Minicoy Island, Minicoy

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Minicoy Island is the southern-most island of Lakshadweep, India, situated at a distance of 398 km (215 nautical miles) south-west of Kochi. Edit

Detail InformationEdit

Minicoy Island, Minicoy, is the southernmost island in Lakshadweep. It is about 10.6 kms. long, the second largest island, the first being Andrott. Crescent shaped, it has one of the largest lagoons. Viringili is the small islet seen to the south of Minicoy. The Island is set apart from the northern group of Islands by its culture. Minicoy means “Majestic” in the regional dialect. The island is also interesting because of its unique Maldivian character.

Minicoy Island, Minicoy

HistoryEdit

Maliku or Minicoy is an atoll in the Lakshadweep islands since 1956. Lakshadweep was earlier known as Laccadives (Laccadives archipelago). Laccadives would mean “one lakh islands”. Lakshadweep consists of only 36 islands; it never comes near to the figure of one lakh . The number is only figurative and denotes “numerous”. Laccadives was renamed as Lakshadweep in 1973.

Must SeeEdit

Must See

Visiting TimeEdit

N.A.

Closed OnEdit

N.A.

Best Season to VisitEdit

October and April.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning, Afternoon, Evening.

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

3 to 4 hours.

Ticket Required : No Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : N.A.

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : Taxies are available till kochi. After you reach Kochi, you can avail ships to reach Minicoy.

Bus : Fort Kochi Bus Terminus, located near Fort Kochi beach, is a major bus station for both private and KSRTC City services. After you reach Kochi, you can avail ships to reach Minicoy.

Train : The nearest railway station that you can avail for your travel to Lakshadweep is located in Kochi. Located on the Indian mainland, Kochi has 2 important railway stations that connect it to the entire country – Ernakulum Junction or South Railway Station and Ernakulum Town or North Railway Station. After you reach Kochi, you can avail ships to reach Minicoy.

Air : Cochin International Airport links Lakshadweep with the mainland. Onward flights from Cochin are available to most of the airports in India and to selected foreign destinations.

Others : Ship : Four passenger ships- MV Tippu Sultan, MV Bharat Seema, MV Amindivi and MV Minicoy operate between Cochin and Lakshadweep. The passage takes between 14 to 20 hours. The ships offer different classes of accommodation. The ships have cafeteria and snack bars, entertainment lounge, video shows and upper-deck promenade etc.

Things to CarryEdit

Carry Camera.

Safety / WarningEdit

Under the Laccadive, Minicoy and Aminidivi Islands (Laws) Regulations, 1967 of the Government of India, the following people may enter Minicoy (Maliku):

Persons who had taken up permanent residence in Minicoy at any time before 1967 and members of the families of such persons.
Member of the Armed Forces of India entering Minicoy on duty.
Persons serving in connection with the administration of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep proceeding to Minicoy on official duty and members of their families.
Officials and non-officials sponsored by any of the Ministries or Departments of the Government of India or the Administrator of Lakshadweep.
Indian Tourists permitted by the Administrator of Lakshadweep.
Non-Indian nationals permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India for visits for such periods as may be specified by the Ministry, or the Administrator of Lakshadweep.
Employees of the Indian federal and state governments, Indian public sector undertakings and bona fide domestic servants and cooks permitted by the Administrator of Lakshadweep.
Maldive nationals permitted by the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives to visit specifically Minicoy for the period not exceeding fifteen days. Such persons may not disembark on any other Lakshadweep island unless permitted as per point 6 above.
The High Commissioner of India in Malé shall intimate the names of the persons whose visits are permitted and the period of their stay to the Administrator of Lakshadweep sufficiently in advance. The Administrator may, on valid grounds, extend the period of stay of Maldive nationals