About Maldives

The Maldives are a group of 1,190 coral islands in the Indian Ocean that are organized into two chains of 27 atolls. Most atolls are made up of a sizable, ring-shaped coral reef that supports a number of little islands

HISTORY OF MALDIVES

The Maldives are a group of 1,190 coral islands in the Indian Ocean that are organized into two chains of 27 atolls. Most atolls are made up of a sizable, ring-shaped coral reef that supports a number of little islands. Only 298 square kilometers of the nation's over 90,000 square kilometer size is made up of dry land.

No island is longer than eight kilometers, and each island ranges in size from one to two square kilometers on average. The highest island in the Maldives, at a height of 3 meters, is located between 1 and 1.5 meters above sea level. Although the Maldives is mostly flat and devoid of physical features like hills or rivers, some of the islands do have dunes, such those on the Hithadhoo island of the Addu Atoll and wetlands and marshes on the Fuvahmulah island of the Gnaviyani Atoll.

The Maldives is renowned for its white sandy beaches, pristine turquoise waters and unique underwater marine life. Baa Atoll in the Indian Ocean, which is home to a globally significant biodiversity among its various reefs, was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011. The people of the Maldives islands are widely dispersed across the atolls, with about 200 inhabited islands. About 164 islands are developed as tourist resorts and the remaining islands are uninhabited or used for agriculture & other livelihood purposes. The capital of the Maldives is Male.

History

Most Historical Places In Maldives

Thoddoo Buddhist Temple

This place again lays evidence of Buddhism as a culture that once flourished in the Maldives. The site was discovered recently in the 1950s, and retains ruins of Buddhist artefacts. Presently the area holds temple wrecks, roman coins and some silver relics from the ancient times. A Buddhist statue buried in the nearby area is a clear hint that Buddhism was practised long back in the country.

Tomb of Muhammad Thakurufaanu

Located in the backstreets of the Male town is the tomb of Maldives' national hero, Mohammed Thakurufaanu Al-Auzam who liberated the nation from the Portuguese colonial rule. The tomb is visited by many to pay respect to one of the greatest rulers of Maldivian islands.

Isdhoo Buddhist Stupas

Origins of the Maldives’ Buddhist history can be found on the island of Isdhoo in the Laamu Atoll. Many of the Buddhist landmarks were replaces with mosques after the country was converted, but excavated ruins on the island reveal remains of Buddhist stupas. The discovery was made after Buddhist images and artifacts were uncovered on the island. The Isdhoo Buddhist stupas are now just small mounds.

Grand Friday Mosque

The Grand Friday Mosque in Male is one attraction that, with its towering golden dome, gathers the attention of all visitors. The mosque is part of the Islamic Centre which is at the Male's centre and is located right next to the main jetty of Male, thus making it easy to spot, even from the sea.

Tomb of Sultan Ibrahim III

This tomb is an essential site of attraction for tourists and is located in the South of Ari Atolls. The tomb was built for Sultan Ibrahim III, a ruler of the Maldives who was killed during a foreign invasion. Sultan Ibrahim III is popularly remembered for using a sunshade on his throne, and is credited for establishing the same trend.

British War Memorial

Constructed on the Gan Island in Addi Atoll, this place was established to pay homage to the British soldiers who died while serving in the Royal Air Force from 1941 to 1971. This iconic place also has cannons from World War 2 that are placed facing the Memorial to safeguard it.

Thoddoo Buddhist Temple

This place again lays evidence of Buddhism as a culture that once flourished in the Maldives. The site was discovered recently in the 1950s, and retains ruins of Buddhist artefacts. Presently the area holds temple wrecks, roman coins and some silver relics from the ancient times. A Buddhist statue buried in the nearby area is a clear hint that Buddhism was practised long back in the country.

Tomb of Muhammad Thakurufaanu

Located in the backstreets of the Male town is the tomb of Maldives' national hero, Mohammed Thakurufaanu Al-Auzam who liberated the nation from the Portuguese colonial rule. The tomb is visited by many to pay respect to one of the greatest rulers of Maldivian islands.

