Paradise awaits you... If your idea of paradise is a pristine tropical island with swaying palm trees and pure white beaches surrounded by crystalline lagoons of varying shades of blue – then the Maldives Islands will definitely fit the bill.Indeed, it is not without reason that the Maldives Islands has been described as ‘(the) flower of the Indies’ by Marco Polo and ‘one of the wonders of the world’ by Ibn Batuta.
Location
The Maldive Islands is an island country officially known as Republic of Maldives consists of group of attractive atolls stretching south of India's Lakshadweep islands between Minicoy Island and the Chagos Archipelago, and about seven hundred kilometres (435 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka in the Laccadive Sea of Indian Ocean. The twenty-six atolls of Maldives encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islets, of which two hundred islands are inhabited.
These 26 atolls are organised into 19 administrative atolls with the capital island of Male' established as an entity of its own forming the twentieth division. Seen from air, the atolls and the islands form breathtakingly beautiful patterns against the blue depths of the Indian Ocean.
The capital of Maldives – Malé, the seat of government and the centre of trade, commerce, business, health and education, is located in the middle of the atoll chain, a small island buzzing with the sounds and activities of more than 150,000 people which is more than one third of the population. Malé is perhaps the smallest urban capital in the whole world.
The country stretches 823 km north to south and 130 km east to west. Out of the incredibly large number of islands only 200 islands are inhabited, with 88 islands adapted as exclusive resort islands. The sea forms over 99 percent of the Maldives. Only 0.331 percent, 298 km2 (115 square miles), of its 298 km2 (34, 750 square miles) is land.
Together with the Lakshadweep formerly called Laccadive Islands (formerly part of the Maldives, and now part of India) to the north and the Chagos Islands to the south, the Maldives form part of a vast submarine mountain range, on the crest of which coral reefs have grown. The Maldivian atolls are a classic example of its kind.
The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in terms of both population and area; it is the smallest predominantly Muslim nation in the world. With an average ground level of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is also the country with the lowest highest point in the world, at 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in).
Chronicle
Legend has it that a prince and his wife, the daughter of the King of today’s Sri Lanka, stopped at Raa Atoll during a voyage and were invited to stay as rulers.Later King Koimala and his wife settled in Malé with permission of the Giraavaru tribe, the aboriginal tribe of Kaafu atoll. Nowadays Giraavaru people are still easily recognisable through their clothes and hairstyle, but only a few hundred of them are left and were resettled in Malé in 1978. Their island, Giraavaru has been transformed into a tourist resort. Aryans from India and Sri Lanka are believed to have settled in the Maldives from 1500 BC onwards - according to latest archaeological findings. “Elu”, an archaic form of Sinhala (spoken in Sri Lanka) shows great similarities to Dhivehi. As a favourite stop-over on the busy trade routes, the Maldives have had many visitors and influences, trading with Arabia, China and India with coconut, dried fish and above all the precious cowry shell, a small white shell found on the beach, used as currency in countries near the Indian Ocean. These shells were found as far away as Norway or West Africa showing the extent of the trade relations of the Maldives.
The Maldives gained independence on July 26, 1965.Three years later a republic was declared with Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir as the first president. In 1978 President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom became president and has been re-elected thrice since then.A coup attempt in 1988 by Sri Lankan mercenaries was successfully repelled. Small as it is the Maldives has always maintained independence and a strong unity despite influences and threats from outside. They are now an internationally renowned country, a member of the UN, WHO, SAARC, Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement and others and play an important role in advocating the security of small nations and the protection of the environment.
Culture
The origins of the Maldive settlers are shrouded in mystery.Basically the settlers are from Sri Lanka and South India but it is said that Aryans were the first to sail to the island in reed boats from Lothal in the Indus Valley 4000 years ago. Archeological evidence suggests the existence Hinduism and Buddhism before the country embraced Islam in 1153 A.D.Not surprisingly, the faces of today’s Maldivian display the features of various faces that inhabit the lands around the Indian Ocean shipping and maritime routes, the Maldives has long been a melting pot for African, Arab and South East Asian mariners.
The culture of maldives is replete with the ways of the sea farers who settled on the islands.Traditional music and dance performances are not everyday affairs, however there is a strong, impregnable and highly adaptive contemporary Dhivehi culture which has survived even in the face of such all pervading foreign influences ranging from Bollywood movies and Oriental martial arts to western music and Moslem fanaticism.
