Maldives location. Detailed map of the Maldives in Russian. The other side of Maldivian paradise
Geographic maps are used by both experienced travelers and novice tourists. Modern versions clearly and in detail display the general location of countries, cities and their internal infrastructure.
Maldives on the world map in Russian
This piece of paradise is difficult to spot on a regular world map. The island chain is located off the coast in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. Only zooming in allows you to clearly see the location of the Maldives.
They are located 700 km from Sri Lanka and India. In the southwest there is a famous resort area - the Seychelles.
The Maldives is a chain of 1,192 coral islands united into 26 atolls. Moreover, administratively they are divided into 20 atolls. The most famous of them are: North and South Kaafu;
- Seenu;
- Meemu;
- Faavu;
- Vaavu.
The Maldives is washed by the Indian Ocean
An interactive map in Russian will help you understand the specific location of a particular resort.
Maldives on a map of Asia in Russian
Looking at the Maldives on a map, it is clear that they extend north of the equator between Eurasia and Africa. The island state belongs to South Asia, which also includes countries such as Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India.
The flight to Sri Lanka takes approximately one hour, and a little longer to India. Approximately 5 hours flight from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and 8 hours from China.
Map of the Maldives with resorts in Russian
For the convenience of tourists in navigating the area filled with various vacation spots, a Russian-language map has been created with the designations of all the islands and atolls. The atlas shows a general view of the archipelago. The most popular destinations, routes, and the largest resort areas, where you can find everything you need for a comfortable pastime, are also noted here. Using such a navigator, any guest of the republic without knowledge of English can easily navigate among the numerous islands.
Important! Uninhabited places on the territory are not marked.
A map of the Maldives with attractions shows the best places to stay. For example, the Banana Reef Nature Reserve, where lovers of exploring underwater caves enjoy the richness and vibrant life of the marine world.
Addu Atoll hotels on the map
With a local coordinate system, it is easy for tourists to navigate the choice of resorts, the most popular of which are:
- Male is the republican capital, offering guests a lot of excursion programs and exciting entertainment, markets, and museums. The presidential palace and one of the most grandiose mosques are especially attractive.
- Faavu is famous among true gourmets who value spas and meals in the best restaurants and always strive to look their best!
- Arias are preferred by lovers of diversity in flora and fauna. The famous turtle bays are located here.
- It is useful for tourists to study transport links on the map of the Republic of Maldives. In the middle part you can see the main international airport of Male. Next door on the island of Khuhule is the international airport named after Ibrahim Nasir, which is one of the largest for seaplanes. The path to it from the capital by speedboat or ferry is clearly visible. Cafu is the most tourist area. Most of the hotels are located here. Popular destinations also include the Aria and Baa atolls, which are relatively close to the airport.
Note! It is difficult to see a specific island among thousands of islands. It is better to first find the name of the atoll on the map, and then the desired location.
If you plan to stay at several hotels, it will be useful to take a look at nearby resort areas and local airports in advance to get an accurate idea of the trip, the amount of time needed to travel, nearby attractions, entertainment and opportunities. This way you can distribute your vacation time most effectively.
Regions of the Maldives on the map
The Maldives archipelago is not part of any state. It is an independent presidential republic. The map clearly shows separation from other countries and intra-regional demarcation.
The administrative structure of the Republic of Maldives includes 20 island groups and a capital atoll called Male. There are no lakes or rivers throughout the territory. According to its geographical location, the archipelago is divided into 8 regions: Central, Far Northern, Northern and others. Conventionally, they are all divided into 3 large groups of atolls:
- northern;
- average;
- southern.
Chain from the Maldives
It is very interesting to see what the Maldives looks like from above. According to one version, each atoll appeared on the top of a volcano with islands on its crater, part of a chain of extinct volcanoes. This explains the circular arrangement of land areas, as can be seen on the map of the Maldives. Moreover, they are all very similar to each other. The highest point (2.4 meters above sea level) is located in the southern Addu Atoll.
Yandex and Google maps of the Maldives
Satellite images allow you to see even the smallest islands of the state and their internal infrastructure. Judging by the abundance of private hotels that own the islands, it is clear that tourism is a key industry in the Republic of Maldives. Only guests of the country and service personnel live on their territory. There are guest houses where Maldivians live.
