How to go Lakshadweep from Kolkata?

[BasuG8]

I am not too good regarding travel queries, which is why I had decided to register with the forum to find out more about my trip that I am planning to Lakshadweep from Kolkata.

Like mentioned I would be traveling from Kolkata and would like to head to Lakshadweep.

I am assuming that a ship would take people to the island, but which port would this be from and how would I get there from Kolkata?

 

[arunava basu]

no way!! go to Cochin or Mumbai and you can reach the Laksha islands by Ship or by air respectively. Andaman and Nicobar Islands are easily accessible from Kolkata as you get both ships and plains scheduled almost everyday.

 

[briannagodess]

Hi there, welcome to the forum!

From Kolkata, you need to go to Cochin to reach the port that will take you to Lakshadweep. So your route would be:

• Kolkata > Cochin > Lakshadweep.

You have different transportation options to reach Cochin from Kolkata. Here they are:

1. By Bus - Bus journey can take a long time as Kolkata is about 2,295 kilometres from Cochin. You'd also have to change buses frequently as there are no direct buses from Kolkata to Cochin. So your bus journey would look something like this:

• Kolkata > Bus to Bhubaneswar > Bus to Vizag > Bus to Chennai > Bus to Kochi.

So first, from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar, here are your bus options:

• Reliance Travels (AC Seater/Sleeper Bus) - They have two buses plying this route, departing from Babughat Bus Station in Kolkata. The bus timings are 9:00 pm and 9:05 pm. Journey duration is around 9 hours so you can reach Bhubaneswar at 5:30 am, more or less. Fare is at Rs. 475 to Rs. 555 per passenger.

• Pradhan (AC Seater/Sleeper Bus) - They have two buses plying this route, departing from Babughat Bus Station in Kolkata. The bus timings are 8:45 pm and 9:15 pm. Journey duration is around 9 hours so you can reach Bhubaneswar at 5:30 am, more or less. Fare is at Rs. 470 to Rs. 650 per passenger.

All buses plying this route depart during night time so you have to make way for your schedule for that. From Bhubaneswar, you need to board a bus to reach Vizag. Here are some bus timings:

• Diwakar Travels (Volvo AC Bus) - They have one bus plying this route, departing from Vani Vihar at 2:40 pm and arrives in Vizag at 10:00 pm. Journey duration is around 8 hours. Fare is at Rs. 800 per passenger.

• Komitla (Volvo AC Bus) - They have one bus plying this route, departing from Barmanda Bus Station at 2:30 pm and arrives in Vizag at 10:00 pm. Journey duration is around 8 hours. Fare is at Rs. 800 per passenger.

So you'd have to stay in Bhubaneswar for a bit since these buses depart later in the day. Now, we go to buses going to Chennai from Vizag:

• Orange Tours and Travels (AC Sleeper Bus) - This bus departs from Vizag at 5:30 pm and arrives in Chennai at 8:30 am. Journey duration is around 15 hours. Fare is at Rs. 1,000 per passenger.

• Sri Krishna Travels (Volvo AC Bus) - This bus departs from Vizag at 5:00 pm and arrives in Chennai at 7:30 am. Journey duration is around 15 hours. Fare is at Rs. 750 per passenger.

Buses departing from Vizag to Chennai only have timings in the late afternoon. Thus, you'd have to spend a whole day in Vizag before you can board a bus going to Chennai. Then, we now go to buses going to Cochin from Chennai:

• Universal Travels (Non AC Seater Bus) - They have different timings: 7:20 pm, 7:25 pm and 8:40 pm. Journey duration is around 12 hours. Fare is at Rs. 800 to Rs. 900 per passenger.

• NAS Travels (AC Semi-Sleeper Bus) - They have different timings: 8:15 pm and 9:30 pm. Journey duration is around 11 hours. Fare is at Rs. 1,100 per passenger.

