The Kavaratti is the capital of the Union Territory Lakshadweep in India. The Island of Kavaratti lies 360Km of the coast of the State of Kerala is the closest major city on the Indian mainland at a distance of 404 km (218 nmi). It has a lagoon area of 3.46 sq mi. Karavatti has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city. The Kavaratti Island is the headquarters of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The Island is 2 to 5 m above the mean sea level on the western side and 2 to 3 m on the eastern side. It is located in the center of the Lakshadweep archipelago. Strangely Kavaratti has a small inland lake at its Northern end. The Island itself is stretched over slightly more than four sq km and has the maximum percentage of non – islanders as residents. As is the case with other islands of Lakshadweep, Kavaratti has warm sandy beaches where tourists can unwind themselves. Though the beaches are narrow, the lagoons around Kavratti are fabulous with starfish, anemones, sea cucumbers, countless multi-hued fishes astounding corals. They are located to the west of the Island. The lagoon is best suited for swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, and canoeing. To the South of the Island lies Chicken Neck Point, a fantastic place for water sports, including scuba diving and snorkeling. A glass-bottom boat ride offers tourists an opportunity to view the rich marine life and an array of extraordinary corals. Kavaratti has the maximum number of mosques in Lakshadweep. Out of the 52 mosques, Jamnath, Mohidden, and Ujra are prominent ones. Jamnath mosque is a massive structure having the largest tank of any mosque in the islands. Mohidden Mosque is an ancient mosque that lies to the North- West of Kavaratti. One of the oldest and most striking is the Ujra mosque built by Sheikh Mohammad Kasim. The 17th-century structure has an ornate ceiling, said to have been carved out of a single of driftwood. Its pillars are also intricately carved. Women are not permitted to visit its main prayer hall. Sheikh Mohammad Kasim’s grave is located in the mosque which the islanders revere. There is a well in the precincts of the mosque that contains water having curative powers. A few blocks away from the Ujra Mosque lies an aquarium which is also a museum. The aquarium has a variety of multi-colored species of fish. Yet the main attraction is a small shark that is placed in a large glass compartment and shares space with sea cucumbers, octopuses, schools of fishes, and few anemones. The museum displays different types of shells, extraordinary and numerous fishes preserved in glass jars. Just next to the museum is the Dolphin Dive center that offers diverse PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) programs for amateur and professional divers. The trained and expert divers give instructions on diving and other water sports at PADI which is one of the world’s largest leisure diving organizations. Accommodation in Kavaratti is available close to the jetty. There are a few tourist huts with an attached bathroom and balcony. Tourists can savor the buffet that generally serves Malabar cuisine, including spicy tuna fish, chicken, and sweet potatoes. Kavaratti is covered in two packages offered by the Lakshadweep Tourism department, namely Coral Reef and Taratashi packages.
