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Lakshadweep (; Malayalam: ലക്ഷദ്വീപ്, Lakṣadvīp}}) is the smallest union territory of India. Located in the Arabian Sea, it consists of twelve coral atolls, three coral reefs, five banks, and numerous islets that lie between 200–300 km off the coast of Kerala. The total land area of the territory is 32 km². Eleven of the islands are inhabited. Lakshadweep is the northern part of the erstwhile Old Lakshadweepa.
Demographics The people of the islands speak a dialect of Malayalam. It is a folk belief that they are descendants of traders who where washed up on the islands during a particularly heavy storm. The people of the islands are ethnically similar to the people of the Kerala coast of India and are of mixed Indian and Arab descent, except on the southernmost and largest island, Minicoy, where people closely resemble Maldivians, speak Mahl, a language closely related to Dhivehi (Maldivian) which could even be a dialect. 93% of the indigenous population is Muslim and were converted by the Arab traders. The locals call themselves the Div-i or the Amadivi (from the mother island). History The first westerner on the islands was Vasco da Gama, but the English were the first to explore the islands. They are also mentioned in great detail in the stories of the Arab traveller, Ibn Batuta. The Portuguese established a fort on the islands in May 1498, but the inhabitants rose up against them and chased them away. The Amindivi group of islands (Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat and Bitra) came under the rule of Tipu Sultan in 1787. They passed on to British control after the Third Anglo-Mysore War and were attached to the South Canara district. The rest of the islands became a suzerainty of the Chirakkal family of Cannanore in return for a payment of annual tribute. After a while, the British took over the administration of those islands for non-payment of arrears. These islands were attached to the Malabar district of the Madras Presidency. In 1956, the States Reorganisation Act separated these islands from the mainland administrative units, forming a new union territory by combining all the islands. Politics The union territory is administered by an administrator appointed by India's central government. Lakshadweep is under the jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court at Ernakulam. It also elects one member to the Lok Sabha. Economy Lakshadweep's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $60 million at current prices. Due to its isolation and scenic beauty, Lakshadweep is emerging as a great tourist attraction for Indians. This brings in a good amount of revenue, which is likely to increase. Since such a small region cannot support industries, the government is actively promoting tourism as a means of income. Islands
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