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THE MALDIVES

Republic of Maldives

THE MALDIVES RESORTS OF MALDIVES MALDIVES AT A GLANCE RESORTS IN MALDIVES ( A - Z )

The Maldives

The Maldives has always been a unique nation. Apart from a period of Portuguese domination in the Sixteenth century and carrying the status of a British Protectorate from 1887 to 1965, the archipelago has been an independent archipelago for at least twenty-five centuries.

The Maldives is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement. The Maldives maintains a very cordial relationship with the international community and the Maldivians themselves take pride in their hospitality and friendliness!

The population of the Maldives currently stands slightly in excess of a quarter of a million. A common language (Dhivehi) and a religion (Islam) have been two blessings that unite the people into a cohesive and peaceful society. Pride is taken in tradition 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. This tradition of welcoming visitors continues?..

We dare you to come here and count exactly how many islands there are in the country. They say that counting the islands including the sand spits is like trying to count how many stars there are in the sky! So, the commonly agreed upon figure of 1190 is but an approximation. These islands are grouped into natural atolls that are protected by surrounding reefs. The islands are of pure white coral sand are low lying, the highest point on any give island being no more than a meter and a half above sea level. Coconut palms and an abundance of tropical plants make these islands an idyllic place for your holiday if you want to see nature at its best.

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 any time! The skies are usually clear and the sun shines brightly. That is when the cooling sea breezes, about which poems have been written, bring about the romantic in you.

If you are a surfer you will find just the right waves in some places. If you are a divining enthusiast, be prepared for a binge! The white coral beaches are simply unbelievable. The fishing is out of this world. Perhaps because of this, the Maldives is increasingly becoming one of the most sought after holiday destinations in the world. We chip in by making our tourist resorts provide all the mod cons to make you all the more comfortable.

And coming here is as easy as catching a plane. Catch one of the many scheduled or charter flights operating on a regular basis from points of origin in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. You, as our welcome guest, are issued thirty-day tourist visa on arrival at Male? International Airport.

Maldives at a glance

Land Area : 1,190 islands with a land area of 115 square miles (298 sq. km)

Sea Area : Approx. 41,500 square miles (107,500 sq. km)

Geographical Location : Indian Ocean (Exclusively coral island atolls.)

Immediate Neighbours : India and Sri Lanka (both located northeast of Maldives) The Shortest distance from the mainland of India is 217 miles (350 km) and from Sri Lanka 460 miles (740 km).

Latitude : 07 degrees 06' 30" N to 00 degrees 41'48" S

Longitude : 72 degrees 32'30" E to 73 degrees 45'54" E

Climate : The climate is influenced by the monsoon winds blowing across the Indian Ocean. The monsoon type brings two major climatic variations to the Maldives. The South-west monsoon extends from May to October and brings more rain accompanied by wind. The North-east monsoon extends from November to April and is drier and brings less wind. Being an equatorial country, the Maldives has abundant sunshine and an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. Convection air currents bring huge downpours occasionally. The relative humidity ranges from 73% to 85%.

Status : Republic

Population : 2,70,000 (1998 official estimate)

Capital : Malé (Area: 1.77 sq.kms)

International Airport : Malé International Airport on Hulhulé Island, two kilometeres east of Malé

Domestic Airports : Gan Airport, Hanimaadhoo Airport, Kadhdhoo Airport and Kaadedhdhoo Airport

Maldives Standard Time : +5 hrs GMT

Religion : Islam (100 percent Sunni Muslims - Islam was introduced around A.D.800, and the moderate form practiced in Maldives has remained virtually unchanged.)

Languages : Dhivehi is the national language. The script is called "Thaana". English is widely spoken in the government offices, business sectors and the main taught language at schools.

Literacy Rate : 98.2 percent (Age group 10-45 yrs)

Temperature : 30.4 degrees C (Mean Max) - 25.4 degrees C (Mean Min)

Average Annual Rainfall : 1948.2mm

Electricity : 220 - 240 volts

Currency : Maldivian Rufiyaa (1 US$ = Rf 12.85)

Political Status : Since 1965, an Independent republic with a democratically elected parliament. President is the head of the government, elected every 5 years.

Working Hours : Sunday to Thursday

Banks : 8 am - 1.30 pm (Sun to Thu),

Government Offices : 8.30 am - 4.00 pm (Sun to Thu),

Fri and Sat holidays.

Private Offices: Open between 8 am and 10 am and close between 6 pm and 8 pm, with a lunch break in between.

Credit Cards : American Express, Diners Club, Euro card, JCB, MasterCard, Visa

Major Industries : Tourism, fish canning, manufacture of garments, boat building, and handicrafts.

National Flag : The colours red, green and white characterize the Maldivian National flag: The green rectangle, which represents the innumerable palm trees, the life source of the islands, is surrounded by red, the blood of the nation’s heroes in sacrifice, and is dominated by a white crescent in the centre - the symbol of Islamic faith.

