural significance.
Photo Essays
Summertime Sadness
Scientists predict that irrespective of what we do now to mitigate climate change, reefs will decline by 90% by 2050. And even this is an optimistic outlook.
Paper Lighthouses
Preserving and promoting the role of libraries in Lakshadweep is not just about safeguarding books, it is also about protecting the soul of these islands.
Essential Readings
