Smallest Union Territory of India

India is one of the largest countries in the world and occupies 7th position in terms of Area. To explain it more precisely, it is divided into several states and Union territories. Lakshadweep is the smallest union territory of India in terms of area. The name means one Lakh Islands, and though the Islands are a part of the Archipelago of no more than a hundred. In the 16th century, the Portuguese dominated the seas between the Malabar Coast and Ormus. In 1498, the Portuguese took control of the Laquedivas archipelago. In the 16th century, the Lakshadweep was placed under the authority of the Cannanore Kingdom. Though the place has witnessed many ups and downs, still it is has coped up with the other states and Union territories.

Why is the Place named Lakshadweep? 

People often wonder which union territory is the smallest in area. Well, Lakshadweep is the smallest union territory in India. The name Lakshadweep translates to "one lakh islands" in Malayalam. The archipelagos of Laccadive and Kurukshetra are just one part of the larger Lakshadweep group of islands. The region consists of a large area of land and territorial waters. It is divided into ten subdivisions and has an exclusive economic zone.

(Image will be Uploaded soon)

How to Visit Lakshadweep? 

To name the smallest union territory of India is a common question asked in the various exams. The answer to this question is Lakshadweep. The place is nearer to Kerala and very well connected with other major cities of India through the air. You can easily find flights from Kerala and Bangalore to Lakshadweep. Six major ships from Kochi make the connectivity smooth. The islands inside Lakshadweep connected through Pawan Hans helicopter service and boats. The adventure journey in the boat makes your trip memorable. A special train, Mangala Lakshadweep Express, also runs from Delhi to Kochi to make tourists visit Lakshadweep from any corner of the world. However, tourists need permits to explore the islands. Due to security issues, foreign tourists are not allowed to some certain islands.

Lakshadweep consists of a group of 36 islands scattered over the Arabian sea and located in the Southwestern part of India. It is the smallest Union Territory of India in terms of Area. It has a total surface area of 32 square kilometres and consists of only one district and subdivision having a 64437 population as per the 2011 Indian census. The islands are located in the northernmost portion of the Lakshadweep group of islands. Due to the erosion of the Parali 1 island, 35 islands are left standing.

History of Lakshadweep

You must be curious to know about which is the smallest union territory. The answer is Lakshadweep. It is the smallest from the list of smallest union territories. However, it is a minor place but endowed with a rich history.

Although the islands do not have aboriginal inhabitants, their history has been disputed. Scholars believe that the settlement of these islands dates back to 1500 BCE. The islands were also mentioned in ancient Buddhist stories. During the 7th century, Islam was established in the region. The region was then ruled by a Muslim house known as Arakkal, the Kolathiri Rajas' vassalsajas.

Most of the islanders are Muslim and are members of the Shafi school of Sunni Islam. The population of the Union Territory is about 64,473. Most of the residents of Minicoy Island speak Malayalam, and the Dhivehi dialect is the most used language. The other dialects are used in the inhabited islands of Laccadive and Amindivi. The dialect is based on the Ponnani script. The main occupation of the people was fishing and coconut cultivation, and they were granted protection from the Portuguese by the Kolattiri Raja. The kingdom also had jurisdiction over some of the islands.

The Amini group of islands, which includes Chetlath, Amini, Kadmat, and Kiltan, came under Sultan Abdul Wadud in 1787. They were later handed over to the British. The other islands, which were under the suzerainty of the Arakkal family, were administered by the British.

On November 1, 1956, the Lakshadweep Islands were separated from the Malabar District and became a union territory. The new region was named after the various islands and their respective administrators. The headquarters of the new territory was established at Kozhikode in 1964.

The Indian Navy has set up a base on an island to safeguard its vital shipping lanes in the Middle East. INS Dweeprakshak was commissioned on May 18.

Lakshadweep consists of twelve atolls, three reefs, and five submerged banks. The islands and islets are mostly submerged, with only a few unvegetated sand cays. The main islands are Agatti, Minicoy, and Amini.

Demography of Lakshadweep

The Amini and Laccadive subgroups of islands are located in the Arabian Sea and have a submarine connection through the Pitti Bank. These groups also form the Coral Islands of India archipelago. By the 2011 census, Lakshadweep has a population of 64470 3, roughly equal to that of the Marshall Islands. This makes Lakshadweep is the sixth 27th among the 640 districts of India. Around 50,000 is the urban population file 14000 as the rural population, which makes it roughly 22% of the total population. Lakshya Dweep has a population density of around 2011 Leviton per square kilometre. Population growth has been on the increasing curve, about 6.23 % from 2001 to 2011. Lakshadweep has an excellent sex ratio of around 946 females for every 1000 days, and also it has a very high literacy rate of 92%. It falls behind in the fertility rate, which is 1.4, which is way below the national average.

Most of the people of Lakshadweep are the resultant of the migration from the Malabar coast of South West India, and the islands are typically the descendants of those migrants who have a striking resemblance to the Malayali people of Kerala. More than 90% of the residents are Muslims, and the majority belong to the Sophia school of the Sunni sect.

Common Languages used in Lakshadweep

The most commonly used language in Lakshadweep is Malayalam Kesari and Mahi. These are the principal languages and the people of the northern Island. Most of them speak a dialect, a direct influence of the Arabic language giving rise to a new Malayali language known as the Arabi Malayalam. The people of the Minicoy are the southernmost part of Lakshadweep speak Mahi, which is a variant of the language spoken in the Maldives. Jesus, which is most popularly known as the deep bhasa, is a dialect of Malayalam. 

Economy of Lakshadweep

It is quite interesting to know the economy of Lakshadweep, which is the smallest union territory of India. The economy of Lakshadweep is quite fascinating as the domestic territorial product is estimated at 324 crores in the year 2004 in regards to the current prices. There is very low economic inequality in these islands, and as a result, the poverty index is also low. The main source of income of the domestic product is coconut fibre extraction, and the production of these fibre products contributes to the economy. There are about 75 units run by the government of India, which are curled fibre, coir yam, coir fibre, and corridor mattings.

Development of Tourism In Lakshadweep

Everyone must have heard about the name of Lakshadweep. Name the smallest union territory of India, and this is a common question we often face in the exam. But you will get surprised to know about the magnificent view and pace of development. The splendid view of blue sea beaches and geographical location can surprise anyone.

Due to the isolation and the scenic beauty, which is full of natural surroundings, Lakshadweep is India's very well-known tourist destination. This brings a significant amount of revenue which increases year to year as this region cannot support large-scale industries; promoting tourism is one of the most actively Government affiliated programs and is one of the essential sources of income. The Marine Fauna and Flora in plentiful water sports such as scuba diving, windsurfing, sky king water skiing, sports fishing, snorkeling, etc., are highly persuasive in these islands.