This Magnificent 36-island Indian Archipelago Is Only Open to Permitted Visitors, Here’s What We Saw on Our Visit

By helitra·November 10, 2026·2 min read

The Archipelago of Lakshadweep lies about 200 miles off the coast of mainland India. Of its 36 islands, only 10 are inhabited, and most of their roughly 64,000 residents are Indigenous people who make their living by fishing and cultivating coconuts. Each year only three or four islands are open to visitors, and special authorization from Lakshadweep’s administration is required. Francesco Lastrucci, a frequent traveler to India, was drawn to the territory’s solitude and beauty. “Since access is limited, it’s not a typical destination,” he says. On a trip during Ramadan a few years ago, Lastrucci traveled to the islands of Agatti, Bangaram, and Kavaratti, the territorial capital. Every evening, he was invited to break the fast on the beach with the women who lead the matrilineal society. “Most of the people on the islands are Muslim,” he says, “so it was a very special time to go, but also a calm and quiet one.” —Erianne Lewis