Where the Maldives is is shown on maps from major search engines. All infrastructure facilities available on the territory are presented in detail:
- hotels, inns, guest houses;
- places of transport connections (airports, the only port in Male);
- entertainment venues;
- mosques;
- government agencies;
- markets, shops;
- cafes, restaurants;
- beauty salons, spa treatments;
- sports clubs, fitness centers, swimming pools;
- water sports and entertainment service companies;
- private educational institutions (for example, diving and surfing courses).
When choosing a vacation spot, interactive maps will help you study the tourist, transport and social infrastructure.
Map of Maldives and Bali
On any geographical map it is easy to notice the differences in the climate of the Maldives and Bali, which are separated by almost 5 thousand km. If the island archipelago is completely surrounded by the Indian Ocean, then the Bali territory is washed by it only from the south and is located much to the north. Therefore, in these two places, although warm, the weather is opposite in seasons.
Note! In Bali, the best period for relaxation is the end of spring and summer; it is preferable to visit the Maldives in winter.
The Republic of Maldives is an independent state representing a chain of islands. Bali is located in the same southern hemisphere of the Earth between Australia and India, but is one island as part of the Malay Archipelago.
Bali Map
Maps of the Maldives and Bali will help you make the right choice of vacation spot. The tourist infrastructure and transport routes displayed on them clearly show the difference.
Advantages and disadvantages of the geographical location of the state for tourism development
The country is located in a place with favorable climatic conditions - in the south of India, surrounded by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Beautiful weather all year round is perfect for a beach holiday. The air temperature never drops below +17 degrees Celsius. During the main part of the year it fluctuates around 25-28 degrees. The rainy season begins in June and ends by September. During the winter-spring period, tourists are pleased with the dry weather.
In recent years, Nuunu Atoll has been developing most actively. Particular emphasis is placed on the premium class of tourism. The map shows the abundance of neighboring islands, which has become a key factor in attracting travelers and investors.
The geographical location has both pros and cons for vacationers. Advantages:
- Calm atmosphere. The Maldives are popular among connoisseurs of a secluded holiday away from noisy parties, bazaars, and crowded crowds. This is facilitated by small island territories where there is not much room to roam. Unlike many Asian countries, there is no migration flow here seeking to earn money. Local citizens live in separate territories. Each island belongs to one private hotel. The holiday is organized in such a way that guests meet only at joint events, during meals. Therefore, it is chosen by couples in love and people tired of a hectic life who want to hide from surrounding gazes.
The Maldives is an ideal place for a secluded holiday
- The purity and richness of the underwater world. Walking along the ocean coast, guests of the country enjoy clean sandy beaches, crystal waters, and lush palm trees. The diving here is the best in the world - in the expanses of water visibility reaches 40 meters.
Flaws:
- Lack of mass entertainment, cultural and excursion offers. Unlike Turkish animation, there are no mass entertainers in the Maldives. Relaxation consists of enjoying nature and water activities. There are no historical or architectural attractions on the islands.
- Poor kitchen. No matter how much a holiday in the Maldives costs, local cuisine is not the resort's strong point. The cuisine, which takes its cues from Indian and Sri Lankan gastronomy, is extremely spicy. Therefore, living for a long time on such a diet is fraught with health risks. Only the largest hotels provide good food.
- Expensive. In addition to the fact that hotels have very high prices for water, juices, and alcohol, a lot of money is spent on individual transfers. For example, a boat for two to a neighboring island and back in August 2018 cost about $500. For a candlelit dinner on the ocean shore, tourists shelled out at least 200-300 dollars.
So, the world map shows that the Maldives is an original island chain located in the depths of the Indian Ocean, far from crowded places at a distance of about 5000 km from Bali and is one of the countries of South Asia. More than a thousand islands are grouped into 20 atolls and divided into 8 large regions. Yandex and Google have Russian-language versions of a detailed representation of the internal infrastructure of the entire Maldivian territory.
*the prices shown are current as of August 2018.
WITHOUT A VISA!
Travel packages and tours
about country
In the Indian Ocean, southwest of Ceylon, almost at the very equator, there is a coral archipelago - Maldives. It consists of twenty-six coral atolls, most of which are uninhabited. They were never part of the mainland. Simply, myriads of tiny polyps built their limestone houses on top of each other - as a result, islands were formed.The Maldives enjoy the greatest success among newlyweds - such a combination of privacy, comfort, luxury and primitiveness at the same time does not exist, perhaps, anywhere else in the world. This is one of the few places where a miracle is possible: complete detachment from the present, immersion in a space woven from blue skies, snow-colored sand and emerald water of extraordinary transparency.
