Travelers Best

The Maldives has always been the by-word when it comes to romantic and exotic holiday destinations. It is a chain of low-lying tropical islands within the Indian Ocean and dubbed by many as the tropical paradise for sun worshippers, backpackers, outdoors adventurers and diving enthusiasts.

The Maldives boasts of some 26 natural atolls and more than 1,000 islands which are known for their white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons. The Maldives, as a premier tourist destination, is a late bloomer. It only began during the 70s, although it is now the most dominant and important industry of the country. The tourism business of Maldives primarily targets the high end segment of the market, and this is the main reason why it is usually one of the leading choices when it comes to upscale and exclusive holiday options for the rich and the famous.

History

The Maldives was originally inhabited by Hindus and Buddhists from India in 500 BC. It was eventually converted into a Muslim territory during the 11th century and subsequent attempts by Portugal to introduce Christian faith were resisted by the natives. The islands became a protectorate territory of the British during the 20th century until it gained its full independence in 1965.

The islands’ modernization thrust was primarily spearheaded by Maumoon Gayoom, the president of Maldives from 1978 up to 2008. Gayoom, whose hold to the presidency remained virtually unchallenged during his incumbency, made some significant concessions and paved the way for a more democratic space which led to the conduct of a free and clean electoral process in 2008. Mohamed Nasheed, a long time opposition leader and political dissident, won the presidency following a run-off during the 2008 presidential election.

Major Attractions and Things to Do

The Maldives is the perfect mecca for outdoor adventure enthusiasts and sun worshippers. Maldives beckons with its majestic, monumental and natural splendor. There are more than 1,000 islands and of which 200 of these island are inhabited. Vacationers can chill out and engage in a wide range of outdoor activities along the palm-laced beachfronts or participate in various water sport activities like scuba diving, surfing, snorkeling and underwater coral watching.

Addu Atoll – This is one of the most popular attractions of Maldives and is located on the southernmost end of this tropical island group. Addu Atoll is the most important destination of diving enthusiasts, especially those who want to go underwater coral watching. Holidaymakers can also go on a thrilling bike ride along the modern road link between Hithadhoo, which the second city of Maldives, and the Equator Village resort of Gan.

Hulhumalé - Hulhumalé is a man-made island which can be accessed by holidaymakers by taking a ferry ride from Malé. This paradise island resort is expected to become the future tourism hub of the Maldives, as it is generally about 2 meters above sea level, and by Maldives standards, this man-made island can already be considered mountainous.

Malé – This is the Maldives’ bustling capital city and the center of tourist activities in this idyllic tropical island group. This is where you will experience Maldives charm and meet the locals on equal footing. During your visit to Malé, it is important that you include in your day itinerary the elegant Hukuru or Friday Mosque, which is a 17th century coral stone structure, and the Grand Friday Mosque which is just a short walk from the coral stone mosque. The Grand Friday Mosque is known for its iconic golden dome and it is open to tourists outside of the prayer time of the Muslims. Another important attraction in Malé is the National Museum. This famous Maldives landmark encapsulates the rich history and culture of the island group and houses some of the most important artifacts of Maldives, including the palanquins and thrones of the Sultan. The National Museum is located in the Sultan’s Park, which is the “green space” of Malé.

Your Maldives holiday experience is not complete if you don’t spend some time at the capital city’s fish market. The busy fish market mirrors the teeming economic activity that pervades within Malé. Holidaymakers come in droves to this place along the waterfront to sample the fresh catch of the day, which is usually gutted right before their eyes.

Weather

The Maldives boasts of a tropical and warm weather all year round. During the wet season, you will still experience temperature averages between the high 20s and low 30s. The monsoon season of Maldives is during the months from May to November, and there is an increased precipitation especially along the southern region of the island group.

The dry season in Maldives is characterized by the sharp dip in humidity and precipitation. It starts in the month of January and continues until the month April. It is during the months of February and March where we can experience the best weather, and it is also the time of the year when holidaymakers from Europe come in droves to escape the cold climate back home.SB

Overview

The Maldives is another word for luxury, tropical bliss and romance! Maldives is made up of a string of beautiful, low-lying islands located on the Indian Ocean. It is certainly a paradise for those who are sun seekers and diving enthusiasts. The country is made up of over one thousand islands that offer turquoise lagoons and perfect white sandy beaches. Tourism which began in 1970 in The Maldives has now become their most important industry. Tourism is geared towards the luxury market in the Maldives, which means that you can find some of the best hotels in the world here.

Whilst the Maldives is certainly a paradise island it is not without its share of problems. Maldives is low-lying, where 80 percent of its territory is less than 1 meter above sea level. The very existence of this spectacular country is threatened by the effects of global warming. Mohamed Nasheed, the young reformer since his election in 2008 has put in a lot of hard work to gear his country towards being environmentally friendly.

History of Maldives

The early settlers to the country were made up of Hindus and Buddhists from India in 500BC, however, Maldives by 1153 eventually converted into Islam and resisted the Portuguese attempts to convert the country into Christianity around the 16th century. The Maldives fell under the British during the 20th century and gained independence in 1965. The history of modernization is mostly shaped from 1978 to 2008 when Maumoon Gayoom was President. He ruled the Maldives unchallenged until he made concessions to allow a democratic election to take place in 2008. Mohamed Nasheed, the opposition leader and political dissident narrowly won the run-off election. Although Nasheed was imprisoned multiple times by Gayoom’s government, he in turn signaled that he would not prosecute any former government officials and has focused instead on various reforms including health care, education, environmental protection and social security.

Social Conventions

The majority of locals do not mix with tourists, except for the people involved in tourism. The government enforces informal dressing as local Muslims would be offended at scanty clothing or nudity in public places. Scanty beachwear and bikinis are only accepted on resort islands and not on any inhabited islands.

Sightseeing

Visitors can take a sunset boat cruise aboard a wooden boat called the Dhoni. This is the standard transportation mode in the Maldives. You can end your day in utter bliss aboard the Dhoni. The Dhoni will take you around the uninhabited islands, where you can mingle with local musicians whilst listening to their traditional drum playing and being served snacks and drinks. The underwater life in the Maldives is exceptionally plentiful and varied. Maldives is a top place in the world to go snorkeling. The resorts offer fully equipped and professional dive schools with a range of underwater activities. For visitors that enjoy fishing, a fishing trip aboard a modern speedboat is ideal. Learn to catch snappers, squirrelfish, barracuda and groupers at night and end the day with a sizzling barbecue with your own catch! Male is the capital city, tiny and crowded but a fantastic place to travel to and experience the real life away from all the islands and resorts. Visitors can visit the Male National Museum and view a collection of artifacts such as the palanquins and Sultan’s thrones. The museum is definitely worth a visit.

Things to Do

Shopping is fun and simple in the Maldives! Lacquered wooden boxes are known to be a unique Maldivian handicraft. These boxes are produced in Baa Atoll which are intricately crafted and made into ornamental objects and containers. The country also produced beautifully woven reed mats. Visitors can find the souvenir shops on Chaandanee Magu’s northern end also called the Singapore Bazzaar and many of the imports are from Singapore. There is a variety of local markets that offer fruits, vegetables, yams, sweetmeat, breadfruit chips, nuts and homemade pickles and sweets.

Weather

The weather in the Maldives has a tropical climate all year round. The two monsoons in the country are from May to October in the southwest, and again from November to April in the northeast. The southwest is known to bring in more rain and wind in the months of June and July. The temperature remains at 25 degrees Celsius.

M.A.H.