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.
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”.
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 inboun
d guest and the tropical paradise of the Maldives.
