Which Country Is Closest to the Lakshadweep Islands?

Answer: India

The Lakshadweep archipelago (36 islands, 10 inhabited) is a Union Territory of India, lying ~200 km (125 mi) off Kerala's Malabar Coast.

Distances

• India (mainland): ~200 km northeast
• Sri Lanka: ~650 km southwest
• Maldives: ~400 km south (but not closer than India)

Strategic Context

Lakshadweep gives India an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of ~400,000 km² in the Arabian Sea, critical for fisheries, trade routes, and naval presence.