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Information of Maldives |
Capital: Male
Official Language: Arabic
Currency: Rufiyaa
Maldives, a beautiful string of low-lying coral islands in the Indian Ocean is a traveler's favorite destination. Maldives consists of 26 natural atolls, approximately 1190 islands in all, most of them uninhabited. The name Maldives has been derived from "Mountain Islands" (malai, meaning "mountain" and teevu meaning "island" in Tamil). Some people believe that the name "Maldives" originates from the Sanskrit Maladvipa, meaning, "garland of islands", or from "mahila dvipa", meaning "island of women". This immaculate tropical island with its palm fringed pristine white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons, is really a paradise in the earth.
Major Cities of Maldives
Major cities of Maldives include Kulhudhuffushi, Male, Naifaru and Thinadhoo.
Tourist Attractions of Maldives
Male the capital city of Maldives is situated to the southern part of the North Male Atoll. It is a great business center with markets, mosques and clean city streets. The main attraction is the National Museum, located in the Sultan's Park displaying superb ancient artifacts including royal thrones and palanquins and Thor Heyerdahl's archaeological discoveries and stone carvings. Other destinations nearby are Islamic Center and Grand Friday Mosque with its majestic golden dome. The Grand Friday Mosque is the biggest mosque in the Maldives. The other important sites in Male' include 'Muleeaage' or the tombs of legendary saints and the Presidential Palace. The island of Baros, Bandos, Hudhuveli, Ihuru, Kurumba situated in the various atolls of Maldives offers marvelous scenic beauty. Most of the islands have well furnished beach bungalows and scuba diving facilities. The islands offer breathtaking views of the fabulous coral reefs, rich marine life and the various sea birds topping on the waves or flying across the blue sky. Nakatchafushi, situated on the west side of the North Male Atoll is the country's largest lagoon. The lagoon is perfect for water sports and a long strip of sand at the western end of the island is a haven for beachcombers. Most of the resorts in Maldives are located in the three atolls namely North Male Atoll, South Male Atoll and Ari Atoll. All the resorts here are gorgeous and offer great diving possibilities. Though the three atolls are apparently similar, they differ considerably in their services of comfort, cuisine, and for diverse excursions and activities. Other places to hang around in Maldives are the fish market, Baa Atoll, Kudahuvadhoo and Fuamulaku islands. Banana Reef is a protected marine area with dramatic cliffs, caves, brilliant coral growths; big predators such as sharks, barracuda and prolific reef fish. Banana Reef is one of the first internationally renowned dive sites of Maldives.
Accommodation and Transport in Maldives
Regular flights connect Maldives to Colombo (Sri Lanka), Trivandrum (southwest India), Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). There are numerous charter flights from various European in the peak season. Male International Airport is the only international gateway. The departure tax is USD12.00 and is included in the ticket price. There are regular cargo ships but private yachts are risky because the reefs are so hazardous and cruising permits are restrictive. Most of the resorts are to be found in Male (Kaafu) Atoll. A few are found in Vaavu, Baa and Lhaviyani. Alifu (Ari) Atoll has been declared the new Tourism Zone of the Maldives and work to upgrade and build new resorts is progressing in this area. All resorts offer night-fishing trips, superb snorkeling and windsurfing. Most islands have facilities for adventure sporting like scuba diving, catamaran sailing, para sailing, banana boating, water-skiing and volleyball. Some offer other sporting facilities, including badminton, tennis and golf. Surrounded by a colorful reef, the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa on the exotic isles of Rangali and Ranglifinolhu is a unique beach resort with charmingly rustic but totally luxurious interiors complementing its glorious island setting. Mookai Hotel and Apartment, Nasandhra Palace Hotel and the Kam Hotel are some popular hotels lying in the heart of the capital city of Male. They offer luxurious and comfortable accommodation to the travelers. There are also hotels of moderate budgets that cater to common people.
Precaution in Maldives
On December 26 2004 a massive earthquake struck off the west coast of Indonesia. The quake created a tsunami - a series of huge waves that spread destruction across many parts of Asia and reached shores of Maldives also. As a result many of the islands of Maldives were flooded. Many luxury resorts were forced to close for several months for repair and rebuilding work. Those wishing to travel to the Maldives should check with a
reliable tour operator, tourist board or embassy for the latest information prior to travel.
For further details and information on Maldives and its tourist destinations browse more pages of allwonderscountries
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