These buses will drop you off at the Ernakulam Bus Station. The Cochin Port is about 11 kilometres away from the bus station so you need to ride a taxi to reach it.

2. By Train - There are direct trains plying from Kolkata to Cochin. Here they are:

• Kolkata Shalimar Trivandrum Super Fast Express Train No. 22642 - This train departs during Sundays and Tuesdays from Kolkata Shalimar at 23:00. It then arrives in Ernakulam Junction two days after at 16:00. So journey duration would be around two days.

• Guwahati Ernakulam Express Train No. 12508 - This train departs during Saturdays from Howrah Junction at 1:05. It then arrives in Ernakulam Town the next day at 17:30.

• Guwahati Trivandrum Express Train No. 12516 - This train departs during Thursdays from Howrah Junction at 1:05. It then arrives in Ernakulam Town the next day at 17:30.

• Howrah Ernakulam Super Fast Suvidha Special Train No. 02853 - This train departs during Saturdays from Howrah Junction at 17:00. It then arrives in Ernakulam Junction the next day at 6:00.

• Gurudev Express Train No. 12660 - This train departs during Wednesdays from Kolkata Santragachi Junction at 23:15. It then arrives in Ernakulam Town the next day at 15:20.

From the Ernakulam Junction, Cochin Port is about 8.2 kilometres away while from the Ernakulam Town, Cochin Port is about 10.9 kilometres away. You can just ride a taxi to cover this distance.

3. By Air - There are also direct flights from Kolkata to Cochin. Here are some flights:

Air India

• AI 23 - This departs from Kolkata at 20:15 and arrives in Cochin at 8:55. Fare is at Rs. 8,586 per passenger.

• AI 765 - This departs from Kolkata at 19:05 and arrives in Cochin at 11:25. Fare is at Rs. 9,255 per passenger.

• AI 773 - This departs from Kolkata at 16:00 and arrives in Cochin at 7:30. Fare is at Rs. 9,540 per passenger.

Indigo

• 6E 534 - This departs from Kolkata at 18:20 and arrives in Cochin at 23:45. Fare is at Rs. 8,309 per passenger.

• 6E 347 - This departs from Kolkata at 14:50 and arrives in Cochin at 20:15. Fare is at Rs. 10,192 per passenger.

The shortest flight's duration is about 5 hours and 30 minutes. So you can reach Cochin easily via flight but it can be quite expensive. From the Cochin Airport, the Cochin Port is about 45 kilometres away. From the airport, there are regular buses plying to Thoppumpady which is just three kilometres away from the Cochin Port. Here are some of their timings:

• Bus JNK19 - Departs from the airport at 6:25 and arrives in Thoppumpady at around 8:00.

• Bus JNK1 - Departs from the airport at 7:50 and arrives in Thoppumpady at around 9:00.

• Bus JNK2 - Departs from the airport at 9:30 and arrives in Thoppumpady at around 11:00.

• Bus JNK3- Departs from the airport at 9:55 and arrives in Thoppumpady at around 11:30.

There are regular buses from the airport to Thoppumpady until 19:00. From Thoppumpady, you can just ride a taxi to reach the Cochin Port.

Once you reach the Cochin Port, you can then board a passenger ship going to the Lakshadweep Islands. There are several ships plying from Cochin to Lakshadweep, namely:

• MV Tipu Sultan, MV Bharat Seema, MV Minicoy, MV Amindivi and MV Kavaratti.

Journey duration would be around 18 hours to 20 hours. For the schedule though, it varies and is subject to revision by the authorities. So it's best to inquire personally at the port about the possible schedules. The fares also vary, but here are their rates on average, from Cochin Port to Agatti Island:

MV Tipu Sultan

• Deluxe 2 Berth Cabin - Rs. 3,000 per passenger

• First Class 4 Berth Cabin - Rs. 2,500 per passenger

• Push Back - Rs. 2,000 per passenger

MV Bharat Seema

• First Class 2/4 Berth Cabin - Rs. 2,000 per passenger

• Tourist Class - Rs. 2,000 per passenger

MV Minicoy and MV Amindivi

• Tourist Class - Rs. 2,000 per passenger

MV Kavaratti

• First Class 2 Berth Cabin - Rs. 5,000 per passenger

• Second Class 4 Berth Cabin - Rs. 2,200 per passenger

I hope this helps you even a little bit.

