Union territory (pop., 2001: 60,650) of India. Located in the Arabian Sea off India's southwestern coast, it includes 27 islands (10 of which are inhabited), with a total land area of 12 sq mi (32 sq km). The capital is Kavaratti.
Once ruled by the Hindu Kulashekhara dynasty, it became part of an Islamic dominion in the 12th century. Britain gained sovereignty over it in the 18th century and assumed direct administration in 1908. It passed to India in 1947 and became the country's smallest union territory in 1956. Coconut palms are the agricultural mainstay, and fishing and tourism are also important.
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