The culture of the Maldives is influenced by different visitors who arrived in Maldives throughout the times. We can see Indian, Sri Lankan, Arabian, Persian, Indonesian, Malaysian, and African cultural traits. The Maldives is located at an important crossroad in the Indian Ocean and the visitors have left their marks. However, acting as a melting point the Maldives assimilated these influences and has created a unique cultural identity.
Entertainment for Visitors
Bodu Beru
The bodu beru is the best known form of traditional music and dance. It derives its name from a big drum by the same name. In the tourist resorts it is put on with great elan for a local culture night. It is featured by a gradual increase in the tempo of the dancers ending up in a rhythmic frenzy. Four to six drummers accompany the performance in an ensemble, and the beats as well as the sound have strong African influences.
Cultural events in the resorts often feature impeccable performances by local rock bands. These are basically cover bands playing the popular numbers with great virtuosity, but sometimes they do come up with original compositions. While performing for a local audience these bands embark upon an intricate blend of rock and bodu beru , with lots of percussion and extended drum solos. Music shops in Male’ are stuffed up with records and cassettes of these local bands.
Thaara
Thaara also holds a special place in local entertainment. Two lines of men attired in white sit on the ground and sing beating hand drums while others dance between them. Thaara is believed to have been introduced from the Middle East in the seventeenth century. Today Thaara is only played at national events.
Dhandijehun
Dhandijehun is another form of entertainment, which is popular throughout the country. This is mostly performed to celebrate festive events such as Eid and other national occasions.
Bandiyaa Jehun
Bandiyaa Jehun is a more popular form of dance performed by young women. The women carrying metal water pots stand in two lines facing each. They sing and dance to melodious tunes while taping the rhythm on the pots with rings worn on the fingers.
Although western pop and Indian music is quite popular today, traditional forms of music and song that have been passed down to us by our ancestors survive. Raivaru, farihi and bandhi are all unique styles of singing that are still practiced by people around the country.
The festivals celebrated here are Ramadan,Eid-ul-alhaa,Prophet's birthday, Kuda eid, Independence day, republic day, national day.
How to Communicate?
Dhivehi is the spoken language throughout the Maldives. It has its roots in old South Asian languages, intermingling with Arabic, Hindi and English words. A language which is placed in the Indro-Indian group of languages. Dhivehi with its roots in Sanskrit and according to some researchers Elu, an ancient form of Sinhala, (spoken in Sri Lanka), is strongly influenced by the major lanuguages of the region.Maldives has a very high literacy rate - 98%, to be precise. English was introduced as the medium of instruction in most schools in the 1960s, while Dhivehi is still the language used for the overall administration. After the Portuguese were vanquished, about 4 centuries ago, the Thaana script was introduced. It consists of Arabic- style letters written from right to left and the vowels are indicated below and above the letters in the form of dashes. There is no precise relation between the Thaana and Roman script, which leads to the same word or name being spelt in many different ways. Owing to the distance between the islands, differences in pronunciation and vocabulary have cropped up, especially between the north and south atolls, so much so that people in Malé cannot understand the dialect used by the people of Seenu Atoll.
Culinary Art
Fish and rice make up the staple food of Maldivians; meat is taken only on special occasions. In fact, the Maldivians have a fetish for fish- fried fish, fish curry and fish soup are the National dishes. Your after-dinner mint is substituted by areca-nut (an oval nut chewed with betel leaf, cloves and lime). Alcohol is available only in the resorts. You can have a sip of “raa”, the local brew, which is a sweet toddy tapped from the crown of the palm trunk. Maldives being at an important crossroad in the Indian Ocean, traders and visitors over time have left their mark on Maldivian cuisine in addition to contributing towards the moulding of the country’s culture and norms.
As the Maldives comprises more sea than land, it is only natural that fish (mainly tuna) have always been the most prominent element of Maldivian food. However, with travelers from different parts of the world, new seasonings and vegetables were introduced in to the country and added to the existing (limited) repertoire of seafood and tubers (e.g. taro & sweet potato). Each new discovery was incorporated into the diet in quantities most palatable to Maldivians. Thus Maldivian cuisine now comprises Arabic, Indian, Sri Lanka and Oriental tastes blended into a unique cuisine that embodies a culinary identity of its own.
