Bitra Par

Bitra
ബിത്ര

Bitra ബിത്ര Location of Bitra in Lakshadweep
Geography
Location	Arabian Sea
Coordinates	11°33′N 72°09′E / 11.550°N 72.150°E / 11.550; 72.150Coordinates: 11°33′N 72°09′E / 11.550°N 72.150°E / 11.550; 72.150
Archipelago	Lakshadweep
Adjacent bodies of water	Indian Ocean
Total islands	2
Major islands	Bitra South Cay
Area	0.187 km2 (0.072 sq mi)
Highest elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Administration
India
Territory	Union territory of Lakshadweep
District	Lakshadweep
Island group	Aminidivi
Tehsils of India	Aminidivi
Subdivisions of India	Bitra
Demographics
Population	278 (2016)
Pop. density	1,570 /km2 (4,070 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Malayali, Mahls
Additional information
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	682555
Telephone code	04890
ISO code	IN-LD-07
Official website	lakshadweep.nic.in/island_web/Bitra/index.htm
Literacy	84.4%
Avg. summer temperature	32.0 °C (89.6 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	28.0 °C (82.4 °F)
Sex ratio	57%♂/♀

Bitra (Malayalam: ബിത്ര), also known as Bitrā Par, is a coral atoll belonging to the Amindivi Subgroup of islands of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India. It is 1,958 km (1,217 mi) south of the city of Delhi.

Prior to 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. The shrine has become a pilgrimage site.

The atoll of Bitra encompasses two islands. The main Bitra Island 0.177 km² (0.068 sq mi) is located at the northern end of the Bitrā Par coral reef 11°35′53″N 72°11′13″E / 11.598°N 72.187°E / 11.598; 72.187. The small south cay 0.009 km² (0.0035 sq mi)is located on the southern part of the coral reef 11°31′26″N 72°10′34″E / 11.524°N 72.176°E / 11.524; 72.176. Bitra is one of the populated islands of Lakshadweep. It is located 33 km to the north of Perumal Par and 41 km to the southeast of Byramgore Reef. The Bitra Par lagoon area is 54.61 km² (21.09 sq mi).