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Maldives


India City: Maldives

Area : 298 sq km
Population : 2,45,000
Capital : Male
Languages : Dhivehi, English
Currency : Rufiya

Maldives is a group of coral islands that stretch along from the mainland of India, 350 km. Marco Polo one of the famous explorers referred to the Maldives as the 'flower of the Indies,'. The archipelago of Maldives has been a constant source of attraction to many tourists all over the globe. Its golden beaches, washed by the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, are enticing to one who loves to venture into the sea.

Maldives islands lie in the northern Indian Ocean and the sea area is approximately 107,500 sq km. There are some 1,200 islands in the country, 202 of which are inhabited. The archipelago is 823 km long and 130 km at its greatest width. Maldives islands are formed into 26 natural atolls but they are divided into 19 administrative regions, also known as "atolls."

The year is divided into two monsoon periods: the northeast monsoon or Iruvai lasts from December to March, drier months and the southwest monsoon or Hulhangu lasts from April to November, which are wetter. Daytime temperatures are about 28°C throughout the year. The humidity is slightly lower in the dry season but on most days, there is a cool sea breeze.

The staple diet of Maldivians is fish and rice, with meat and chicken eaten only on special occasions. The spiny backed lobster is a delicacy. Areca nut is the equivalent of an after-dinner mint. Maldivians, being Muslims, are prohibited by law from consuming alcohol; hence, there is a strict restriction on the alcohol available in inhabited islands. Nevertheless, all tourist resorts and hotels, as well cruise ships and yachts have alcohol for consumption of guests. The local brew is "raa", a sweet and delicious toddy, tapped from the palm trees. In fact, fish and coconuts are about the only products that do not have to be imported. Apart from coconuts, there are very few fruits and vegetables grown on the islands; so most of the food served at tourist resorts is imported.

Male is the capital of the Maldives and is the commercial center, seat of government and the location of many important historical and religious landmarks. Male was known as the Sultan's Island in the past. The Grand Friday Mosque, Masjid-al-Sultan Mohammed Thakurufaan-al-Azzam is the biggest mosque in the Maldives. It also includes the Islamic Center. This grand mosque with its dominant golden dome decorates the façade of Male. It can accommodate over five thousand worshippers at a time. The old Friday Mosque, with its unique minaret and the tombs of national heroes and members of royalty resting in the quietness of its compound, gives the visitor a glimpse of the past. The art in the mosque and royal burial grounds are exclusive and priceless. Other important sites in Male include the tombs of legendary saints, the Presidential Palace, the National Museum in the Sultan Park, which shows the glories of a different era, and the Singapore Bazaar. All these are within a ten-minute stroll.

A few locations worth visiting in the Maldives are Seenu or Addu Atoll, Fuamulaku, Kuahuvadhoo, and Baa Atoll. Almost all visitors to the Maldives arrive by air. Male International Airport, situated in Hulhule Island, is just over a kilometer or about ten minutes by boat from Male, the capital. There are regular flights to Colombo (Sri Lanka), Thiruvananthapuram (southwest India), Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), as well as many chartered flights from European centers.

Transport and communication services provided for tourists are generally of a high standard. There is no regular inter-island transportation system between inhabited islands.

Cruising among the islands may be an exciting alternative. Yachts and yacht-dhonis with bunk beds or private cabins are available for hire. These boats can accommodate between eight to twenty passengers on cruises that sail for ten to fifteen days. Some of the larger vessels have scuba diving and windsurfing facilities with qualified instructors on board. Food prepared by the crew using the day's fresh catch of fish may be modest, but a tourist is never too far to stop for a sumptuous meal or a drink. On a cruise, dining under a clear sky in the Maldives can be an experience in itself. With the equator running through the Maldives, it is an astronomer's dream too.