The early history of Agatti, like much of Lakshadweep, is shrouded in oral tradition and legend. It is believed to have been settled by explorers and traders from the Malabar Coast of Kerala, specifically during the reign of the Chera dynasty. According to local lore, the conversion of the islands to Islam occurred in the 7th century following the arrival of the Arab saint Ubaidullah, whose influence profoundly shaped the region's cultural and religious identity.
In the 16th century, the Portuguese established a brief and highly contested presence in the archipelago, seeking to control the lucrative coir trade, but were eventually repelled by the islanders with the help of the Ali Rajas of the Arakkal kingdom in Kannur. The Arakkal dynasty maintained control over Agatti and neighboring islands until the late 18th century, when the British East India Company began to assert dominance, eventually sequestering the islands for arrears of tribute in the 19th century.
Following India's independence in 1947, the islands were formally organized into a Union Territory in 1956, later named Lakshadweep in 1973. Agatti saw a significant milestone in modern history with the construction and inauguration of the Agatti Aerodrome in 1988, forever changing its economic trajectory by connecting the remote archipelago to the Indian mainland via regular flights.