Nature and geography
The island nation of the Maldives is located in South Asia, southwest of Sri Lanka, in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives archipelago has about 2,000 islands, forming 26 atolls, and only 202 of them are inhabited. The closest neighbors - India and Sri Lanka are located at a distance of 600 and 700 km north and south of the archipelago.
The capital of the Maldives - Male - is located on the island of Male. Time is 2 hours ahead of Moscow, and from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October - by 1 hour.
Climate of the Maldives
The Maldives has a warm tropical climate with even temperatures throughout the year (air temperature 25-30 C, water temperature 24-27 C). The optimal season for travel is from October to May.
Average monthly air temperature in the capital:
Sights of the Maldives
widely known for their resorts, each of which is a unique world surrounded by the purest golden sands. This is a place “at the edge of the world”, where there is no noise of cities and European civilization, where there is only exotic nature and endless expanses of the ocean.Numerous underwater coral caves stretch throughout the Maldives archipelago, lush tropical vegetation creates the pristine and unique beauty of the islands.
The Maldives is a discovery for diving enthusiasts. Numerous coral caves provide interesting places for underwater exploration. Coral reefs protect coastal waters from predatory fish, so diving enthusiasts do not have to fear for their lives.
Among the attractions of the Maldives are the National Museum, Sultan Park, Singapore Bazaar, the Islamic Center and 20 picturesque mosques of the capital.
Cuisine of the Maldives and its features
Local cuisine usually includes rice, fish curry cooked with coconut milk, and flavored with lime, chili and small onions. Roshi - a local bread - is usually eaten along with mas huni - a fish cocktail flavored with coconut, onion, chilli and lime.
Among the local snacks, fihunu mas - fish baked with chili paste, keemia - fried fish rolls, and kulhi borkihaa - the most delicate fish pie are very popular. Among sweets, bondi - white coconut sticks - are very tasty.
Population, language, religion
The population of the Maldives is mainly Maldivians and Indians.
The official language is Dhivehi and belongs to the Indo-Iranian group. English is widely spoken in the capital Male and in the resorts.
The population professes Sunni Islam.
Customs regulations, visa, currency, embassies
Tourist visa for 30 days, stamped free of charge upon arrival at the airport.Israeli passport holders are not allowed into the country. There is an airport tax of US$10 per person when departing from Hulule Airport.
Stay mode. There are no restrictions on movement. To visit one of the islands where the indigenous population lives, you must obtain special permission.
On Maldives There is no Russian embassy. You can contact the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka, Colombo. Tel. (94-1) 57-35-55, 57-49-59 (24 hours a day).
Currency. The official currency is Maldivian rufiyaa. One rufiyaa contains 100 lari. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 rufiyaa and coins in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 lari.
Customs regulations. When passing through customs control at the Male airport, you must present all your belongings for inspection, including hand luggage. The import of alcoholic beverages, drugs, any pornographic materials, recorded videotapes, and spearfishing weapons is prohibited.
When departing from Male, upon presentation of the appropriate receipt, you can receive back the alcoholic beverages selected at customs upon entry.
Tips for tourists
Holidays and non-working days. January 1 - New Year, January 8-10 - Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan Fast), March 15-18 - Eid al Kebir (Day of Sacrifice), April 6 - Islamic New Year, June 4-5 - National Holiday, June 15 - Mulud (Prophet's Birthday), July 26-27 - Independence Day, November 11-12 - Republic Day, September 1 - Huravi Day, October 28 - Martyrs' Day, November 3 - Victory Day.Souvenirs. Shark jaws, handicrafts, light summer clothes, coconut oil, shells, etc. are brought as souvenirs from the Maldives.
Transport. Any Maldives island can be crossed in 1.5 - 2 hours. In the Maldives, water modes of transport predominate: the local taxi is a wooden dhoni boat with a flat roof.
Bicycles and motorcycles are the most popular types of land transport. Taxis are available to get around Male. The cost of one trip in any direction is 10 rufiyaa. In Male and other major islands you can rent a car.
Cloth. Any light clothing of your choice is acceptable. Even in deluxe hotels, most restaurants do not require you to wear evening gowns. For the beach, regular beachwear is recommended. It should be remembered that nudism and topless are prohibited in the Maldives (the exception is Kuramati Island, where topless is allowed). When visiting fishing villages and the capital Male, tourists should wear modest clothing, respecting Muslim traditions.
Behavior rules. Although the Islam practiced in the Maldives is milder than in most Arab countries, the following should not be forgotten:
- Spearfishing and unauthorized fishing are prohibited
- It is prohibited to remove corals, shells, starfish, etc. from the sea.
