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Kavaratti is a small census town, which is located in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and it stands on the island by the same name. One of the most popular attractions in the town of Kavaratti is the Ujra Mosque, which is located on the south-eastern part of the island.
Ujra Mosque belongs to the 17th century and was built by Sheikh Mohammad Kasim, whose grave is also situated within the mosque. The uniquely carved ceilings and pillars of the Mosque depict an ancient architectural style. Some of the important festive occasions celebrated here are Id-ul-Fitr celebrated in the month of October, Onam in between the months of August to September and Bakri-id in the month of March.
There is also a museum, a few blocks away from the mosque consisting of a large aquarium with sharks sharing space with octopuses and sea cucumbers, which is the main attraction here. The main section of the museum houses a collection of different types of shells, corals and preserved fishes.
Kavaratti is popular for the snow-white coral sand and lagoons that are available here along with coconut trees and white sandy beaches covering most of the regions. The weather condition of Kavaratti is tropical in nature with summers from the months of March to May. The best time to visit Kavaratti is between the months of August to March because of the favourable climate with less heat.
Kavaratti can be reached from Cochin which has the nearest airport connecting most of the major Indian cities and even foreign cities. Kavaratti is also connected by passenger cruises from other island towns in Lakshadweep and these cruises are available from Cochin Harbour.
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The beaches of Kavaratti Island covered with coconut trees and brimming with marine life is the highlight of this island destination. The main thing to be done here is to relax or go for sightseeing.
The ideal season to visit Kavaratti is from October – May, when tourists can go island hopping. The beaches of the islands like Bangaram and Agatti are open throughout the year. Tourists can see the daily lifestyle of the people in Kavaratti, and watch the locals fish and cultivate coconut, which is the main means of livelihood here.
Travellers can visit the various tourist attractions in Kavaratti, like the museum, mosques and aquarium. The most important pilgrimage in Kavaratti is Urja Mosque, the shrine of which is one of the grand structures in Lakshwadweep.
Qasim Muhammad Sheikh built this mosque in the 17th century, which is located in the south-eastern region of this island. The prayer hall of this mosque is specifically important as the grave of its builder lies here. Moreover, Urja Mosque is known to draw attention by its ceilings and pillars that are carved in wood.
Another popular attraction is the marine aquarium that functions as a museum as well. It is home to a small shark, which is kept in closed chambers. This shark shares its space with octopuses, anemones, sea cucumbers and various fish. In the museum section of this aquarium, one can view different types of corals, shells and varieties of fish stored in glass jars.
Close to the museum, there is the Dolphin Dive Centre, which provides various PADI programmes for professional as well as amateur divers. Tourists can also take a boat that has a glass bottom to view the rich marine life on the reefs.
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