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Read in Your Language
A dazzling chain of islands in the Indian Ocean, Maldives is an experience full of unadulterated luxury. Donning all the beautiful hues of bliss, Maldives is a paradise on Earth. It is a group of over a thousand idyllic islands nestled in the radiant turquoise waters of Indian Ocean. Not just an unmatched luxury, but this beautiful island boasts of perfect sand beaches and fascinating underwater world.
Maldives is where the wonderful sun rays are ready to embrace you with peace. It is the perfect holiday destination for those seeking an escape away from the worldly chaos. Brace yourself for a ride full of surprises and wonders, as we take you on a virtual tour of this magnificent island country.
History
The island country of Maldives has been of great importance because of its apt location along some trade routes. According to sources, the people who first colonized the island were from India. It is also said that the first real kingdom here was founded by Sri Soorudasaruna Adeettiya, the son of a ruler of Kalinga (a Kingdom in India).
The early days of Maldives are not clear and the primitive civilisation is hard to trace. The primitive civilisation of Maldives is a bit hard to trace, as the first settling communities left no archaeological evidence, monuments or artifacts. The island has evolved out of a mix of Tamil and Malayalam cultures, which Is evident in the names of places, dance, poetry, religious practices and beliefs.
People and Culture
The locals of Maldives are known for their warm hospitality and jovial nature. Maldivians share a similar cultural heritage, history, ancestry, homeland, language and religion. Dhivehi is the official language spoken here, which is considered to be Indo-Aryan in its origin. English is also a commonly spoken language by the Maldivians.
The ancestral roots of Maldivians can be traced back to Sinhala’s of Sri Lanka, Marathi’s and Guajarati’s of India, Arabs, Malays and Northern African dispositions. For a long time, Budhhism was the religion followed in the Maldives until Islam was introduced by incoming Muslim traders in 1153 AD. Some of the famous landmarks in the country have been greatly influenced by Islamic architecture. The country is now home to several mosques and tombs of saints, which are now a cultural heritage.
Fairs and Festivals
Since the majority of the population here is that of Muslims, the festivals celebrated here are dominantly Islamic. Ramadan, Kuda Eid, Prophet's Birthday, Eid-ul-Al'h'aa are among the popular festivals of Maldives. �Other major festivals celebrated in Maldives are the Republic Day of Maldives and Independence Day of Maldives. The festivals here are celebrated in accordance with the lunar calendar.
Must Visit Attractions
Fua Mulaku
Located in the southern province of the Maldivian archipelago, Fua Mulaku is the smallest of all the atolls with just one island. But, it has the largest island in Maldives. The exceptionally fertile private island produces fruits and vegetables that are not grown elsewhere in the country, like mangoes, oranges and pineapples.
Kudahuvadhoo
The island of Kudahuvadhoo is located in the South Nilandhoo Atoll. The island is home to one of the mysterious mounds known as Hawittas, which are assumed to be the ruins of Buddhist temples. The island also has an old mosque, which is said to have some of the finest masonry you’ll ever see.
Mirihi Islands
Another isolated island of Maldives, the Mirihi Islands owes its name to a local flower. The island is home to an exclusive house reef and a pristine beach. It has a resort that offers 36 tourist bungalows. One of the most popular tourist beaches in Maldives, Mirihi Island is perfect for honeymooners and solace seekers. The beauty of this island is that the entire island is lined with palm trees and covered with white sands. The water bungalows here are an added attraction.
Male Island
Male is the capital of Maldives, and everything about this city is an attraction in itself. Promising a fun filled holiday with its long list of attractions, Male Island boasts of magnificently lit buildings, restaurants and endless tourist attractions. One can enjoy an array of adventure activities here, including underwater scooter riding, snorkeling, among others. Other attractions to see include Tsunami Monument, Grand Friday Mosque, Male Fish Market, Sultan Mosque and Male National Museum.
Grand Friday Mosque
Experience a distinct work of architecture with the Grand Friday Mosque of Maldives, which is one of the major attractions in Male. The mosque is also known by the name Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam. It is the largest mosque in Maldives and draws several pilgrims as well as architecture lovers throughout the year.
National Museum
The National Museum of Maldives is located in Male, and houses a large collection of historic artifacts that trace back the history of the island. This three-storied museum is a part of the 17th century Maldivian Royal Palace compound, which also has a Sultan Park (Public Park). With well preserved galleries and artifacts of weaponry, household wares, religious paraphernalia, Arabic and Thana-engraved pieces of wood, the museum is among the must visit attractions.