Skills of Maldivians
This beautiful chain of islands adorning the mighty Indian Ocean is inhabited by a stock of people who, by virtue of their very nature, are generous and hospitable. Whenever you happen to visit these exquisite islets, you are bound to bring forth fond memories of sheer generosity, hospitality, friendship and trustworthiness and with their art and craft skills.
The beautifully carved tombstones in some of the old cemeteries and the fine stone carving of the Hukuru Miskiiy in Male’ bear witness to the intricate skills of Maldivian stone carvers of the past. Maldivians are deft craftsman producing beautifully crafted pieces mostly out of what is available locally. Although many of the skills have been passed on from generation to generation and lives on even today.The art calligraphy has strong connections with the Islam. Old and new mosques display beautifully penned versus from the Holy Quran. The Islamic Center exhibits some of the finest samples of the work of modern calligraphers in the country.While many crafts have become obsolete, others have found new life with the advent of tourism. The production of ornaments from tortoise shells and black coral once valued by visitors has now ceased completely because of the growing careness among the public on the need to preserve the environment.
The major craft work performed by them are
Wooden Lacquer Wave
The process of shaping and hollowing out pieces of wood to form beautifully crafted boxes, containers and ornamental objects. Made from the local funa, (Alexandrian laurel) which grows abundantly throughout the country, they come in various shapes and sizes; small pillboxes, vases of various sizes to round and oval plates with lids.Aailable in red,black and yellow resin with delicate carvings of flower pattern.
Mats
Beautiful red mats are woven throughout the country, the most famous of which are those that are woven by the women of Gadhdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.The women of Gadhdhoo collect the reeds called haa from the nearby island of Fioari. They are dried in the sun and stained with natural dyes, the colour varying from fawn to black. These mats with their intricate abstract designs are woven on a handloom according to the imagination and skill of the weaver.
Boat Building
Imported hardwoods are used in the place of coconut wood, which was used in place of coconut wood, which was used in the past to make the hull. Copper rivets are used to hold the planks together instead of coir, which was used for the purpose even half a century ago. The square sail made of coconut fronds gave way to a triangular lateen sail. Even though this is still considered essential and is carried on board, it is used only during emergencies or to ease the strain of the engines. Almost all Dhonis are driven by diesel power.Dhonis are mainly used for fishing and provide the livehood for a large proportion of the population. Others are modified to be used for transportation of passengers.
Beauty of Atolls
An atoll is a group of islands with a reef that nearly or entirely encloses a ring-like lagoon. The English word ‘atoll’ originated from the Dhivehi (official language of Maldives) word ‘Atholhu’.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word ‘atoll’ as "an adoption of the native name "atholhu" applied to the Maldive Islands , which are typical examples of this structure".
Each of these atolls is enclosed by a coral reef cut by several deep, natural channels and a lagoon.
The reef structure, peculiar to the Maldives and consisting of a series of circular reefs in a lime, is known as ‘faru’.
Strong currents, swinging round with the monsoon winds, flow among the atolls, though a journey between the atolls is often easy to navigate.
Sun, sand and sea, a thousand ‘Robinson Crusoe’ islands, massive lagoons with different depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise, dazzling underwater coral gardens; a perfect natural combination for the ideal tropical holiday destination. However there is more to the Maldives than just that.
List of Atolls
The Maldives has 26 naturally occurring atolls which are divided into 20 administrative ones:
- Haa Alifu Atol
- Haa Dhaalu Atoll
- Shaviyani Atoll
- Noonu Atoll
- Raa Atoll
- Baa Atoll
- Lhaviyani Atoll
- Kaafu Atoll
- Alif Alif Atoll
- Alif Dhaalu Atoll
- Vaavu Atoll
- Meemu Atoll
- Faafu Atoll
- Dhaalu Atoll
- Thaa Atoll
- Laamu Atoll
- Gaafu Alif Atoll
- Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
- Gnaviyani Atoll
- Seenu Atoll
Things to do
The Maldives is famed for its rare underwater beauty. The profusion of psychedelic colours and the abundance and variety of life underwater have fascinated divers and snorkellers since Maldives was discovered as a diving destination. The highest level of visibility that one could expect- sometimes exceeding 50 metres - and warm temperatures throughout the year makes diving in the Maldives a delight you would want to experience over and over again. The Maldives has some of the best dive sites in the world and many visit the Maldives repeatedly for the sole purpose of diving.All resorts in the Maldives have professional dive schools with multi-lingual instructors and conduct courses for beginners as well as the advanced. Many of the resorts have excellent house reefs. Just a short swim from the beach and snorkellers too can experience the same pleasures from the surface.
