| MAIN FEATURES |
|---|
| Snapshot of the website |
| Best Deals |
Maldives
Maldives– The country
Are you looking for lots of sun and fun? Look no further, Maldives is your dream come true. This chain of exotic islands that garlands the Indian Ocean is found south west of Srilanka. Great sun, white sand, sparkling sea and distinctive coral wealth all together makes this an ideal get-away from the pressures of a city life. Story goes that millions of years ago, a volcano which erupted in the Indian Ocean, cooled down over time to form one of the must-visit tourist spots of our age, Maldives- the pearls of the Indian Ocean. The name ‘Maldives’ is said to have been derived from the Sanskrit word Maladweepa which means ‘garland of islands’. Maldives is a bundle of 26 major atolls formed by around 1200 coral reef islands, of which only around 200 are inhabited (includes the 40 odd ones which are exclusively resort islands).Though their mother tongue is Dhivehi, this population of around 3 lakhs speak many foreign languages including English, French, German, Italian and so on. Their currency is Rufiyaa while the most commonly used foreign currency is the US dollar.
From being a mere stop over for the seafarers in the early days, today these tranquil tropical islands woo the tourists from all across the globe. It has transformed itself to become one the most popular snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing and fishing destination. But the sad news is that reports from Britain’s center for future studies’ list this island pearls under ‘places to visit by 2020’ owing to the risks of global warming and rising sea levels. These exotic islands with its white beaches, gently swaying coconut palms, cool breeze and its clear azure waters is the answer for anyone in search of peace and privacy. The golden sunsets and the deep blue lagoons make it the ideal destination to thrill your loved ones with the most romantic and memorable honeymoon. It even goes further, bringing to life the adventurer in you with the scope for unearthing deep secrets of its coral reefs and other marine wealth. Crystal clear water with visibility of more than 60 meters cannot be found anywhere else in the world. To sum it all, the promise of paradise awaits you in this land of sun and sea.
::::::::::::: Popular Destinations in Maldives ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Male
Male , earlier known as the Sultan’s island is the capital city of Maldives. It is one of the smallest capital cities in the world when you consider the size and is divided into four, Henveiru, Galolhu, Maafannu and Macchangolhi. In contrast to the other islands of the country, this is a city of concrete buildings and paved roads. The city being the hub of all administrative, commercial and bureaucratic activities in the country, there is a stretch of government buildings and agencies along the waterfront. With almost one-third of the country’s population based here, this is the only entry point to the nation and is equipped with the Male international airport located in the nearby Hulhule Island. Many historical and religious landmarks are based here. The 400 year old Friday mosque, the old bazaar area, the local fish market and the new harbor in the south-west corner are a few of the must-visits of the place.
Baa Atoll
Located 100 km north of Malé consisting of a total of 50 small islands is yet another attraction. The coral reefs of this atoll are still in almost perfect and pristine state and this makes it an ideal spot for lovers of snorkeling. Whale sharks and mantas coming as visitors during the south-west monsoon is a unique feature of this island. Tuna fishing and weaving Fevli (a wrap-around for women) are the main occupations of the community this place. Soneva Fushi, Royal island and Maalhos Island are a few islands in this atoll which is worth a visit.
Raa Atoll
Of the total of 90 islands in this atoll, only around 16 are inhabited. The reef formations of this atoll are pretty complex and this makes it an excellent spot for diving. Famous for its tradition of boat building and in imparting training to do the same, Ugufaroo, the capital island of this atoll, has the largest fishing fleet. The legendery island of Rasgetheemu is said to be the spot where centuries ago the princess and her consort who exiled from Sri Lanka had landed. With its many desert islands and its fishing villages there is much scope for excursions and island hopping and this makes this atoll an ideal spot for holidaymakers.
Seenu
(Addu atoll) can be listed as the second city of the country. Its past of British occupation and location for the British Royal air force as a cold war outpost makes this a very historically interesting place. This island does not welcome you with the typical features of other resort islands but with the uniquely historically glimpse of the military base. In this city you get a chance to come head on with the traditional communities of Maldives, to see and understand their life and culture.
Shaviyani Atoll
Located around 192 kms north of male. It is also known as North Miladhunmadulu atoll. It comprises of around 52 islands, 15 of which are inhabited and 36 uninhabited. Remnants of Thaana the most ancient written script of the Maldivian language was found in Kanditheemu Island in this atoll. The main occupation of the island’s population is fishing and agriculture. Owing to their confinement to such small scale operations, the atoll was very slow in development until the last few years.
