Brief information
The Maldives is probably the most remote corner of Asia, but despite this, every year hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world fly there to enjoy their holidays in this exotic paradise world. Be prepared that in the Maldives you will be met by the warm Indian Ocean with clear water (in which you will see amazingly beautiful corals), as well as snow-white sandy beaches surrounded by groves of coconut palms and fruit trees.
Geography of the Maldives
The island state of the Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, about 700 km southwest of Sri Lanka and 400 km from India. The Maldives covers the territory of 26 atolls. The total area of this country, including all the islands (and there are more than a hundred of them) is 298 km2.
There are no mountains in the Maldives. In general, the highest point of the Maldives does not exceed 2.4 meters. Also, there are no rivers and lakes in the Maldives.
Capital
According to itypemba.com, the capital of the Maldives is Male, which is now home to more than 100 thousand people. Male was built in the Middle Ages as the residence of the Maldivian sultan.
Official language of the Maldives
The official language in the Maldives is Dhivehi, belonging to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family.
Religion
The majority of the population of the Maldives are Sunni Muslims.
State structure of the Maldives
According to equzhou.net, the Maldives is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, who has been elected for 5 years since 2008. The President appoints the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet of Ministers.
The parliament in the Maldives is unicameral – the People’s Majlis. Deputies of the Mejlis are also elected for a 5-year term (their number may vary).
Climate and weather
The climate in the Maldives is subequatorial monsoonal. There are two periods of monsoons – northeast monsoons (dry season) from November to March and southwest monsoons (rain) from June to August. In other words, the dry season in the Maldives lasts from November to April (March and April are the hottest months of the year), and the wet season lasts from May to early November.
The air temperature in the Maldives ranges from +23C to +33C, and tends closer to +30C.
Air temperature in the Maldives (average):
– January – +27С
– February – +28С
– March – +29С
– April – +29С
– May – +28С
– June – +28С
– July – +28С
– August – +28С
– September – +27С
– October – +27С
– November – +27С
– December – +27С
Ocean
The shores of the Maldives are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean. The sea temperature near the Maldives ranges from +24C to +33C, so you can swim there all year round.
History of the Maldives
The Maldives was formed 65 million years ago as a result of the eruption of underwater volcanoes. The first people in the Maldives appeared 4 thousand years ago (they were sailors sailing the Indian Ocean). The Maldives was settled by people from Sri Lanka and India, and later by Arabs.
From about the middle of the 12th century, Islam began to spread in the Maldives.
Since the middle of the 16th century, Europeans (Portuguese, Dutch and British) have made numerous attempts to colonize the Maldives. In the end, in 1887, the Maldives came under the protectorate of Great Britain.
It wasn’t until 1965 that the Maldives gained independence.
Culture
The culture of the inhabitants of the Maldives was greatly influenced by Indian culture, as well as Islam. Since Islam is the main religion in the Maldives, it is understandable that the locals celebrate all Muslim holidays (Eid al-Adha and Kuda Eid).
In addition, there are national holidays in the Maldives – Independence Day (July 26) and Republic Day.
Kitchen
The cuisine of the Maldives was formed under the influence of Indian and Arabic culinary traditions. The main food items are fish (mostly tuna), rice, seafood, vegetables, and of course spices (due to the proximity of Sri Lanka and India). In addition, Maldivian cuisine cannot be imagined without coconut.
Tourists in the Maldives are advised to try dried and smoked hikimas fish, badjiya fish pie with coconut, garudiya fish soup, teluli mae (fried fish seasoned with spices), rihaukuru (fish pate), etc.
Coconut is the main ingredient in most local desserts. The people of Maldives often make various sweet puddings.
The main soft drinks are tea with added milk and sugar, as well as coffee, palm juice and sweetened milk.
From fermented palm milk, the inhabitants of the Maldives make a low-alcohol drink.
If you do not like the Maldivian cuisine, then the restaurant of any local hotel will offer various international dishes.
Attractions Maldives
The Maldives is a small island nation located on 26 atolls. The largest of them is Male, whose population exceeds 100 thousand people. It is clear that there are very few attractions in the Maldives. However, in this country there are places that you should still visit.
