Kavaratti Island

The history of Kavaratti, like the rest of Lakshadweep, is intertwined with maritime trade and cultural influences from mainland India and Arabia. Initially inhabited by people of unknown origin, the islands came under the influence of the Chera dynasty, followed by the Kolathiri Rajas of Kerala. Islam arrived in the 7th century AD. The Portuguese briefly held sway in the 16th century before the islands came under the rule of the Arakkal kingdom of Kannur. Eventually, the British gained control. After India's independence, Lakshadweep became a Union Territory in 1956, with Kavaratti as its capital. The island's historical significance is evident in its ancient mosques and traditional practices.