View source for Bitra

{{Short description|Coral atoll in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Bitra
| native_name_lang = 
| sobriquet        = 
| image_name       = 
| image_size       = 
| image_caption    = 
| image_alt        = 
| map              = India3
| map_caption      = Location of Bitra in [[Lakshadweep]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|11|33|N|72|09|E|region:IN-LD_type:isle_dim:50000_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title}}
| etymology        = 
| location         = [[Arabian Sea]]
| island_type      = [[coral]] [[atoll]]
| archipelago      = [[Lakshadweep]]
| waterbody        = [[Indian Ocean]]
| total_islands    = 2
| major_islands    = {{hlist|Bitra|South Cay}}
| area_km2         = 0.187
| area_footnotes   = <ref name="cit">{{cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/lakshadweep/data%20sheet.pdf |title=Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census |publisher=Government of Lakshadweep |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722061135/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/lakshadweep/data%20sheet.pdf |archivedate=2016-07-22 }}</ref>
| rank             = 
| length_km        = 
| width_km         = 
| coastline_km     = 
| elevation_m      = 2
| highest_mount    = 
| country          = {{flag|India}}
| country_admin_divisions_title      = [[States and union territories of India|Territory]]
| country_admin_divisions            = [[Union territory]] of [[Lakshadweep]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1    = [[List of districts in India#Lakshadweep (LD)|District]]
| country_admin_divisions_1          = [[Lakshadweep]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2    = [[Island group]]
| country_admin_divisions_2          = [[Aminidivi]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_3    = [[Tehsils of India]]
| country_admin_divisions_3          = [[Aminidivi]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_4    = [[Subdivisions of India]]
| country_admin_divisions_4          = Bitra
| population       = 278
| population_as_of = 2016
| population_footnotes = 
| population_rank = 
| population_rank_max = 
| density_km2      = 1570
| density_rank     =
| density_footnotes = 
| ethnic_groups    = [[Malayali]], [[Mahl people|Mahls]]
| timezone1        = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1      = +5:30
| timezone1_DST    = 
| utc_offset1_DST  = 
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]  
| postal_code             = 682555
| area_code_type          = Telephone code
| area_code               = 04890
| website          = {{URL|http://lakshadweep.nic.in/island_web/Bitra/index.htm}}
| iso_code_type = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|ISO code]]
| iso_code      = IN-LD-07<ref>Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code</ref>
|additional_info  = {{Infobox|child=yes
| label2 = Literacy | data2 = 84.4%
| label3 = Avg. summer temperature| data3 ={{convert|32.0|°C|°F}}
| label4 = Avg. winter temperature| data4 ={{convert|28.0|°C|°F}}
| label5 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]| data5 =<!-- as of 2016 it is - 158 male/120 female -->57%[[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
}}
}}
                             
'''Bitra''', also known as '''Bitrā Par''', is a [[coral]] [[atoll]] belonging to the [[Amindivi]] Subgroup of islands of the Union Territory of [[Lakshadweep]] in [[India]].<ref>[http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/pollux/pollux.nss.nima.mil/NAV_PUBS/SD/pub173/173sec05.pdf Hydrographic Description (Indian Ocean Pilot)]</ref>
It is {{convert|483|km|abbr=on}} west of the city of [[Kochi]].

==History==
Prior to the 20th century, islanders from [[Kiltan]] and [[Chetlat]] visited the island to collect the eggs of [[pelagic bird]]s breeding there. Until 1945, when a woman from Chetlat made this island her home, there were no attempts to settle this island permanently.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tourotravel.com/india/lakshadweep/bitra-island-lakshadweep.html |title=Bitra Island, Lakshadweep |access-date=12 November 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914092142/http://www.tourotravel.com/india/lakshadweep/bitra-island-lakshadweep.html |archive-date=14 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There is a small shrine dedicated to an old Arab saint by the name of Malik Mulla who was buried on the island. The shrine has become a pilgrimage site.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://lakshadweep.nic.in/documents/Chapter%20V/Kiltan/Bitra-7.pdf |title=MGNREGS - Bitra Island |access-date=12 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109003430/http://www.lakshadweep.nic.in/documents/Chapter%20V/Kiltan/Bitra-7.pdf |archive-date=9 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Geography==
The atoll of Bitra encompasses two islands.
The main Bitra Island {{convert|0.177|km2|abbr=on}} is located at the northern end of the Bitrā Par coral reef {{coord|11.598|N|72.187|E}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oceandots.com/indian/lakshadweep/bitra-par.php |title=Oceandots - Bitrā Par |accessdate=2011-11-08 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223043232/http://www.oceandots.com/indian/lakshadweep/bitra-par.php |archivedate=2010-12-23 }}</ref>
The small south cay {{convert|0.009|km2|abbr=on}}is located on the southern part of the coral reef {{coord|11.524|N|72.176|E}}. 
Bitra is the smallest of the populated islands of Lakshadweep. It is located 33&nbsp;km to the north of [[Perumal Par]] and 41&nbsp;km to the southeast of [[Byramgore Reef]].<ref>[http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/publications/forktail/10pdfs/Kurup-Lakshadweep.pdf Birds of Lakshadweep Islands]</ref>
The Bitra Par [[lagoon]] area is {{convert|54.61|km2|abbr=on}}.

==Population==
The 2011 census determined that 271 people made this island their home, making it the least populated among the inhabited islands in Lakshadweep.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://lakshadweep.nic.in/FiveYearPlan_1_innerframe.htm |title=Lakshadweep - Five Year Plan |access-date=12 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511235551/http://lakshadweep.nic.in/FiveYearPlan_1_innerframe.htm |archive-date=11 May 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Administration==
The atoll belongs to the [[Subdivisions of India|township]] of Bitra of [[Aminidivi]] [[Tehsils of India|Tehsil]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721163348/http://lakshadweep.gov.in/Area-Population.PDF Tehsils info]</ref>

==Transportation==
The main island has a small jetty on the south shore and a helipad on the westpoint.

==Economics==
The inhabitants on the island are engaged in very small scale farming and fishing which are mainly for the island's consumption.

==Image gallery==
<gallery widths=180>
File:Lakshadweep.jpg|Satellite picture showing the atolls of the Lakshadweep except for [[Minicoy]]
File:Map of Lakshadweep-en.svg|Map
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|India|Islands}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120104173955/http://www.mapsofindia.com/lakshadweep/tourism/bitra-island.html Bitra Island]
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Lakshadweep}}
{{Lakshadweep}}
[[Category:Islands of Lakshadweep]]
[[Category:Atolls of India]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Lakshadweep district]]
[[Category:Islands of India]]
[[Category:Populated places in India]]
<!--[[Category:Uninhabited islands of India]] if to put it here for south cay -->


{{Lakshadweep-geo-stub}}