
A single photo. A viral post. A geopolitical shift. PM Modi’s serene pictures from Lakshadweep didn’t just trend online—they shook the very foundations of Maldives tourism and triggered a regional power shuffle. From a diplomatic cold war to a surprising thaw, this is the story of how India flipped the narrative, countered Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean, and made Lakshadweep the new travel hotspot. Modi’s invite to "travel local" was more than a tourism pitch—it was a strategic masterstroke. Watch how one moment online led to a billion-dollar fallout… and a diplomatic win.