Asia | Run the jewels

India plans to remake Lakshadweep for tourism

Whether locals want it or not

Dweep blue
|DELHI

THE BROCHURE writes itself: a scattering of coral ringlets, each encircling its own turquoise lagoon within the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep is India at its most alluring. These 36 islands, together totalling just 32 square kilometres of land, are peopled by a matrilineal, mostly Muslim society where families make their living through seafaring and coconut harvests.

This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Run the jewels”

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