 

[arunava basu]

Take a train to Cochin and from there you can board a ship to Lakshadweep or else go to Mumbai and take a plane to laksha. These are the only ways to reach the Islands from Kolkata. Only that the ship will take around a whole day and a night, but the flight will take you to your destination in a few hours time.

 

[Dhruv]

There are two ways to reach Lakshadweep from Kolkata: by air or by sea.

By air

The only airport in Lakshadweep is Agatti Airport, which is located on Agatti Island. There are no direct flights from Kolkata to Agatti Airport. To reach Lakshadweep by air from Kolkata, you will need to fly to Kochi International Airport (COK) in Kochi, Kerala. From Kochi, there are direct flights to Agatti Airport on Air India. The flight from Kochi to Agatti takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

By sea

There are passenger ships that operate between Kochi and Lakshadweep. The journey takes about 14-18 hours, depending on the island you are traveling to. The ships operate from Willingdon Island Jetty in Kochi.


Which mode of transport is best?

The best mode of transport to Lakshadweep from Kolkata depends on your budget and priorities. If you are looking for the fastest and most convenient option, then flying is the best choice. However, if you are on a tight budget or want to enjoy the journey, then taking the ship is a good option.


Cost of travel

The cost of travel from Kolkata to Lakshadweep will vary depending on the mode of transport you choose and the time of year you travel.

By air:

• Round-trip airfare from Kolkata to Kochi typically costs between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000.
• Round-trip airfare from Kochi to Agatti typically costs between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000.

By sea:

• Round-trip ferry tickets from Kochi to Lakshadweep typically cost between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000.

Additional costs:

• You will also need to factor in the cost of accommodation, food, and activities in Lakshadweep. Accommodation costs can vary depending on the island and type of accommodation you choose. Food costs are also relatively high in Lakshadweep. Activities such as snorkeling, diving, and fishing can be expensive.

Overall, the cost of travel from Kolkata to Lakshadweep can range from ₹25,000 to ₹50,000, depending on your budget and travel style.


How to book your travel

• Flights: You can book flights from Kolkata to Kochi and from Kochi to Agatti online on the Air India website.
• Ferries: You can book ferry tickets from Kochi to Lakshadweep online on the Lakshadweep Tourism website.

Tips for planning your trip

• Book your flights and ferry tickets in advance, especially if you are traveling during the peak season.
• Pack light, as luggage restrictions are strict on the ferries.
• Bring sunscreen, insect repellent, and a hat, as the sun can be very strong in Lakshadweep.
• Be respectful of the local culture and environment.

Here is a sample itinerary for a 5-day trip to Lakshadweep from Kolkata:

Day 1: Arrive in Kochi and check into your hotel.

Day 2: Take a morning flight to Agatti Airport. Upon arrival, transfer to your resort on Bangaram Island. Spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach or snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters.

Day 3: Go on a full-day scuba diving trip to explore the vibrant coral reefs and marine life around Lakshadweep.

Day 4: Take a boat trip to Kadmat Island, another beautiful island in Lakshadweep. Visit the Kadmat Island Lighthouse and the Kadmat Island Marine Museum.

Day 5: Take a morning flight from Agatti Airport to Kochi. Depart from Kochi.

This is just a suggested itinerary, and you can customize it to fit your interests and budget. For example, if you are interested in fishing, you can add a day of fishing to your itinerary. If you are on a tight budget, you can stay in a guesthouse or homestay instead of a resort.