'Ridiculously exotic!' Anand Mahindra wants to holiday in this pristine island paradise, and it’s not Maldives

A breezy holiday is all that we crave! Away from the noise and chaos of the city, perhaps a lagoon and pristine beaches can be the best way to unwind. However, when you think of a beach holiday, images of the Maldives, Bali, or Phuket cascade through your mind. You don’t need to go that far to have the perfect beach holiday.

Minicoy island in Lakshadweep promises the rejuvenation you long for. Industrialist Anand Mahindra, who is a social media influencer in his own right, seems to be smitten with this exquisite location.

The 66-year-old businessman took to Twitter to share a video that explores the island with his followers. The Mahindra boss was so impressed with the island that he wondered why he had not thought of a vacay in Minicoy. He asked his followers if anyone had visited the spot and asked them to share their photos from the spot.


“This is ridiculously exotic! Why haven’t I thought about holidaying here before?? Anyone been out there? If you have, please share photos of your visit,” tweeted Mahindra
At the beginning of the video shared by Mahindra, a traveller can be heard saying, "I am stranded on this Indian paradise, this incredible tropical island here. It has got pristine lagoons, and super clean warm waters. It has got coral reefs that are totally alive. They are living. It's so beautiful to dive with them."

Where Is Minicoy Island?
Minicoy Island, also known as ‘Island of Women’ is located in Lakshadweep some 435 kms west of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The island is known for its coral reefs, crystal clear waters, and immaculate lagoons. This rarely explored island is just 11 kms in length and is among India’s most beautiful destinations.

The island’s ancient name was Mahiladu which meant ‘Island of Women’. For centuries, the inhabitants of the island have had a tightly-knit community with a matrilineal culture.

The island has 11 villages and the region is known for tuna fishing. It is the second-largest island in the union territory. Mahi is the predominant language on the island, however, Malayalam and Hindi too are in use. Minicoy Island lies in the southernmost part of Lakshadweep making it closer to the Maldives than India.

Venetian merchant explorer Marco Polo is believed to have visited a 'female island' off the coast of India in the 13th century during his journey from China to Venice. Not just Marco Polo, Moroccan adventurer Ibn Battuta described the island as 'splendid' and a place where women were daring and independent.

How To Reach Minicoy Island
Since it's closer to Thiruvananthapuram, travellers can take a ferry to the island from here. The airport in Cochin is well connected to Lakshadweep. The Agatti Aerodome is the only civilian airport in Lakshadweep. Flights between Cochin and Agatti take about 1 hour 30 minutes and there are flight services six days a week. There are helicopter services from Agatti which can be used to reach Minicoy Island.

For tourists, winters and the onset of summers are the best time to explore the island. Visiting the island between September and May is ideal as the climate is pleasant and promises a pleasurable holiday experience. Travellers can enjoy scuba diving, kayaking, snorkelling, glass-bottom boat ride, shipwreck diving and deep-sea fishing. So next time you plan an island adventure, look no further.