Two days in Agatti passed in the blink of an eye—watching the turquoise water while enjoying the soothing sea breeze, peeping into marine life through snorkelling and glass-bottomed boats, and lazing in hammocks under coconut trees on white sands. And then, it was time to move on to Kavaratti Island.
Journey to Kavaratti Island
Our ferry was scheduled for 2:15 PM. A High Speed Passenger Craft (HSC) connects Agatti with Kavaratti Island and a few other islands, though the ferry timings keep changing. Ours happened to be in the afternoon that day.
We reached the jetty on time. The HSC Valiyapani was anchored at the far end, just like we had seen earlier. Boarding started right on time—tickets checked, luggage stored separately, and we settled into our seats inside the large air-conditioned cabin. The seats were comfortable, the space was nice—and everything felt smooth. Until the ferry started moving.
The sky was overcast, and as we moved beyond the reef, the sea grew rough. The ferry began rolling quite a bit, almost crashing into the waves. I could feel my seasickness slowly building up. I tried to manage it by closing my eyes at times, and at other times by watching the coastline slowly fade away.
We passed by familiar sights—the resort we stayed in, the lagoon beach at the northern tip—and then suddenly, there was no land at all.
Just water.
There was a brief spell of rain somewhere in between. And then, after what felt like a long stretch, I noticed a tiny strip of land beside a boat in the distance. That was our first glimpse of Kavaratti Island. As we got closer, the ferry slowed down and finally docked at the jetty.
First Moments on Kavaratti Island
A bright, sunny afternoon welcomed us to Kavaratti Island, which felt quite ironic after the gloomy weather during the journey. We were supposed to be picked up by our hotel.
But no one showed up.
One by one, everyone left the jetty—locals quickly finding their rides, tourists being picked up—and we were left behind, standing there in the sun. We waited. And waited.
After multiple calls to the travel agent and a wait of more than 30 minutes, the pickup finally arrived.
Honestly, that should have been a hint.
The hotel didn’t quite match what we had in mind. Despite being on the beach, it looked poorly maintained. We had to wait again before being shown the room—and that, too, not a great one. It was unclean, had a strange smell, and looked nothing like the pictures we were shown. And then came the final moment—the sound of rodents running above the false ceiling.
That was it for us.
Looking for a Stay (and Finding Something Better)
We stepped out immediately, without really knowing what the next plan was. Finding another stay like this, just by walking in, wasn’t something we had planned on Kavaratti Island. But sometimes things work out.
There was another resort right next door. We walked in, asked, and then waited… for quite some time. Not knowing what the answer would be, we nervously took a walk along the quiet roads of Kavaratti Island, trying to stay hopeful. After more than an hour, they finally confirmed a cottage for two nights. That one “yes” changed everything.
We moved in as soon as we could—and it finally felt like we had arrived. A simple wooden cottage, right on white sand, surrounded by coconut trees and mangroves, with the turquoise sea just a few steps away. Nothing fancy—but just right.
This was the Kavaratti Island we had imagined.
A Slower Day on Kavaratti Island
The next morning began with the sound of waves and a cool breeze drifting in. That first look outside—the sea through the coconut trees—was enough to set the mood for the day.
We kept it slow.
Later in the morning, we went snorkelling right from the nearby beach. What I really liked was how accessible everything was. You didn’t need to go far to see marine life—corals, sea anemones, and plenty of colourful fish were right there.
In the afternoon, we visited the aquarium and the marine museum. It was simple, but interesting enough—marine specimens, shells, and even a blue whale skeleton on display.
The Lighthouse Experience
This was something I had been looking forward to from the start.
Kavaratti Island, being the capital of Lakshadweep, has its share of administrative importance—but for me, the lighthouse was the real highlight. Standing at 38 metres, it doesn’t look extraordinary from the outside. But the climb is worth it.
Because at the top—the view just opens up.
Coconut trees cover almost all the land, the sea stretches endlessly beyond, the old jetty cuts into the water, and somewhere far, a shipwreck stands by the shore. The wind, the light, the sound of waves—it all just came together in that moment. I stood there for a while, just soaking in it. (Read my post on the lighthouse in Andaman.)
Life by the Sea
As we walked towards the jetty, we noticed children playing freely in the waves while their mothers relaxed nearby. A little further ahead, locals sat together, chatting and unwinding after the day’s work.
There was a quiet charm to life on Kavaratti Island—simple, unhurried, and deeply connected to nature. It made us pause and reflect on how different life can feel when it isn’t driven by constant rush.
Life felt simpler and, in a way, lighter.
The Shipwreck of Kavaratti Island
Our last stop for the day was the shipwreck we had seen from the lighthouse.
The wreck dates back to 15 August 2010, when the cargo ship Nand Aparajitha, operated by Essar Shipping, ran aground on the coral reef during bad weather. Carrying over 2000 tonnes of cargo, the ship never made it back to sea.
Today, the remains of the vessel lie along the southeastern coast of Kavaratti Island, transformed by time and nature. Marine life has embraced the structure, turning it into part of the reef ecosystem. What was once an accident has now become both an ecological habitat and a striking visual landmark.
Farewell to Kavaratti Island
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in warm hues, we slowly made our way back.
Later that night, under a quiet sky, a delicate golden crescent moon hung above us as we sat by the beach—one last moment to soak it all in. We had an early departure the next morning. At 5:45 AM, the same HSC Valiyapani would take us back to Agatti. We didn’t want to leave Kavaratti Island. But we did—carrying memories of turquoise waters, island life, and unexpected turns that made the journey even more meaningful.
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