There are few secrets left in the world. The exotic has, in time, turned into commonplace, but the Maldives remains an exception, both exotic and still a secret. It’s a place where your holiday begins with your expectations already fulfilled. It’s a corner of the world so pristine, so beautiful that you would want keep as your very own little secret.
The Maldives is situated in the South West of Sri Lanka, on the equator. The numerous coral reef islands, 1,190 in total, form an archipelago of 26 natural atolls ( groups of neighboring coral islands).
These 26 atolls are organized 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 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.
The climate is generally warm and humid. Sun shines all year through with average temperature around 29 - 32 degrees Celsius. The country's 2000 population census shows a total of 270,101 people living in the country. Almost 2/3 of this figure resides in the capital island Male'.
Origins of the Maldivians are not very certain. However, it is believed that the history goes as far back as BC 1000. Early settlers were travelers on the Silk Route, and from the Indus Valley Civilization. The Maldivians are inherently warm, friendly and hospitable by nature, and anyone can easily establish a casual conversation with the Maldivians. Dhivehi, a fantastic language not spoken anywhere else on the globe, is the language spoken in all parts of the Maldives. English is widely spoken and can be recognized on signboards, neon lights and even in the main newspapers and in some radio and TV programmes. In the resorts, a variety of languages, including English, German, Italian, French and Japanese, is spoken by the staff.
Dress is generally casual. T-shirts and cotton clothing are most suitable. In the inhabited islands, it is recommended that women wear modest clothing without baring too much.
The latest archaeological findings suggest the islands were inhabited as early as 1500 BC. Around 947 AD, recorded contact with the outside world began with the first Arab traveler. One can imagine accounts taken home depicting the potential for trade in pearls, spices, coconuts, dried fish, and certainly the abundance of cowry shells. The cowry shells were the accepted currency from Africa to China until the sixteenth century. Together with the description of the exotic paradise islands and expensive natural resources, the news the travelers must have taken home probably resulted in the arrival of more ships bearing traders and other travelers. The outside world influenced Maldivian life significantly as legends and history reveal. Early traders found Buddhist customs and practices. But the greatest contribution made by the Persian and Arab Travelers was the conversion of the Maldivians to Islam in 1153 AD. Dhivehi (Maldivian language) also underwent a certain conversion as a result of contact with the outside world. Perhaps blending rather than converting better describes the evolution of Dhives Akuru to Thaana, the present-day script. The writing of Thaana is from right to left, unlike Dhives Akuru, probably to accommodate the many Arabic words then in everyday use.
The Maldives has been an independent state throughout its known history, except for a brief period of 15 years of Portuguese occupation in the 16th century. The Maldives became a British Protectorate in 1887 and remained so until 26 July 1965. The independent Maldives reverted from a Sultanate to a Republic on 11th November 1968. The first written constitution was proclaimed in 1932. It seems certain that the islands of Maldives were first settled by Aryan immigrants who are believed to have colonized Sri Lanka at the same time, (around 500 BC). Further migration from South India, as well as Sri Lanka, occurred.
There are few secrets left in the world. The exotic has, in time, turned into commonplace, but the Maldives remains an exception, both exotic and still a secret. It’s a place where your holiday begins with your expectations already fulfilled. It’s a corner of the world so pristine, so beautiful that you would want keep as your very own little secret. The Maldives is situated in the South West of Sri Lanka, on the equator. The numerous coral reef islands, 1,190 in total, form an archipelago of 26 natural atolls ( groups of neighboring coral islands). These 26 atolls are organized 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 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.
The climate is generally warm and humid. Sun shines all year through with average temperature around 29 - 32 degrees Celsius. The country's 2000 population census shows a total of 270,101 people living in the country. Almost 2/3 of this figure resides in the capital island Male'.
Origins of the Maldivians are not very certain. However, it is believed that the history goes as far back as BC 1000. Early settlers were travelers on the Silk Route, and from the Indus Valley Civilization. The Maldivians are inherently warm, friendly and hospitable by nature, and anyone can easily establish a casual conversation with the Maldivians. Dhivehi, a fantastic language not spoken anywhere else on the globe, is the language spoken in all parts of the Maldives. English is widely spoken and can be recognized on signboards, neon lights and even in the main newspapers and in some radio and TV programmes. In the resorts, a variety of languages, including English, German, Italian, French and Japanese, is spoken by the staff.
Dress is generally casual. T-shirts and cotton clothing are most suitable. In the inhabited islands, it is recommended that women wear modest clothing without baring too much.
