How To Go To Lakshadweep From Every City in India

Lakshadweep, a group of 36 islands, is known for its lush greenery and extensive beaches. Kochi to Lakshadweep is the only entry point to the group of islands, making Kochi a primary location for tourists to gather and embark on their journey. The Lakshadweep archipelago with its 36 islands comprises twelve atolls, three reefs, five submerged banks, and ten inhabited islands. While Kavaratti is the major town and the capital of this UT, all islands are approximately 220 km to 440 km away from the coastal town of Kochi.

While venturing into Lakshadweep seems quite easy, that is simply taking some route from Kochi, we wanted to discuss how to reach Kochi first. In this article, we will look at how to go to Lakshadweep from every city in India.

Lakshadweep Tourism – all major pointers to remember before visiting the archipelago

The natural flora and fauna of Lakshadweep are extremely abundant and the sandy beaches provide a beautiful escape from the rush of the mainland. That being said, Lakshadweep provides only BSNL and Airtel telecommunication services, with BSNL providing connections in all ten inhabited islands and Airtel providing services in Kavaratti and Agatti islands only. Moreover, entry to Lakshadweep islands is restricted and visitors require an entry permit issued specifically by the Lakshadweep Administration. That being said, let’s dive into the details of travel and how to get your feet to the sandy beaches of this beautiful abode.

How to go to Lakshadweep – the only gateway to the islands

The only possible gateway to Lakshadweep is through the Coastal town of Kochi. Ships and Flights are available on a daily basis.

• Travel by Air: The journey by air takes approximately one hour and thirty minutes. Flights operate from Kochi to Agatti and Bangaram islands, making it the only form of connectivity available. Indian Airlines operates flights daily and Agatti is the only island with an airstrip. Boats then take the passengers to Kavaratti and Kadmat from October to May. Helicopter transfer from Agatti to Kavaratti during the monsoons is also available but is primarily subject to availability.
• Travel by Water: The journey by water takes up to 14 to 18 hours. Kochi to Lakshadweep can be reached by waterways as well. Seven passenger ships operate from Cochin – MV Kavaratti, MV Arabian Sea, MV Lakshadweep Sea, MV Lagoon, MV Corals, MV Amindivi, and MV Minicoy. Different classes of accommodation include A/C First Class (two-berth cabins), A/C Second Class (four-berth cabins), and Bunk Class with A/C seating. Doctor is available aboard all ships and during the fair season, high-speed boats operate between the various islands.

Major activities under the Samudram Package at the Lakshadweep islands include the following:

1. The Samudram Package – It is a five-day cruise package to visit the islands of Kavaratti, Kalpeni, and Minicoy by the ship MV Kavaratti.
2. Cottages at Bangaram: Surrounded by a shallow lagoon of coral reefs, Bangaram offers a getaway and remains primarily uninhabited.
3. Kavaratti Island Resort and Kadmat Island Resort: The Kavaratti Island Resort package offers activities like swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and other water sports. The Kadmat Island Resort package offers a variety of fun-filled water sports such as snorkeling and kayaking apart from witnessing the rich and diverse marine life at its heart.

How to reach Kochi from the top 10 major cities in India

The table below shows all major routes available from the top 10 major cities of India to the coastal town of Kochi. However, a detailed description of all such routes and the means to make bookings follows the tabled contents.

The top 5 cities and their route availability are as under:

The other five cities and their route availability are as under:

A detailed breakdown of the routes from each of the top 10 major cities to Kochi

1. Delhi to Kochi

Delhi to Kochi is one of the most suitable options to travel.

• With direct flights available daily to the coastal town, the prices range primarily from INR 6,000 to INR 10,000. Flights from Air India, Air India Express, Indigo, Vistara, and Spicejet are available within the mentioned price range. The time to reach Kochi via flight takes approximately three hours and thirty minutes.
• Trains from Delhi to Kochi are also available and the major trains include MNGLA LKSDP Express, Rajdhani Express, Kerala Express, and Swarna Jayanti Express. The MNGLA LKSDP Express runs daily from Delhi to Kochi. It takes approximately fifty hours of train journey passing through the central parts of the country to reach Kochi.
• Major booking sites include IRCTC, Make My Trip, Go Ibibo, Ixigo, Ease My Trip, and Paytm Travel. The prices of flights and trains might vary on different dates and demands, however, remain close to the approximate values.