National Emblem : The crescent, a star, a coconut palm, two national flags and a banner with the traditional title of the state “ Ad Dawlat, Al Mahaldheebiyya” (“The State of the Maldives”) represent the National emblem used on government documents.

National Tree : Maldivians have done the beneficial coconut palm justice by declaring it the National Tree in 1985. All parts of it can and are used; there is no waste. Its branches are used as material for the roofs, giving them their thatch-like appearance and for brooms, essential for the daily sweeping of the roads and yards. On special occasions you can admire huge fish or other objects and decorations made out of these branches - an art form in itself.
The fruit itself is an essential part of Maldivian cuisine, the juice of a young fruit “kurumba”, is a delicious, refreshing drink, the ripe coconut is used with dried fish, in short eats or as coconut milk.

Coconut shells are a good source of fuel keeping a fire burning for a long time and on the islands you can still find specially made irons heated by these shells.

National Flower : The pink rose was declared National Flower in 1985. It is a rare beauty - just like the country it represents.

Pink Rose (Rosa Polyantha)

Clothing : Light weight cottons and linens.

Shopping : The capital Malé being the centre of commercial activity is the ideal place to shop. Shops open between 7.30 and 9.30 am, closing at 11.pm. On Fridays they open at 1.30 pm, closing as usual. All shops close for 15 minutes at every prayer time.

Festivals and ceremonies :

Bodu Eid (Big Eid)

Alhaa Eid is celebrated after the completion of the annual Hajj prayer, during which many people go on pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca, a must for every Muslim once in his/her lifetime if he/she can afford it. Masses of people go to the airport to see their relatives off or to welcome them back from the journey.
Special prayers, feasts and Eid games are held during Bodu Eid and on some islands people are splashed with water, and during this holiday many people visit other islands to enjoy the festivities.

Kuda Eid (Small Eid)

When the new moon is sighted, which is usually announced by a canon in Malé and via television, Kuda Eid, Fithru Eid, is celebrated, marking the end of Ramazan.
The day starts with a prayer and is followed by a special lunch to which all the relatives and friends are invited. Offerings, money or food are given to charity and people buy new clothes to wear for the Eid parade in the afternoon when the main streets are filled with a festive atmosphere, colourful bands and route marchers.
Everybody is greeted with Eid Mubarak” (Eid Greetings!) and cards are given to relatives and friends.

Circumcision

According to Islamic practice boys are circumcised between the ages of 4 and 8.
On the islands it is usually done by the hakeem, the local doctor, in Malé by circumcisers or in hospital. It’s impossible to miss a house, where boys have been circumcised, as it is spectacularly decorated and the centre of entertainment, such as Maldivian dances, boduberu (traditional drum music), Thaara, Bandiyaa Jehun, live bands and lots of well wishers. The boy or boys lie in the middle of the room on a bed with a tent-like cloth suspended by string from the ceiling over their middle. They are surrounded by relatives 24 hours a day, who massage their feet and make sure they are comfortable.
Every visitor brings presents, an enormous amount of delicious food is offered and the celebration usually goes on until the early hours of the morning.
After a week when the boy has recovered the festivities are over. Usually these “circumcision parties” take place during the school holidays and often parents get together to minimize costs.

Birth

Traditionally a baby is named on the seventh day after its birth and an Arabic name is given. A special prayer is held. Family and close friends are invited to a party or feast and food is given to the poor. On many islands babies are usually shaven for this occasion.

Fasting for 30 days

The most important occasion in the religious calendar is Ramazan (or Ramadan, known in Dhivehi as Roadhanmas), the ninth month of the Muslim year calendar, a moveable fast on the Gregorian calendar. It is rigidly observed in Maldives with fasting for 30 days from near dawn until sunset each day. All tea shops and restaurants are closed during day time, after call for prayer at sunset the restaurants and teashops will be opened till after mid-night. Not only food is renounced but Muslims are also supposed to abstrain from all worldly pleasures while fasting. For guests on the resort islands, however, life goes on as usual. Fasting during Ramazan is one of the principles of Islam, based on the words of the Holy Prophet who said "whoever fasts during Ramazan out of faith seeking no rewards will have all past sins forgiven"

Maldivian Dances : The folk dance and music, which we see and hear today, are only art of the wider range of music played by the old Maldivians.

RESORTS OF MALDIVES

In many ways Maldivian resorts are unique. To begin with, each resort is on its own island and therefore when you are holidaying on one, the whole island is yours to enjoy. Consequently each resort has to be self-contained - producing its own electricity, desalinates its own water and has its own waste disposal facilities.

There are certain set standards when islands are planned for tourism development. In every resort island that is developed the building area should not exceed twenty percent of the total land area of the island. The buildings should not rise above the vegetation line. All guest rooms built should have five linear metres of beach in front.

Each resort has its own unique natural beauty, style and concept. Some have been carefully planned to give you an atmosphere of total peace and relaxation while others offer a variety of activities, games and entertainment. While some have been developed using local architectural features and designs, others have incorporated more modern international styles.