- Nude swimming is prohibited on all islands of the archipelago.
– one of the most popular places for tourists. These are small pieces of land surrounded by the ocean. Many people are interested where are the Maldives located on the world map. To be precise, they are located 700 km southwest of the island of Sri Lanka. This is a chain of 20 atolls and more than 1000 small coral islets. On the map it is clear that all this is located in the Indian Ocean, and in a ratio of 1:99, where the first is land, the second, respectively, water. Why are these islands so popular? The sun always shines there, the azure sea splashes along the soft light sandy beaches. The Maldives are especially appreciated by surfers, explorers of the underwater world and exotic tourism. The service here is excellent, but the prices are such that not every travel lover can afford it.
between December and March. At this time, there are no tropical rains (although there are fans of this phenomenon) and the sea is turquoise, and the beach is snow-white, as in many famous photographs circulating on the Internet. Due to tropical rains and monsoons, large waves rise and it is impossible to swim in the sea, so if you want to get into a fairy tale from advertising brochures, then your choice is any days from December to March. Rains, however, do not interfere with excursions, so those people who do not swim for some reason can relax and save a lot. Prices are also falling for air travel. Weather in the Maldives in view of them unusual location on the map varies greatly over the course of a year. Winter is the warmest, so prices increase by 30% and above.
The Maldives attracts representatives of a variety of nations: Russians, Germans, English, Italians, Asians, and others, but all of them here have average incomes and above. The exception is scuba divers - they can rent the cheapest apartments, which will not prevent them from doing what they love. There are no strong differences between tourists here - both family people and single people come here for different types of recreation. The island should be chosen based on the purpose of the trip. A large hotel usually occupies the entire area. It’s better for newlyweds to go to - here there is a separate beach for each bungalow, for families with children it’s better to go to Villahohi, for lovers of parties and noisy entertainment - Nalaguraida, and for a beach holiday the island of Kani is suitable.
What a tourist needs to know:
Bringing alcohol to the Maldives is prohibited. It can only be consumed in hotel bars and restaurants, as citizens of the Maldives are prohibited from selling alcohol;
Dogs are also prohibited here. There are none here at all, and it is prohibited to fly on vacation with dogs;
The state is Islamic;
The national language is Dhivehi. No one speaks English outside of tourist areas;
The only airport on the island of Hulele, there are boats and boats to the other islands;
You can pay in dollars and euros, credit cards are also accepted;
Many people come here to celebrate a wedding - this can be done underwater, on board a seaplane, and even underwater;
The cheapest round-trip flights per person from Moscow to Male will cost approximately $420;
Tourists can study, or they can simply book excursions to the sights of the islands;
Here you can try all kinds of exotic fish - either buy at the market or catch it yourself and cook at the hotel, as well as national dishes - a “mixture” of Indian and Arab cuisine. Favorite foods here are coconut and tuna;
It is best to buy souvenirs at a bazaar or market - they sell interesting goods from Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.
Maldives on the map deservedly occupy their prominent place and enjoy honor and popularity among wealthy tourists - there is always excellent service, fabulous beaches and the sea, the opportunity to engage in active “water” hobbies - diving and surfing.
Read also:
Origin of the Maldives.
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Which island is better in the Maldives.
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What are the Maldives like?
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The Maldives is a scattering of picturesque atolls in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Everything here is conducive to bliss: kilometers of secluded beaches, upscale hotels and very beautiful nature. All about the Maldives: diving and surfing, photos, prices, weather and tours.
- Last minute tours to the Maldives
- Tours for May Worldwide
The Maldives, famous “residents” of the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean, are rightfully considered one of the best exotic destinations. There are 1,190 islands (or rather, atolls) and all of them are just your choice: with blue lagoons, sandy beaches and unique vegetation. There is everything for relaxation: peace and tranquility, beautiful nature, a rich underwater world. And also something without which any advantages of any resort immediately fade in the eyes of modern tourists - good hotels and a high level of service.
Prices, it must be said, in the Maldives are also quite “at the level”: holidays here can be afforded mainly by travelers whose income level marketers define as “above average”. Having paid a significant amount for the trip, the following categories of vacationers will be 100% satisfied with their vacation. Divers are maniacs, diving three times a day. This is the most problem-free subtype of tourists: they will still be delighted, diving like ducklings from morning to night. Happily married (or unmarried) couples who need no one but each other. They can choose a hotel with the appropriate furnishings - there are plenty of them on the islands. And, of course, seekers of an absolutely relaxed holiday in the ambience of a tropical paradise.