Isdhoo Buddhist Stupas

Origins of the Maldives’ Buddhist history can be found on the island of Isdhoo in the Laamu Atoll. Many of the Buddhist landmarks were replaces with mosques after the country was converted, but excavated ruins on the island reveal remains of Buddhist stupas. The discovery was made after Buddhist images and artifacts were uncovered on the island. The Isdhoo Buddhist stupas are now just small mounds.

Grand Friday Mosque

The Grand Friday Mosque in Male is one attraction that, with its towering golden dome, gathers the attention of all visitors. The mosque is part of the Islamic Centre which is at the Male's centre and is located right next to the main jetty of Male, thus making it easy to spot, even from the sea.

Tomb of Sultan Ibrahim III

This tomb is an essential site of attraction for tourists and is located in the South of Ari Atolls. The tomb was built for Sultan Ibrahim III, a ruler of the Maldives who was killed during a foreign invasion. Sultan Ibrahim III is popularly remembered for using a sunshade on his throne, and is credited for establishing the same trend.

British War Memorial

Constructed on the Gan Island in Addi Atoll, this place was established to pay homage to the British soldiers who died while serving in the Royal Air Force from 1941 to 1971. This iconic place also has cannons from World War 2 that are placed facing the Memorial to safeguard it.

MALDIVES CLIMATE

The Maldives are the ideal location for a luxurious getaway because of their stunning scenery, lovely beaches, and wonderful tropical weather. The Maldives enjoys a tropical monsoon environment with high temperatures all year round because of its close proximity to the equator. The warmest months of the year are March and April, with annual average temperatures ranging from 26 to 29 °C. The Maldives don't really experience winter because the lowest temperature rarely falls below a comfortable 24 °C.

The Maldives' dry season, which lasts from November to April, is hot and bright with clear skies. During this time, many guests enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and island hopping on the beach thanks to the wonderful weather. The Maldives also have stunning tropical waters, and April, when the water is 30°C, is the finest month for swimming. The dry season, which is renowned as the most favored time to travel, is also the busiest and most expensive. Between May and October is when it rains the most because of the tropical monsoon. The monsoon season is typically relatively moderate and significantly less severe than in neighboring nations. On northern islands, the south-west monsoon, which occurs from May to September, is stronger and creates winds and choppy seas. High humidity and frequent clouds are also present at this season in the Maldives. The wettest month is September, which receives 243mm of rain on average.

The northeast monsoon, which occurs from October to late November, is less powerful and typically delivers afternoon thunderstorms and short showers, though these typically pass quickly. Despite it being monsoon season, there have only been 11 cyclones in the Maldives in the past 100 years.

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Population

MALDIVES PEOPLE & CULTURE

Although virtually little is known about the Maldives' ancient past, researchers and historians think that the country was populated more than 2500 years ago. The Indian Ocean has seen interactions between people of many races and ethnicities for thousands of years as it has travelled around the world. These encounters have resulted in the development of the Maldivian race.

Due to its geographic location, the nation was undoubtedly a melting pot of individuals from different cultures, as seen by its distinctive cultural traditions and the varied physical characteristics of its citizens. Maldivians have experienced a variety of genetic and cultural impacts over the years. In the physical characteristics of the people and in the culture, particularly in the traditional drumming dance of Bodu Beru with its echoes of Africa, it is possible to discover traces of Africa, Arabia, Indonesia, and India. The island environment and the oceans that surround the Maldivians have influenced their unique culture, craft, and traditions.

In 2020, the population is projected to reach little over 500,000. A third of the population lives in the capital city of Male', while the rest live in other inhabited islands across the country.

Maldivians have historically relied on the seas for their livelihood, with fishing serving as the primary food supply. The main source of income for the Maldivian economy nowadays is tourism, despite the fact that fishery still makes a considerable contribution to the economy in terms of jobs and income.