Lakshadweep was always on my travel wish list and on a recent trip, I had the chance to visit Kadmat, one of the 36 islands in the archipelago.

A destination that has intrigued me for its remote nature has been Lakshadweep and when I had an invite to sail on the ‘The Empress’, the cruise liner from Cordelia Cruises, I said yes, only for a visit to Kadmat Island. I also stopped at Kochi.

Interestingly the tear drop shaped Kadmat Island is tiny with an area of 25 square kilometers and is one of the islands that allows foreigners. Like with the rest of the union territory, an Inner line permit is mandatory to enter the island. Kadmat island is one of the three islands that is open for foreign tourists, Agatti and Bangaram being the others.

The crystal clear turquoise hued waters of Kadmat set on white sandy beaches and framed by green coconut trees is a tropical paradise that is both picturesque and perfect.

If you love water sports, this is where you must head to as kayaking, snorkeling, canoeing, banana boat rides and scuba diving are all offered at the resort here. For the non adventurous sorts, a ride on the glass bottom boat is a great idea.

Here is a video I shot from the boat – do not miss the shoals of fish swimming amidst the vibrant corals – that can be clearly seen on the boat ride.

Read the full story that first appeared in Seema Magazine here: