Andrott Atoll

Andrott is a small inhabited coral island in Lakshadweep, a group of thirty-six islands scattered in the Arabian Sea west of India. It lies about 293 kilometres from Kochi, 234 kilometres from Kozhikode and 219 kilometres from Kannur. Among the group, Andrott is closest to the mainland, the largest by area and the only island with a west-to-east orientation. Its land covers 4.98 square kilometres, and a lagoon of 6.6 square kilometres lies beside it.

The island was formerly called Divanduru, a name found on old French maps. It belongs to the Laccadive subgroup, which was historically part of the Arakkal Kingdom. Andrott was the first island in the group to embrace Islam, while its Buddhist archaeological remains show that other religious traditions also formed part of its past. Most inhabitants are Muslim, with a Hindu minority, and the tomb of Saint Ubaidullah is preserved in the Jumah mosque.

The island therefore connects a remote coral setting with long-distance maritime knowledge, regional rule and layered religious history. Its small population combines Muslim traditions with the older traces of Buddhist settlement. Its lagoon is 6.6 square kilometres in extent.