To imagine the history of the Maldives, we recommend that tourists visit the National Museum of Male. It contains artifacts that reflect all eras of the history of the Maldives. This museum is part of the Royal Palace, built in the 17th century.
Tourists in the Maldives are definitely recommended to visit the Fish Market in Male. Despite the name, this market also sells fruits and vegetables. Fish, vegetables and fruits are brought to this market from all the atolls of the Maldives.
Pay attention to the Hukuru Misky Mosque in Male. It was built in 1656. The interior of the mosque is famous for its wood carvings. One of its panels was carved in the 13th century to commemorate the introduction of Islam into the country.
Cities and resorts
The largest city in the Maldives is its capital, Male, which now has a population of more than 100,000 people.
The Republic of Maldives is located on 26 small atolls. As a rule, one hotel is located on each atoll. Please note that some of the hotels specialize in spa services, combining Asian and European spa programs.
The white sandy beaches in the Maldives are considered some of the best in the world. The Maddives are literally “immersed” in corals. Therefore, tourists in those places where coral reefs come close to the shore are advised to swim in special sandals.
You should know that you can be topless on the beaches of the Maldives only on one island – Kuramathi. Drinking alcohol on the beaches is also prohibited.
The legislation of the Republic of Maldives prohibits the collection of corals and any marine fauna.
Perhaps the best beach in the Maldives is on the South Ari Atoll. We are talking about Nalaguraidhoo beach. In addition, pay attention to the beaches on the islands of Banyan Tree Island, Nika and Cocoa Island.
The Maldives is considered a great place for diving. This is quite expected, given the presence in this region of a huge amount of corals and amazingly beautiful underwater world.
Souvenirs/Shopping
After a holiday in the Maldives, tourists usually bring home handicrafts, bright local fabrics, rugs with original patterns, black coral jewelry, and stamps. Make sure that the souvenirs you buy are really made in the Maldives, and not in Thailand and Indonesia.
Office Hours
Weekends in the Maldives are Friday and Saturday.
Banks:
Sun-Thu: 08:00-16:00
Shops:
Sun-Thu: 08:30-20:00
Visa
Ukrainians do not need a visa to visit the Republic of Maldives if they enter for a period of not more than 30 days.
Currency of the Maldives
The official currency in the Maldives is the rufiyaa (international designation: MVR). One rufiyaa – 100 lari. Credit cards in the Maldives are accepted by hotels and restaurants.
Customs restrictions
Tourists can carry (or export) currency to the Maldives without restrictions. It is forbidden to import alcohol and any food containing pork. Each foreigner is charged $10 when entering the Maldives. It is forbidden to export black corals. In addition, it is forbidden to export products made from the shell of a sea turtle.
Useful phone numbers and addresses
The interests of the Republic of Maldives in Ukraine are represented by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia:
Postcode: 129090, Moscow, st. Shchepkina, 24
T: (095) 288-16-20
Email. email: [email protected]
Emergency numbers
102 – call the ambulance
118 – call the fire brigade
Time
The difference with time in Kyiv is +3 hours. those. if in Male, for example, it is 09:00 am, then in Kyiv it is only 06:00 am.
Tips
In the Maldives, tipping is not obligatory. 10% for the service is always included in the bill. But, given the low salaries of the service staff (besides, we are not sure that the administration of hotels and restaurants gives them a 10% tip), as well as the good level of service, a small monetary reward would be a nice gesture.
In hotels, foreigners usually tip either every day or every week (for example, a maid $10-20 per week).
The medicine
No vaccinations are required to visit the Maldives. Nevertheless, doctors still recommend that tourists be vaccinated (as a preventive measure) for diphtheria, tetanus, yellow fever, typhoid fever, malaria and rabies before traveling to this country.
Security
The crime rate in the Maldives is very low. The only place where tourists can have problems is at night in Male. But even at night in Male, staying on the illuminated streets, little threatens tourists.
Why is the crime rate low in the Maldives? This Muslim country has strict laws for those who use alcohol and drugs. In addition, the authorities of the Republic of Maldives, whose budget is completely dependent on the number of tourists, are doing everything possible to ensure that the country has a positive reputation in the international arena.
