Lakshadweep is situated about 406 kilometres away from Kerala’s coast. Interestingly, at the time of independence, Lakshadweep was not initially a part of India. Lakshadweep, comprising 36 islands, with a total are of 32.62 square kilometres, became a Union Territory of India in 1956. Formerly known as Laccadive, it was officially renamed Lakshadweep in 1973.