Muliaage
Located in the heart of Male, Muliaage is the official residence of the President of the Maldives. It is located in close proximity to the Friday Mosque and the Grand Minaret of Male, also known as Munnaru.
The construction of the Muliaage was started in the year 1914 and was completed in 1919. Its architecture has a striking resemblance to the buildings built during the colonial era in Sri Lanka. Entry to the Muliaage is not allowed for visitors and one can only admire the building from outside.
Banana Reef
It is one of the oldest dive sites in Maldives, and gets its name from the shape of the island when viewed from above. The area is home to some of the most beautiful caves, cliffs and coral growths. The caves here contain species of exotic fish and other marine life like the squirrelfish, soldierfish and Maldivian grubfish.
Artificial Beach
The capital of Maldives, Male doesn’t own a natural beach. Therefore, a man-made beach was constructed here and named as the Artificial Beach. The beach is the apt place for all those who like to explore fun activities. One can try from a list of water sports here, or can visit the quaint cafes located in the vicinity of the Artificial Beach.
Experiences of Maldives
Beaches
This beautiful island nation is home to some of the best beaches in the world. With nearly 1200 islands, the beaches here are all peaceful with pristine white sand and turquoise blue water. It’s hard not to fall in love with the tranquil beauty. The dreamy aura of the beaches here alone attracts tourists around the year to this tiny paradise. Whether you want to dive in the waters or just sit by the beach, the beaches of Maldives make for a perfect romantic destination.
Marine Life
Not just the lazy beaches, the island nation Maldives is also famed for its fun underwater world. The fascinating underwater life of Maldives comprises of outstanding coral walls, beautiful caves and vibrant tropical fishes. Under the water is a whole another world that waits to get explored. In deeper waters lurk manta rays, turtles, sharks and even the world’s largest fish, the whale shark. The water here is so warm many people don’t even wear a wetsuit.
Surfing
With so much of water around, surfing is a popular activity to try from. One of the major spots for surfing is Cinnamon Dhonveli. There are several islands in Maldives that offer surfing lessons.
Natural wonders
The flora and fauna of Maldives are unique and full of beauty. This beautiful island is lined with coconut trees, reflecting the tropical vegetation of Maldives. The plan species of both inhabited and uninhabited are different in nature. Due to the influence of humans, inhabited islands have small groves of banana, papaya, drumstick and citrus trees by the homesteads, while breadfruit trees and coconut palms are grown in available patches of land.
The avifauna existence of the island is also affected by the oceanic location. Majority of birds here are pelagic birds, while some of the birds are seasonal, such as frigatebirds. There are also birds that reside in marshes and island bush, like the grey heron and the moorhen. Most of the species are similar to Eurasian migratory birds, and very few can be associated with the Indian sub-continent.
There are very few land mammals in the Maldives. Cats, rats, and mice have been introduced by humans. In the ocean surrounding the islands there are whales and dolphins.
Leisure Resorts
One of the must have experiences in Maldives is a stay at leisure resorts. The resorts here are nothing like the resorts of other tourist cities. From personal butlers to private lap pools to in-room massages and pillow menus, the facilities here are endless. However, you shouldn’t be disappointed. As there’s also plenty of choice beyond the five- and six-star resorts.
Shopaholics’ delight
Maldives has some amazing places to shop some exciting souvenirs. Male Local Market is one of the most popular street markets here, which has numerous stalls selling local handicrafts, mementos, and gift items.
Majeedhee Magu is another popular street market here. This is one market where everything is easily available � from garments, accessories to electronic goods.
Best time to visit
The climate of Maldives is tropical with plenty of sunshine. The temperature is around 30 degree Celsius throughout the year. Although the humidity is relatively high here, the regular breeze keeps the air moving. The seasons that dominated the Maldives’ weather are the dry season which is the northeast monsoon and the rainy season or southwest monsoon from April � October, with rainfall increasing particularly from June to August.
How to Reach
By Air - MLE (Male International Airport) is the main airport of Maldives that connects all the major countries in South-East Asia including India, China and Sri Lanka. There are many direct flights flying from Dubai. Also, chartered flights coming from Europe, China and Singapore are also available.
By Sea � Visiting Maldives by Sea can be a magical experience. It is also one of the most peaceful ways to explore the treasures of the island. A cruise from Mumbai (India) covers destinations like Goa, Trivandram, New Mangalore, Colombo, Uligamu and more until Mal�.
