MALDIVES

Maldives, officially the Republic of the Maldives and also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean consisting of a double chain of twenty-six atolls, oriented north-south, that lie between Minicoy Island (the southernmost part of Lakshadweep, India) and the Chagos Archipelago. The chains stand in the Laccadive Sea, about 700 kilometers (430 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 kilometers (250 mi) south-west of India. For the majority of its history, the Maldives has been an independent polity, despite three instances during which it was ruled by outside forces. In the mid-15th century, for fifteen years, the Maldives was dominated by the Portuguese Empire. In the mid-17th century, the Dutch Empire (Malabar) dominated Maldives for four months. Finally, in the late 19th century, on the brink of war, the Maldives became a British protectorate from 1887 until 1965. The Dutch referred to the islands as the “Maldivische Eilanden” while the British anglicised the local name for the islands first to the “Maldive Islands” and later to the “Maldives”. The islands gained independence from the British Empire in 1965 and became a republic in 1968 ruled by a president and an authoritarian government. Strung out along the equator in the Indian Ocean are the 26 atolls that make up the tiny country of Maldives. Brilliant white sands, azure blue seas, tropical palms, sun and surf, the Maldives is an ideal destination to lie back, sip a drink and tan a delightful bronze. Pamper yourself or rather let others pamper you as you sit back and relax in one of the luxurious resorts. If a holiday spells action for you, test the surf on your surfboard or dive in the waters to admire the exotic marine life or just simply hold her hand and walk on the soft white sand as the sun sets over the blue sea. Capital: Male Best time to Visit: 1.It’s monsoon all around the year in Maldives but in varying degrees. The main tourist season is from December to March when the sun comes out often. 2.Tourist activity peaks around the Christmas-New Year week. It’s wise to book in advance for this time. 3.The rest of the year is prone to heavier rainfall but there many days even then which are bright and glorious. 4. For serious divers the months of April and November (when the weather’s changing) are supposed to offer exceptionally clear waters and the best viewing. Minimum Days required: 4 days Places of Interest: 1.Thilafushi 2.Hulhule Island 3.Villingili 4.National Museum 5.Male Climate: 1.Being an equatorial region means that Maldives has one more or less constant season, and in this case it’s a constant monsoon. 2.The variation is only a question of less or more: December to March (‘iruvai’) the rains are less severe, April to November (‘hulhangu’) it can get squally and intensely wet. Currency: Rufiyaa ( Rf) Things to carry: 1.You should bring in all your essentials from home as far as possible. In Maldives your Gillette blades and Camay soap are probably from home anyway but twice as expensive as if you had bought it there in the first place. 2.Bring plenty of sun protection with a high SPF so you can bronze without burning. 3.Also light cottons, beachwear, snorkeling gear (if you own any), and umbrella/raincoat. How to get there: Air 1.The main international airport of Maldives is the Male International Airport located in the Hulhule Island, 2.5 km from the capital. The airport has flights from Delhi, Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur and all other major cities of South East Asia.