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With its
natural charm and pristine beauty, the Maldives is today widely
described as the last paradise. Fascination with the Maldives is by no
means recent; it goes back through the mists of time to antiquity. The
islands, which rose out of the ocean in rings and rows of marvel, and
stretched across the traditional shipping lanes of the region, were a
crucial crossroads for early civilizations.
For Ptolemy, the Greek geographer, the Maldives was a multitude of
islands. Ancient Chinese navigators, referring to the maze of lagoons
and reefs that require great care in navigation, knew it as the Three
Thousand Weak Waters. Marco Polo, the Venetian traveler, found the
islands to be “the flower of the Indies”. For Ibn Batuta, who traveled
extensively during the 14th century and actually lived on the islands,
the Maldives was “one of the wonders of the world”.
The Sanskrit word, Maladiv, means a garland of islands. The Maldives is
in fact an archipelago of some 1,190 islands, formed into 26 natural
atolls, and grouped in double rows like a necklace of islands, set
vertically across the equator and situated in the Indian Ocean. The
archipelago of Maldives is made up of small, low-lying white sandy
islands and islets each abundant and unique in its natural splendor.
Its principal building blocks being coral, the Maldivian seas with its
bountiful and colorful underwater fauna and flora is the closest you
can get to an underwater paradise. These qualities together with the
hospitality offered by the resorts and the Maldivian people have made
it one of the most desired tourist destinations of the world.
It is believed that these unique coral atolls were formed about 65 to
200 million years ago from the crust of a deceased volcanic mountain
range. The atolls (the word atoll was adapted to English from its
Maldivian origin “atholhu”) are formed from coral barrier reefs. The
part of the reefs which protrude from the sea form into islands, as
destroyed coral parts gather thus giving them the attribute of white
sandy beaches. Having being protected by the reefs, the lagoons are
calm and crystal-clear with abundant species of fish and coral. Out of
the total of some 1,190 islands in the Maldives, about 200 are
inhabited. The total land area of all these islands put together will
amount to the size of a small city. The capital of the country is
Male’, situated within close proximity of the island that house the
Male’ International airport.
Historical evidence indicates that the Maldives was settled more than
2,400 years ago. According to the Norwegian explorer, Thor Heyerdahl,
it is possible that the islands were inhabited as early as 1900 BC.
Despite frequent contact with those who sailed the ocean, the people of
the Maldives have always remained uniquely homogenous in terms of
language, religion and culture.
The people of the Maldives embraced Islam in 1153. Except for a few
brief spells, the country has remained independent throughout its
history. A strong community spirit and an ability to rise to the
challenges that they have faced have helped the people remain free.
Their lifestyle shows an industriousness and ingenuity that makes the
most of their limited natural resources, and a remarkable adaptability
to changing circumstances. These are traits which have helped
Maldivians thrive amidst the changing cultural and political tides that
have washed the shores of these islands from time immemorial.
Maldivians have a proud heritage and a rich culture adapted to island
life. For thousands of years the Maldivian people have been host to
travelers from far corners of the world and their kindness and
hospitality are impeccably renowned. It is with the same enthusiasm and
hospitality that they welcome all tourists who come to share the beauty
of these islands.
Maldives won its independence from the British in 1965 and has been a
republic since 1968. The Maldives is a member of the UN, the
Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement and it maintains a very
cordial relationship with the international community. The population
of the country currently stands slightly in excess of a quarter of a
million. The common language (Dhivehi) and religion (Islam) unite the
people into a cohesive and peaceful society. Tradition is valued though
not at the expense of development and modernization. Maldivians are
generally not race conscious, perhaps because the country has been
inhabited for centuries during which visitors from as far apart as
China, Africa, Arabia and Persia have been assimilated into the
society.
It is said that nobody can accurately say how many islands there are in
the Maldives if one counts the smaller islets and sandbanks. The
commonly agreed upon figure is 1,190. The highest point on any given
island is no more than a meter and a half above sea level. Coconut
palms and various tropical plants grow in abundance on most islands and
present an idyllic setting for those who love nature at its best.
Because the Maldives actually straddles the equator, the climate is
tropical, with no major seasonal differences. Though the southwest
monsoon does bring most of the rain, mostly around June and July,
tropical rain showers can occur at any time. Normally, the skies are
clear and the sun shines brightly, while cooling sea breezes waft
through the islands.
As of the early 1970’s, when tourism was introduced in the Maldives, it
has increasingly become one of the most sought after holiday
destinations in the world. Surfers find just the right waves in some
places. Divers find the underwater coral gardens a veritable heaven.
Beach buffs find the pure white coral beaches simply marvelous. The
fishing is excellent. And perhaps, the creation and the running of very
modern tourist resorts with all the conveniences of the 20th century
help out. And certainly, the naturally outgoing and hospitable nature
of the Maldivian himself makes a second visit worth looking forward to.
Out of the 1,190 islands, about 90 islands have been dedicated as
self-contained, tourist resorts with all the facilities that a modern
tourist would desire to be provided on the island. The white sandy
beaches and the shallow lagoons that surround the islands provide a
relaxing environment to spend an undisturbed holiday. The guest rooms
in most of the resorts are situated at the waterfront, hence you will
have a private beach where you could relax with all the privacy that
you may desire to your heart’s fulfillment.
Since the reefs that surround the islands are rich with colorful
fishes, the waters around the resorts would be ideal for snorkeling.
For those who are adventurous, diving schools certified by
international diving associations are found in most of the resorts
which can cater for the novice, the amateur as well as the
professional.
The international cuisines and dishes served at the restaurants and
coffee shops at the resorts are masterfully blended by well-trained
chefs to add to your unforgettable experience in the Maldives.
Continental, Thai, Chinese, Italian, French, Indian as well as a la
carte menus are available in most of the resorts. The importance that
the resort operators attach to the satisfaction of guests are
substantiated by the fact that a number of resorts employ chefs from
Europe and Asia so that the particular tastes of the guests from these
regions could be served without any blemish.
When it comes to getting there, the Maldives is easily accessible,
especially by air. Scheduled and charter flights operate on a regular
basis from points of origin in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Visitors are issued 30-day tourist visas on arrival at Male’
International airport. Apart from normal Customs and Port Health
formalities, there is hardly anything that stands in the way of the
inbound guest and the tropical paradise of the Maldives. |
