Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent Lakshadweep trip and pictures of the same shared by him on social media are making people search about the 36-island archipelago, the blue pristine beaches of which are no less than that of Maldives, an island country popular for its expensive overwater resorts.
PM was in Lakshadweep islands on Tuesday and Wednesday to inaugurate and lay the foundation for various projects worth Rs 1,150 crore. He took some time out of his schedule and explored the Union Territory.
Seen in a snorkeling suit, PM Modi was captured enjoying an undersea exploration, an experience he termed 'exhilarating'. The Prime Minister took to microblogging platform X and shared pictures of his snorkeling experience on the islands located in the Arabian Sea.
Modi's Viral Pictures Prompt Massive Searches on Lakshadweep
PM Modi also shared pictures from his morning walk on a beach in Lakshadweep, giving a glimpse of the blue water beaches that the archipelago has.
PM Modi's visit and the stunning pictures of Lakshadweep led to a massive search about it on the internet, making it the ninth most searched word on Google in India on Wednesday, January 4.
A news18 report carrying analysis of the data obtained from Google Trends, showed increasing searches related to ‘Lakshadweep’ from December 29, 2023, to January 4, 2024, a sharp uptick from December 29-January 3 when there were hardly any searches.
On January 4, there were more than 50,000 searches on Lakshadweep on Google.
Among the phrases India searched the most while looking up about Lakshadweep were: Lakshadweep island, Andaman, Lakshadweep flight, Lakshadweep airport and Kochi to Lakshadweep.
Lakshadweep, India's Answer to Maldives
A relatively unexplored Lakshadweep can be India's answer to Maldives which last December refused to renew the Hydrographic Survey Agreement made with India which was signed in June 2019 during PM Modi’s visit to the island country.
Mohamed Muizzu, the pro-China leader who won the Maldives presidential election in October 2023, had been seeking to remove Indian troops from 10 island nations even before taking power. And after coming to power, he did not change his stand.
Muizzu, 45, leads the People's National Congress, a party that presided over an influx of Chinese loans when it last held power in the country, known for its luxury beach resorts and celebrity tourists.
With the new government leaning towards China, Maldives' hostility of late has raised concerns around India’s national security.
PM Modi's viral photos of Lakshadweep's white sand and blue water beaches have got Indians searching about the island, which is a much cheaper travel destination but as beautiful as the Maldives that depends heavily on tourism.
"Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people," PM Modi wrote in an X post.
"I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep..." PM Modi said in what can also be seen as his 'vocal for local' push.
