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Bitra
Bitra is situated at 11o36' north latitude and 72o10' east longitude.
Bitra and Bangaram are the smallest inhabited islands in the territory. Bitra lies 48km west of Chetlat and has a land area of 10.52 hectares. Situated on the north eastern tip of a large coral ring reef it encloses a magnificent lagoon. Along the eastern reef there are deposits of sand is patches which dries during low tide. The lagoon is the largest in the Union Territory.
In the past, Bitra was covered by thick brushwood and shrubs and the island was the breeding ground for flocks of sea birds. In the early 19th century, disturbed by human intruders, the birds gradually deserted the place. Sir Robinson who visited the islands in 1848 heard the people say that the birds had left Bitra till about 1835. The birds belonged to the Tern group which is found on the Pitti sand. People from the neighbouring islands regularly visited this island to collect the eggs of these birds.
The island was frequently visited by fishermen from Kiltan and Chetlat but it was only in 1909 that an attempt was made to settle some families on this islet. It was mainly because of the difficulty of drinking water which turns blackish during the monsoon. By 1935 the floating population had increased considerably and people had accustomed to longer stays in the island. The first permanent settler was a woman from Chetlat who with her son set up a permanent homestead around 1945.
A small shrine in Bitra is dedicated to one Malik Mulla an old Arab saint who is said to have been buried there. The shrine is a place of pilgrimage for other islanders.
Chetlat
Chetlat is situated at 11o41 north latitude and 72o43 east longitude.Chetlat the northern most island is important for its location. It belongs to Aminidivi group of islands. The nearest inhabited island from Chetlat is Kiltan which is at a distance of about 13kms south-east. The nearest important place in the main land from this island is Mangalore which is situated at a distance of 90kms. Mangalore is the main marketing centre for the islanders. Other centres in the mainland with which the islanders have close contacts are Cannanore and Kozhikode, situated at distances of 100kms and 110kms respectively.
Chetlat suffered cruelty at the hands of the Portuguese Pirates in the 16th century. Sheikh Zeinuddin in his book Tuhafat-Al-Mujahidin records that before their descent on Amini, the Portuguese visited Shatelakum or Chetlat. A major part of the inhabitants were put to death and many were taken prisoners.
Inhabitants of this island generally served in Arab vessels as sarangs. Their main occupation is fishing and coir twisting . The coconut yield is poor and the income from copra is meagre. Boat building was a flourishing industry. The Lakshadweep Gazetteer (1977) records curious customs of the women folk. They gather on the beach during nights and light bonfires to help the returning vessels to locate the island. They sing songs invocating the winds to favour the home bound vessels.
A flourishing handicraft, a spare time industry of the island is the manufacture of caps from tender coconut leaves. The caps are in great demand.
The island is about 1200 metres in length and 400 metres in breadth. It covers an area of 255 acres and looks like an upturned boat. It lies lengthwise north and south. Along the eastern side of the island is a wide belt of coral debris. On the western side, there is a lagoon. The north-west is broader and sailing vessels with cargo can enter it during high tide. The lagoon protects the island on the most exposed side from the fury of south-west monsoon . The approaches to this island are free of any outlying danger.
The island looks like a garden of coconut. The other trees found in the island are cheerani Paruthi ( A species of cotton tree), jack fruit tree, Murunga (Drumstick).
The world famous fish Tuna particularly the skip jack variety is found in large shoals in the deep seas around Chetlat. Whales and tortoises are also found in the vicinity of the island.
In the island a few species of birds and animals are found. Rats are found here in very large numbers and constitute menace to the coconut plants. Cats and waterhen is also found in this island. There is no snake in Chetlat.
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