People can enjoy the
- cruise,
- leisure at the resorts,
- water sports,
- zoom in speedboat at Male,
- snorkeling, surfing, fishing, whales and dolphin shows and many more.
The place once visited is never satisfied as it grabs the visitors to visit the place again and again...
Cruise's Pleasure
Boat Cruise
A boat cruise around the atolls in the lap of luxury is the most ecstatic experience that you may ever have. On board there is everything you need. It really feels like paradise as you sail in the middle of the ocean with occasional stops at the resorts, visits to a local fishing village or when you undertake all those adventure sports like snorkelling, diving, windsurfing et al.
Dive Safari
An ideal holiday in Maldives is essentialy packed with Dive Safaris which allow you to explore other spots near your resort. Nature has bestowed Maldives with some of the most fascinating marine life. A proper dive safari gives you an access to the dive sites scattered far and wide and you have a sporting chance of enjoying close encounters with the exotic life inhabiting the unfathomable depths of the sea.
Explore the underwater world
The large cruise vessels and liveaboards offer ample facilities for diving. As others spend their time on the deck or in their cabins, the dare devils plunge into the warm waters to explore the marine life. Diving is facilitated by the “Dhoanis” which escort these cruise vessels. The diving equipment is kept here. As you start to explore the underwater world you will come across Mantas and other rays, sharks, schools of trevallies, Napoleans, turtles, Blennies, Gobis, lobsters. The underwater landscapes with their many hues and a host of marine creatures are a lifetime experience. You may even have the elusive experience of swimming along pilot whales or whale sharks. Some liveaboards offer facilities for night diving too.
Popular Diving Sites
'Manta Point', near the Paradise Island Resort on the southeastern side of the North Male' atoll is quite famous for its school of Mantas. Further north, near the island of Thulusdhoo, is a site called the ‘Stairs’. With its concentration of marine life, including snappers, sweetlips, whitetip sharks and eagle rays it is a veritable paradise for the divers and marine life photographers.
Gafaaru, in the North Male atoll, with its many wrecks provide some fantastic dives. 'Seagull' is a popular diving site in this area offering the ship wreck and a variety of marine life.
(Nooranee Queen)
The most prodigious and most luxurious cruise vessel ever designed and built in the Maldives, Nooranee Queen takes you to an exhilirating island cruise around the various atolls. With its most modern amenities and the careful selection of local and international cuisines the vessel offers you the best of both worlds.
A luxury cruise yacht available only for private charter, Maleesha takes you to discover Maldives at your will. Embark upon a leisurely cruise from atoll to atoll in the company of your family, friends, business associates or your paramour.
Dorado, the virtual palace on waters. It offers pleasures which are quite unsurpassable.Enjoy a royal cruise of ‘the pearl necklace’ in this luxury cruise vessel spruced up with contemporary amenities.
Island Cruise
Minutes after your arrival at the airport you will be ferried by a “dhoni” to your vessel ready to take you on an island cruise. Most of these cruise liners are moored in the Farukolhufushi Lagoon, about ten minutes from the airport island. The cruises generally follow a set itinerary, however, if you are on a chartered cruise you enjoy the freedom of selecting your own route, pre-arrange the atolls you want to visit and set the detailed itinerary with the Captain. But sea travel is often dependent on the weather conditions. Persistence of rough weather will take the itinerary to the discretion of the Captain.
As you cruise along the island form atoll to atoll you will be fascinated by the sight of schools of dolphins playing around your vessel or hundreds of flying fish taking flight as you pass by.
Popular Cruise Destinations
The most popular destination of the island cruisers are located in and around North Male’ Atoll. With 27 resorts in the atoll, it is the hub of the tourism industry. A majority of the resorts are clustered around Male’, the capital, and Hulule, the airport island. The atoll has more than 50 islands out of which only seven are inhabited.
Shopping
Male, the capital of Maldives is fascinating place for the shoppers. Garments, perfumes and cosmetics, jewellery, electronic gadgets and gizmos and canned fish and various local handicrafts are among the best picks. The Chaandhanee Magu and the Majeedhee Magu are the prime shopping zones of the city.
