The atoll of Kavaratti lies 360 km (220 mi) off theMalabar coast ofmainland India.[1][3] The island is 5.6 km (3.5 mi) long, and 1.6 km (0.99 mi) wide, and occupies an area of 4.22 km2 (1.63 sq mi). It is surrounded by a 6 km (3.7 mi) longlagoon with an area of 4.96 km2 (1.92 sq mi).[1][4] It is located to the east ofAgatti and to the west ofAndrott islands. The island gently slopes from the west to east, with an average altitude of 2 to 5 m (6 ft 7 in to 16 ft 5 in) on the west and 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) on the eastern side.[1] The soil is mostly sandy orloamy.[4] Kavaratti has an inland lake in the northern part of the island and numerous small ponds and wells. The island is surrounded bycoral reefs that support variousmarine life.[1]
Kavaratti has atropical savanna climate (KöppenAw). The summer months of March to May are the hottest of the year. The average temperature ranges between 25 to 35 °C (77 to 95 °F) across the year, with a highhumidity of 70 to 76 percent.[1][5]
Kavaratti receives about 1,600 mm (63 in) of rainfall annually mostly from thesouthwest monsoon from mid of May to September. The sea level often raises during the period, and boats are limited to the lagoon area, which are protected by the reefs surrounding them.[1][5]
As per the2011 Census of India, Kavaratti had a population of 11,210 of which 6,171 were males and 5,039 were females, living in 2,246 households. The literacy was 91.59% with a male literacy rate of 95.37%, and female literacy was 86.93%. In Kavaratti, 10.3% of the population were under six years.[6][7][8]
The most commonly spoken languages wereMalayalam,Mahl,English and the nativeJeseri.[9]Islam was the major religion with 92% adherents, withHinduism being the other significant religion with 7% adherents.[6]
Kavaratti is the headquarters of one of the ten administrative sub-divisions.[15][16]Village panchayat is the local administrative body of the island.[17] The Kavaratti community development block is administered by a collector-cum-development commissioner, who is in charge of revenue and land settlement, and also serves as adistrict magistrate.[12] The administrator acts as theInspector General of Police and has command and control of the Lakshadweep Police, headquartered at Kavaratti, and is responsible for law and order.[15] There is adistrict and sessions court in Kavaratti (established in 1997).[18][19]
Tourism is one of the primary economic drivers on the island. The island has white sand beaches, favored by tourists.[1][20] According to government statistics, there were about 17,759 tourist visits over a nine month period from October 2017 to June 2018, which included 365 foreigners.[21] The government is promoting tourism as a means to increase the income of the local population, with facilities established for variouswater sports.[1][21][22] Tourists require permission to visit the island,[23] andalcoholic beverage consumption is not permitted.[24] In 2024, the government proposed further programmes to improve infrastructure and promote tourism.[25]
The other major industries on the island arefisheries andagriculture.[26] Whilerice and other crops were cultivated earlier in low-lying water logged lands called "thottams", it was discontinued due to ecological limitations. At present, the only major agriculture produce iscoconuts, with variouscoconut fibre (coir) producing units located in Kavaratti.[4]Tuna forms the major part of the fish produce, with an annual production of over 700 tonnes.[4]
The only airport in the Lakshadweep islands is theAgatti Airport on Agatti Island.[27][28] The airport is capable of handling smallturboprop aircraft, which connect to mainland India, with further connectivity byhelicopter or boat from Agatti to Kavaratti.[4][8][29][30] The atoll has a minor port,[31] and various ships operate passenger services betweenKochi and Kavaratti, with boat/ferry services available between the islands.[32][33] There is alighthouses on the island.[34] TheIndian Navy operates theINS Dweeprakshak naval base on the atoll.[35] In 2024, plans were unveiled for a new peripheral ring road at Kavaratti.[36]
In 1964, Kavaratti was the second island afterMinicoy to be electrified, and is powered by an independent power house located on the atoll.[37]Diesel generators andsolar photovoltaic systems generate the required electricity.[37] In January 2024, asolar power plant was commissioned to augment the power generation capacity.[38]
The world's first ever experimentallow-temperature thermal desalination plant opened in Kavaratti in 2005, with a projected daily production capacity of 100,000 litres of potable water from seawater. The plant utilises the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and much colder seawater at about 500 m (1,600 ft) depth to generate potable water as well as energy.[39][40] The technology was developed at theNational Institute of Ocean Technology and the government has announced plans to build three more such plants.[41]
Mobile communication service is provided by state-ownedBSNL andAirtel in Kavratti.[42][43] In 2020, the government announced a project to install under-seafiber optic cable for high-speed mobile and internet connectivity between Kochi and 11 islands of Lakshadweep including Kavaratti, which was inaugurated in January 2024.[44][45]India Post providesmail service, and government operated hospital provide healthcare services.[46] The first bank branch was established bySyndicate Bank in 1971, and theState Bank of India opened a branch in Kavaratti in 2005. These branches serve as central banking facilities for banking services across the Lakshadweep islands.[4]
Government operated schools provide school education in Kavartti.[47][48] There are two government colleges, including a teacher training institute, affiliated toPondicherry University and a university center affiliated toCalicut University in Kavaratti.[47][49][50]
^Khee Giap Tan; Linda Low; Kong Yam Tan; Vittal Kartik Rao (2013).Annual Analysis Of Competitiveness, Simulation Studies And Development Perspective For 35 States And Federal Territories Of India: 2000-2010. World Scientific Publishing Company. p. 546.
^T.N. Prakash; L. Sheela Nair; T.S. Shahul Hameed (2014).Geomorphology and Physical Oceanography of the Lakshadweep Coral Islands in the Indian Ocean.Springer International. p. 9.ISBN978-3-319-12367-7.