2. Mumbai to Kochi

Mumbai is one of the most attractive tourist destinations and one of the most heavily and densely populated cities in India.

• Mumbai to Kochi offers direct flights which are available daily, and the prices range from INR 3,000 to INR 5,000. Flights from Air India, Spicejet, Indigo, Vistara, and Akasa Air operate and are available on any given date within the mentioned price range. The time to reach Kochi from Mumbai takes approximately two hours.
• From the major railway stations of Mumbai, trains are available and they include MNGLA LKSDP Express, Netravati Express, and others. It takes approximately twenty-five hours of train journey to reach Kochi from all central stations of Mumbai.
• Major booking sites include IRCTC, Make My Trip, Go Ibibo, Ixigo, Ease My Trip, and Paytm Travel. The prices of flights and trains might vary on different dates and demands, however, remain close to the approximate values.

3. Bangalore to Kochi

Bangalore is one of the nearest cities to Kochi and a majority of tourists to the coasts of Kochi and the beaches of Lakshadweep come from Bangalore.

• Bangalore offers direct flights to Kochi and the prices range from INR 2,000 to INR 3,000. Flights from Air India, Air India Express, Indigo, Vistara, Alliance Air, and Akasa Air operate from Bangalore. The time to reach Kochi from Bangalore via flight takes approximately one hour.
• Bangalore also offers train connectivity to Kochi. From Bangalore City Jn. to Ernakulam Jn. trains like Ernakulam Intercity SF Express and Kochuveli Express are available on all days of the week. It takes approximately eleven hours of train journey to reach Kochi from Bangalore.
• Buses are available from various parts of Bangalore city and takes eight hours to reach Kochi. The price for bus tickets ranges between INR 1,500 and INR 2,000.

4. Kolkata to Kochi

Kolkata situated in the eastern state of West Bengal attracts a lot of tourists to Lakshadweep every year. This makes this city one of the major hotspots and checkpoints in the journey towards the middle of the sea.

• However direct flights are not available from this city and layovers at Bangalore are common. It takes approximately seven to nine hours via flight and the prices range between INR 6,000 to INR 8,000 on a good day.
• Trains from Kolkata to Kochi are available and the major trains include Gurudev SF Express and SCL TVC Express. The journey takes approximately forty hours and the prices range between INR 850 to INR 3,000.
• Major booking sites include IRCTC, Railyatri, Make My Trip, Go Ibibo, Ixigo, Ease My Trip, and Paytm Travel. The prices of flights and trains might vary on different dates and demands, however, remain close to the approximate values.

5. Ahmedabad to Kochi

Ahmedabad in Gujarat offers both flights and trains to Kochi.

• There are direct available flights between the two cities and the prices range between INR 5,800 to INR 6,500. It takes approximately two hours and thirty minutes via flight and the major flights include Indigo, Air India, and Vistara.
• Trains from Ahmedabad include direct trains from Ahmedabad Jn. to Ernakulam Jn. that take thirty hours of journey. Major trains include Thiruvananthapuram Central Express and PBR KCVL Express. The prices range from INR 800 and go up to INR 3,000.
• Major booking sites include IRCTC, Railyatri, Make My Trip, Go Ibibo, Ixigo, Ease My Trip, and Paytm Travel. The prices of flights and trains might vary on different dates and demands, however, remain close to the approximate values.

6. Varanasi to Kochi

Varanasi offers flights and trains to Kochi on a regular basis. It opens the arena for a lot of tourists from the temple town to the beaches of the coastal parts, making Varanasi a major hotspot for foreign tourists to gather and disperse.