The Local Market
The numerous stalls occupying the local market display a variety of local produce mainly from the atolls. Here you will come across different kinds of local vegetables, fruits and yams, sweetmeat, nuts and breadfruit chips, bottles of home made sweets and pickles along with bunches of bananas dangling down from the ceiling beams on coir ropes. In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the neighbourhood the atmosphere here is peaceful. If you are looking out for smoked and dried fish then you search ends in the building just next to the local market.
The Majeedhee Magu
Situated on the main road of the island, the Majeedhee Magu has along its sides numerous shops selling goods ranging from the smallest commodities to virtually everything you can imagine. The shops have a fabulous collection of garments, perfumes and cosmetics, jewellery, handbags, watches or electronics and much more. All the shops remain open till 11’ o clock in the night, except for prayer times, when they are closed for 15 minutes.
Chaandanee Magu
This is the best place for souvenir shopping. The shops are stocked with a profusion of gifts, curios or souvenir items. Best picks include the “thudu kuna”, the Maldivian mat woven with local natural fibres. The attractive wooden miniature dhonis are a worthwhile purchase.
Acoomodation
The various luxury resorts of Maldives are
Bandos Island Resort
Bandos Island Resort is only a mere 7 kilometeres from the international airport and capital of the Maldives, yet a world away from the hubbub of the city life that you wish to leave behind. Among its many attractions are the lush tropical vegetation, swaying palm trees, transparent azure lagoons and one of the best house reefs in the world. This natural grandeur complimented by 5-star service and modern amenities, Bandos Island Resort is naturally a tropical haven that is both idealistic and comfortable – every holidaymaker’s utopia.
Laguna Beach Resort
Laguna Beach Resort is an ideal getaway for any type of vacation. A small gem in the garland of pearls on the Indian Ocean that is the Maldives is truly a piece of paradise.A 30 minute dhoni-ride from the airport and the capital yet not too close to many islands, Laguna is the perfect romantic hideaway for honeymooners seeking romance.
Relaxing Maldive Spa Islands
Spa resorts in the Maldives are among the finest luxury spa services in the world. Each spa resort combines the highest standards of luxury and service with world-class spa treatments for health and pampering. A spa resort in the Maldives will let you indulge yourself, relax and rejuvenate with blends that retain the best of traditional elements while enriched with modern advancements
Honeymoon Resorts in Maldives
Only a honeymoon in the Maldives will give you that opportunity to make the best of every second of this valuable and romantic time with each other in total privacy. Private bungalows with your very own piece of white, sandy beach and clear, azure lagoons on secluded island resorts renowned for their tranquillity and excellent but discreet service – is that not the perfect recipe for the most romantic Maldives honeymoon?
Banyan Tree Maldives
Coco Palm Boduhithi
Kuramathi Maldives
W Retreat & Spa Maldives are other popular resorts of Maldives. Every resort provides utmost comfort and luxury which is incomparable. Opting for the most luxurious resorts could be pretty confusing for the visitors.
Must See Maldives....
Enjoy the tours around these “pearls of the Indian Ocean”- it has some rare moments of ecstacy which are in store for you. The extensive sun kissed beaches, turquoise lagoons, tranquil waters, beach barbecues, scuba dives, boat cruises- there is fun and frolic everywhere around the islands. The island resorts facing the white sandy beaches are there to cater to all your needs. Built in the fashion of semi-detached bungalows, they are a world in themslelves with restaurants, bars, gymnasium and centralised swimming pools. Maldives is surely your dream come true.
The exotic tropical country of the Maldives has all the ingredients for a perfect holiday. The tropical islands of the Maldives is the paradise for sun lovers, divers, surfers and for those who want complete peace to relax during their vacation. A vacation in the Maldives is really all about luxury holidays with lots of relaxation and beach exploration. The Maldives country of 1190 islands is the dream holiday destination for its amazing white beaches and enchanting scenery. Situated on the bosom of the Indian Ocean, Maldives is attractive for its tranquility, wonderful scenic beauty, and exciting commercial activities.
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org
www.themaldives.com
www.mymaldives.com
www.visitmaldives.com
www.maldive.com
www.sunandsea-maldives.com
maldives.tourism-asia.net
