Agatti Island

Agatti Atoll
Native name: അഗത്തി
Agatti Atoll
Location of Agatti Atoll in Lakshadweep
Geography
Location Arabian Sea
Coordinates 10°30′N 73°00′E / 10.50°N 73°E / 10.50; 73Coordinates: 10°30′N 73°00′E / 10.50°N 73°E / 10.50; 73
Archipelago Lakshadweep
Adjacent bodies of water Indian Ocean
Total islands 2
Major islands
Area 3.226 km2 (1.246 sq mi)[1]
Length 7.6 km (4.72 mi)
Width 0.85 km (0.528 mi)
Coastline 17 km (10.6 mi)
Highest elevation 2 m (7 ft)
Administration
Territory Union territory of Lakshadweep
District Lakshadweep
Island group Laccadive Islands
Tehsils of India Kavaratti
Subdivisions of India Agatti Island
Largest settlement Agatti (pop. 7500)
Demographics
Population 7700 (2014)
Pop. density 2,386 /km2 (6,180 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups Malayali, Mahls
Additional information
Time zone
PIN 68255x
Telephone code 0489x
ISO code IN-LD-06[2]
Official website www.lakshadweep.gov.in
Literacy 84.4%
Avg. summer temperature 32.0 °C (89.6 °F)
Avg. winter temperature 28.0 °C (82.4 °F)
Sex ratio 1.059♂/♀

Agatti Island (Malayalam: അഗത്തി), is a 7.6 km long island, situated on a coral atoll called Agatti atoll in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India. It has a distance of 2,034 km (1,264 mi) south of the city of Delhi.

Geography

Agatti is located about 459 km (285 mi) off Kochi in the mainland and 7 km to the southwest of Bangaram, the nearest island. Agatti is 531 km away from Kollam(Quilon) and 529 km away from Kollam Port.[3] Kavaratti, the closest inhabited island, lies 54 km to the SE and Suheli Par atoll 76 km to the south. Agatti Atoll's total land area is 3.226 km2 (1.246 sq mi) (of it, The main island 3.141 km2 (1.213 sq mi) and the small Kalpatti Island has 0.085 km2 (0.033 sq mi). Kalpatti is located at the southern end on the same reef.[4] The lagoon area is 24.84 km2 (9.59 sq mi).

Population

Its population as per the 2011 census was 7,560 and Islam is the main religion of the islanders.[5] Islamic religion is said to have been brought by Arab traveller Ibn Batuta. Most people speak Malayalam and English. Agatti has its own 100 kW power house which uses fuel to generate electricity. There is a Sea Water Desalination unit which provides desalinated water to the islanders.

Transportation

By sea

Lakshwadeep is connected to Cochin by sea route. Seven passenger ships operate between the two ports and it takes 14–20 hours for the passage. These ships have modern facilities that includes entertainment area, video shows, cafeteria and offer comfortable A/C accommodation.[6]

By air

The 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) Agatti Aerodrome (IATA: AGX, ICAO: VOAT) is the only airport in Lakshadweep. Air India Regional operates daily ATR 42 flights from Kochi except Sunday.[7] Flight time from Kochi is 90 minutes. Further Kochi is connected to many domestic and international destinations.[8]

Tourism

Agatti is one of the Lakshadweep islands open to tourism. Visitors, however, are allowed to the Island under certain restrictions. They are required to obtain Entry Permit from the Lakshadweep Administration for entering or visiting the island. Entry Permit is issued based on the visitor having a confirmed place to stay. There are only two hotels or resorts in Agatti: Agatti Island Beach Resort (AIBER)[9] and the other is Sea Shells Beach Resort.[10][11] A road runs through the island, which can be best enjoyed by hiring a bicycle available at many places.

Administration

The island belongs to the township of Agatti Island of Kavaratti Tehsil.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census" (PDF). Government of Lakshadweep. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-07-22.
  2. ↑ Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code
  3. ↑ Kollam to Agatti
  4. ↑ "Oceandots - Agatti". Archived from the original on 2010-12-23. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  5. ↑ Web123India
  6. ↑ "How to reach Lakshwadeep". Official Website of Union Territory of Lakshwadeep. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Alliance Air". Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "How to reach Lakshwadeep". Official Website of Union Territory of Lakshwadeep. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Resort
  10. ↑ Resort
  11. ↑ Resort Archived October 6, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ Tehsils info
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