Maldives is an island nation of a total 1190 islands, formed in 26 natural atolls. Located in the Indian Ocean, south-west of Trivandrum, India and east-west of Sri Lanka (approximately 1 hour flight from Colombo or Trivandrum). The closest neighbors are India and SriLanka. Only 200 of these islands are inhabited while more than 80 of the island are developed into resort islands. The population is around 340,000 and almost a quarter live on the capital Male' island, which is just 10 minutes boat ride from the International airport. Male' is the commercial hub of the country.
The Capital of the Maldives is Male' pronounced "Ma-ley". The population is about 70,000 and is home for almost one-forth of the total population of the country. This is the base for all the economic activities. The city also has a few places of historical interest.
The international airport is located on the island of Hulhule. There are more than 2 dozens of international schedule flights flying into Maldives from major cities in asia, middle east and Europe. These include SriLankan Airways, Qatar airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Indian Airlines, Balkan, Bulgarian Airlines, LTU, Condor, AOM French, Austrian Airlines and Malaysian Airlines, with some of these airlines flying daily, weekly or twice a week.
No prior visa is needed to enter Maldives and all tourists are given a free 30 days visa on arrival. Tourist visa can be extended upto 90 days for a fee of approx. USD90.00 and upon approval.
There are islands offering nothing but relaxing and comfort. Most of the resorts offer a variety of sports and water sports, which include volley ball, beach volley, snooker, billiard, table-tennis, badminton, football, squash, tennis, carom, swimming pool, etc. Available water sports include Wind surfing, wave surfing, catamaran, sailing, fishing, night fishing, big game fishing, Para-sailing, banana riding, jet-ski, etc.. Almost every island has a dive center.
More than 80 of the uninhabited islands have been developed as resort islands. Each island represent one resort and most of the resorts are located in Male', and Ari atoll. These island vary in size and shape. Some are only 40 meters wide and some 1Km in width. The number of rooms vary from 8 to 350. All rooms are built a few meters from the beach and they come in individual bungalows and room blocks of 2 to 4. Some resorts also have got rooms built on concrete or wooden stilts in the lagoon - These water bungalows are very popular among tourists.
The Maldive Islands feature several noteworthy attractions which should be experienced by every traveller to the islands. With the islands’ seafaring heritage and diverse foreign influences many interesting sights are to be seen here.
The Grand Friday Mosque or Masjid-al-Sultan as it is locally known, is one of the islands’ finest sights. Constructed in the 17th century by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar, this magnificent edifice accommodates no less than 5,000 persons.
Male’s National Museum is another highlight in the Maldives. Located in a charming colonial edifice the museum houses a mesmerizing range of artefacts.
The President’s Palace is a site of interest which should not be omitted. This magnificent building is the official residence of the President of the Maldives. Although it is not open to the public, visitors may photograph the splendid exterior. The building was constructed just prior to World War I by Sultan Shamsuddeen III.
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