Bitra Island

5.0

Location: Lakshadweep 682555, India

Estimated Visiting Time: 14 to 18 hours

Bitra Island is the smallest inhabited island in the territory having a land area of 0.105 sq km. It has a length of 0.57 km. It’s a width of 0.28 km at the broadest point. This is at a distance of 483 km from Kochi. The island is located at 11° 36′ N I and 72° 11′ E longitude and the land area is Small, its lagoon area is 45.61 sq km.

Attraction

Bitra Island used to be covered by thick shrubs and was the breeding ground for sea birds. In the early 19th century the birds left the place due to human interference. In 1848 Sir Robinson who visited the islands, heard the people say that the birds had lived on Bitra till around 1835. Terns are also found on Pitti island and people visited this island to collect the eggs.

History

In the 20th century, islanders from Kiltan and Chetlat visited the island to collect the eggs of pelagic birds breeding there. Until 1945, when a woman from Chetlat made this island her home, there were no attempts to settle this island permanently There is a small shrine dedicated to an old Arab saint by the name of Malik Mulla who was buried on the island and also This shrine has become a pilgrimage site.

Inside/Outside Views

It is the smallest inhabited island in the territory. BITRA was the breeding ground for several sea birds, a favorite hunt of KILIAN and CHETLAT people till 1835 There is a small shrine of Malik Mulla, an old Arab Saint who is said to have been buried here. A shrine is a place of pilgrimage for the people of other islands and surprisingly the first permanent settler at BITRA was a woman from CHETLAT who with her son set up a permanent settler at the house around 1945.