Location Information

Male, Maldives
Language: Italian, German, French, English, Dhivehi
Currency: Maldivian Rufiya (MVR)

The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island nation consisting of a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives' twenty-six atolls encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islets, roughly two hundred of which are inhabited by local communities.

Since very ancient times, the islands were ruled by sultans and occasionally sultanas. Historically Maldives has had a strategic importance because of its location on the major marine routes of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives provided the main source of cowrie shells, then used as a currency throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast. The Portuguese, and then the Dutch, and the French occasionally meddled with local politics. However, these interferences ended when the Maldives became a British Protectorate in the 19th century and the Maldivian monarchs were granted a good measure of self-governance.

The Maldives have a hot tropical climate. There are two monsoon seasons: the southwest islands are from May to October and the northeast islands are from November to April. Generally the southwest brings more wind and rain in June and July.

The capital of the Maldives, Malé, is situated close to the airport on the southern point of the North Malé Atoll. Although accommodation is available, very few foreign visitors stay in the capital; even those doing business normally stay in one of the nearby resort islands and travel to Malé by boat.
East of Baros is the island of Bandos, one of the larger resorts whose accommodation consists of well-furnished beach bungalows with a view of the beach. There is a particularly good diving school; one of the attractions is a dive down to the aptly-named Shark Point.

Malé, the capital, has a few simple restaurants which serve local and international food. On the other islands, there are a few restaurants in addition to those run by the resorts. Cuisine is international, with all foodstuffs other than seafood imported.

There is little or no organized nightlife, although most resorts have informal discos around the bar areas, sometimes featuring live bands playing either traditional or Western music. Beach parties and barbecues are also popular.

Malé is the capital of the Republic of Maldives located at the southern edge of North Male' Atoll Kaafu Atoll.

Traditionally it was the King's Island from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where the palace was located. Formerly it was a walled city surrounded by fortifications and gates. Royal Palace (Gan'duvaru) was destroyed along with the forts and bastions, when the city was remodelled under President Ibrahim Nasir's rule after the abolition of the monarchy.

The Islamic Centre is the most impressive architectural edifice of Male’. Its majestic golden dome is visible from all sides of the capital as it dominates the skyline. Situated right in front of the Huskuru Miskiiy, Mulee-aage is a palace built in 1906 by Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen III. The palace garden was used for growing vegetables to meet the shortage of food during World War II.

Medical Precautions:

Recommended Vaccinations:
Typhoid
Hepatitis A
Polio