Noonu Atoll
Consists of around 71 islands of which around 13 are inhabited. The population here ranges from around 350 to 2100. The capital city of the atoll is Manadhoo with a population of around 1500 and equipped with services including a hospital and a harbour. Maafaru Island is well-known for fishing. In this island there are Pagodas from more than 1000 years ago when Maldivian population were following the Buddhist principle. Commercial and other industrial activites of the atoll are centered at the Velidhoo island which has the highest population of 2100.
Cuisine
Traditional Maldivian cuisine mainly revolves around fish, particularly Tuna. Dishes, which are usually hot and sprinkled with spices, for taste and colour, have great similarity with Sri Lankan and South Indian dishes. Other major ingredients in their dishes include coconut, onions, raw chilli, salt, lemon juice etc. A clear soup containing tuna and chunks by name Gawdhiya is the most popular food of the population. While their source of protein is the large amount of fish in their diet, the source of carbohydrate is rice or bread fruit. A diversity of cereals, vegetables like sweet potato and also meat is included in their traditional diet. However, apart from the traditional Maldivian cuisine, the holiday – makers in the country have many other varieties of cuisine to choose from including Asian, European and International. Although alcohol is banned in the country for the local population, the resorts are licensed to serve this for the tourists and often flaunt an extensive choice on the same.
Shopping Items
You are never short of choices when it comes to shopping in Maldives. Many locations including the local market, the duty free etc leave you with much variety. An excellent choice of souvenir would be Miniature Dhonis (traditional Maldivian fishing boats) carved out of attractive wood. Other good picks would include handicraft products like Thuda kuna, a mat woven out of natural fibres, a wrap around skirt for women by name Fevli, the finest lacquer works in the form of wooden pots and vase. Being an island, marine products like chipped dry fish, canned tuna, vacuum packed smoked fish etc are other options. While all these are typically Maldivian items you also have the choice of other imported items including garments, cosmetics, perfumes and other electronic goods.
Must Do’s
Shopping
With its wide range of choices of imported goods, local handicrafts, and marine delicacies shopping sprees are a must for anyone visiting the place.
Eating Out
Restaurants serving Asian, European, International and also traditional Maldivian food is a specialty of the island. Clubbed with golden sunset and the colourful night life of Maldives the experience is sure to be a memorable one.
Cruising
is the best activity to indulge in while at Maldives. You get the best of the sun and the sea, opportunity to indulge in water-sports like diving and snorkeling along with good food and great scope for island hopping
Scuba Diving
The blue lagoons, the exquisite corals, the rich flora and fauna and its marine wealth makes this a paradise for lovers of Scuba diving.
Surfing
The crystal clear water and the excellent waves make Maldives a great surfing location.
Must See
National Museum
Located in the capital city of Male, here you will find an interesting collection of antiques most of which were previously owned by the sultans of the place. This includes some weapons of martial arts by name bonthi sticks and also some very interesting pre-Islamic stone carvings.
Kudahuvadhoo
A place of historiacal importance, this island is the home for Hawittas, mysterious mounds believed to be the ruins of a Budhist temple. The old mosque here is said to have the finest of masonry which surpasses even the famous Inca wall in Cuzco, Peru.
Hukuru Miskiiy
The historical mosque in the Male is the oldest one in the country and dates back to 1656. The well protected exteriors with its corrugated-iron coverings, the coral-stone walls with its Arabic scripts and intricate carvings, the exquisite lacquer work and wood carvings in the interior all together makes this a must see monument of the country.
Fish Head
is the first and the most famous diving site of Maldives famous for its abundant coral and marine life and frequent visitors in the form of Sharks and mantas
Wreck of the Maldive victory
The under water monument of a ship wreck is the cargo ship itself which sticks out of the reef at around 15 meters depth which hosts a diverse marine wealth and an abundance of corals.
Key festivals
Apart from the religious festivals like Kudu Eid, Prophet’s Birthday, Eid-Ul-Ul-Al’ H’ AA’ and Ramadan that the Maldivians celebrate with lots of fun and feasting, they also have other national festivals. They have their independence day on the 26th of July which is celebrated with official parades, floats, processions and so on. The republic day commemorates the second time it was declared a republic on November 11th, 1968.The National day is celebrated on the 1st of the third month of the Islamic calendar. It celebrates Mohamed Thakurufaanu’s victory over the Portuguese. Travel packages to the different festival locations are available for the tourists.
Weather
Generally a country of tropical climate, Maldives is warm almost all through the year. But you get the best sun during the months of April- May. The temperature varies slightly on a day to day basis with December as the coolest month. The monsoon has a great role in deciding the climate of this place. Being in the equatorial belt cyclones and severe storms are almost never in Maldives but it does get slightly affected by any such disturbances in the Indian Ocean or the Bay of Bengal.