India's Islands

India’s islands fall into two distinct groups, both a long way from the mainland. In the Bay of Bengal lie the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a chain of forested landmasses fringed with white sand and coral. Off the south-western coast, in the Arabian Sea, sit the coral atolls of Lakshadweep, a scatter of low reef islands ringed by shallow lagoons. This collection covers the two of them side by side.

What sets them apart is water and remoteness. The Andamans hold some of the clearest diving in the region, alongside a layered colonial history and long, quiet beaches. Lakshadweep is smaller, lower and far less visited, its lagoons calm and its reefs close to shore. Both sit behind rules that shape a visit: the Nicobars and the outer tribal reserves are closed to travellers, and Lakshadweep requires an entry permit arranged before you arrive.

The range runs from an easy beach-and-reef week in the Andamans to a slow, off-grid stay on a single Lakshadweep island. It suits divers and snorkellers, couples after quiet, and anyone content to travel at the pace that limited flights and ferries allow.

What you’ll find

• Reefs and diving
• House reefs and dive sites off the Andamans, from first dives to certified deeper water
• Calm lagoons for snorkelling in Lakshadweep, sheltered and shallow
• Long stretches of quiet beach on the larger Andaman islands
• Colonial and wartime history around Port Blair and Ross Island
• Boat and ferry crossings between islands, weather permitting
• Small guesthouses and a handful of resorts, rather than dense development

When to go. The season runs roughly from October to May, when seas are calmer and skies clearer. The south-west monsoon closes in from around June to September, when heavy rain, rough water and reduced ferries make travel difficult and some crossings stop altogether. Sea conditions vary week to week even in season, so inter-island boats can be delayed. Diving and snorkelling are at their best in the drier months.