• There are no direct flights available from Varanasi to Kochi, and the timings vary based on the layovers. The price range varies between INR 7,000 and INR 9,000. Major flights include Air India Express, Indigo, Spicejet, and Air India.
• Trains from Varanasi to Kochi are limited and include specifically the Patna Ernakulam SF Express available primarily on Tuesdays.
• Major booking sites include IRCTC, Railyatri, Make My Trip, Go Ibibo, Ixigo, Ease My Trip, and Paytm Travel. The prices of flights and trains might vary on different dates and demands, however, remain close to the approximate values.

7. Goa to Kochi

Goa is one of the most suitable tourist destinations to visit and one of the most well-connected regions of India. Goa offers flights, trains, and buses to Kochi which are available on a regular basis.

• Goa offers daily and direct flights to Kochi and the prices range from INR 4,000 to INR 5,000. Major flights include Air India, Air India Express, Vistara, etc. and the time for the journey is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.
• Trains from Goa take approximately thirteen to fifteen hours to reach Kochi and the major trains include the Kochuveli Express, Ernakulam SF Express, and Mangala Lakshadweep Express.
• Volvo buses are also available from Goa to Kochi and take almost seventeen hours of road journey. The prices vary from INR 2,000 to INR 2,500.
• Major booking sites include IRCTC, Railyatri, Make My Trip, Go Ibibo, Ixigo, Ease My Trip, and Paytm Travel. The prices of flights and trains might vary on different dates and demands, however, remain close to the approximate values.

8. Jaipur to Kochi

Jaipur attracts a lot of tourists due to its rich history every year. However, a lot of cross-country travelers also take on various cool and coastal destinations from Jaipur to experience a change in scenery and temperature.

• Direct flights are not available from Jaipur to Kochi and the timings of the flights vary based on the layovers. The prices range from INR 7,000 to INR 10.000 and the major flights include Air India, Indigo, and Air India Express.
• Trains include the Maru Sagar Express and the options are very limited. Prices range between INR 900 and INR 5,000 for trains from Jaipur to Kochi.
• Major booking sites include IRCTC, Railyatri, Make My Trip, Go Ibibo, Ixigo, Ease My Trip, and Paytm Travel. The prices of flights and trains might vary on different dates and demands, however, remain close to the approximate values.

9. Chennai to Kochi

Chennai is one of the nearest tourist attractions to reach Kochi. Being the heart of Tamil Nadu, it attracts a lot of tourists and has become one of the most accessible places to travel to other parts of the country.

• Chennai offers direct flights to reach Kochi. The price of these flights ranges between INR 3,000 to 4,000 and the major flights include Indigo, Air India, and Air India Express. To reach Kochi from Chennai, it approximately takes an hour and fifteen minutes.
• Trains include Thiruvananthapuram Central SF Express, Ernakulam SF Express, Alleppey Express, and Guruvayur Express, with their prices ranging between INR 400 and INR 2500. To reach Kochi from Chennai by train takes around 11 hours.
• Buses are available from Chennai to Kochi and the duration of the journey is twelve hours. The prices for the bus journey range between INR 2,000 to INR 3,000.

10. Hyderabad to Kochi

Hyderabad remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, with great connectivity and transport available to the town of Kochi as well.

• Direct flights from Hyderabad are available and the duration of the flight is approximately one hour and forty minutes. The price range varies between INR  4,000 to INR 5,000. Major flights include Indigo, Air India, and Air India Express.
• Trains include the Sabari Express and the TPTY KCG Suvidha Express. The duration of the train journey is approximately twenty-five hours.
• Buses are also available from Hyderabad to Ernakulam. Prices range from INR 2,000 to INR 3,000 and take approximately 20 hours.
• Major booking sites include IRCTC, Railyatri, Make My Trip, Go Ibibo, Ixigo, Ease My Trip, and Paytm Travel. The prices of flights and trains might vary on different dates and demands, however, remain close to the approximate values.

Conclusion

Lakshadweep has been under a lot of limelight following the recent crisis with Maldives. But, that should not be the guiding and driving factor for tourists to visit this beautiful abode of beaches, reefs, and welcoming hearts. We must enrich our culture and learn to appreciate the ones of those who live in other parts of this diverse nation. Spiel Times encourages all readers to promote this article and Lakshadweep tourism to showcase the rich diversity of India to the world.