Time difference from Moscow
2 hours
- with Kaliningrad
- with Samara
- with Yekaterinburg
- with Omsk
- with Krasnoyarsk
- with Irkutsk
- with Yakutsk
- with Vladivostok
- from Severo-Kurilsk
- with Kamchatka
History and legend
According to legend, life in the Maldives was once not as cloudless as glossy catalogs would have us believe. The sea genie Rannamaari, who unfortunately settled in their territorial waters, demanded regular human sacrifices every full moon, and exclusively in the form of virgins from the island of Male. The poor fellows were taken to a certain temple, and the next morning they were found dead.
But it’s not all Maslenitsa: one day a traveler from the distant Maghreb, Abdul-Barakat ul-Barbari, arrived at the atoll. The stranger took pity on the girls (whom his compatriots apparently had nothing to do with) and on the full moon he himself sat down in the temple in the place of the victim. He read the Koran all night, but in the morning it turned out that the genie had escaped, unable to withstand the power of the holy book. So the women were saved, and the Maldivians joyfully converted to Islam - that’s why now there are mosques everywhere, a ban on the import of alcohol and no toplessness (presumably, they are afraid that the genie will return). However, this did not affect the amazing nature of the archipelago - and therefore its attractiveness for tourists.
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Climate
The climate of the Maldives is warm and humid. Air temperature during the day is about +30 °C, at night +26 °C, water temperature +26 °C. Due to its close location to the equator, seasonal changes associated with the monsoons are almost imperceptible. During the southwest monsoon (May to October), it rains more often and the weather is windier. The northeast monsoon season (November to February) is considered less humid.
Maps of the Maldives
Visa and customs
Police: 119, fire service: 118, ambulance: 102.
Beaches in the Maldives
In the Maldives, all roads lead to the beach: fine snow-white sand, perfectly blue waves, tall palm trees - everywhere you look, pictures from advertising posters come to life. The coastline is almost everywhere wide, spacious, equipped with amenities and umbrellas to protect you from the scorching sun. Most of the beaches belong to hotels, and the areas assigned to modest “three rubles” are not much inferior in grooming and comfort to fashionable five-star zones.
Topless sunbathing and drinking alcohol are strictly prohibited on Maldivian beaches.
The list of the most famous beaches of the archipelago includes Naladu and Banyan Tree on Male Atoll, San and Nika on Ari Atoll. Turtles nest on the shores of Lhaviani, and dolphins splash off the coast of Maafushi. The wealthy relax on the islands of Hadahaa (Gaafu Alif Atoll), Kunfunadhoo (Baa Atoll) and Veligandu (Ari Atoll). There is an equipped beach even in the capital: of course, it is not as spectacular as the recreation areas at luxury resorts, but it is quite suitable for surfing and sunbathing. And the most vivid impressions will be given by night swimming on the “glowing” beach: underwater microorganisms and luminescent algae on the coast of Vaadu (South Male) shimmer with blue lights in the dark, creating the effect of a starry sky descending to the ground.
Diving in the Maldives
Maldives... how much this word brings together for a diver’s heart: comfortable water temperature (+27 °C at a depth of 40 m), excellent visibility up to 30 m and, of course, professional dive centers. The disadvantages of this direction include strong currents outside the reefs. The best season for snorkeling in the archipelago is from January to April, when the weather is sunny and the water is clear. Giraavaru Island Resort, on the North Atoll, has over 20 sites known to divers from all over the world.
For beginners, diving on reefs would be ideal: on their inner slopes or inside the atoll. Advanced divers will be interested in the outer surface of the reef (amazing ocean fish live there in caves with ledges and terraces), but do not forget about strong currents and breaking waves. The underwater coral slides are very interesting - their tops are at a depth of 5 to 25 m, and their base is up to 40 m.
In addition, there are several interesting wrecks in the Maldives, for example, the cargo ship "Victoria" with the remains of goods brought to the islands or the steamer "Chaika", which sank at the end of the 19th century - its hull was completely split in two. Some popular sites: Emboodu National Reserve with a stunningly diverse underwater world, the Feliwaru and Halaveli rivers (giant rays can be seen here), Maaya Reef, the cozy channel between the reefs of Fushi, teeming with a variety of inhabitants, the secluded dive site of Rakido, the protected marine area of Guraidhoo , Miyaru's shark site.
Read more about local diving in the article by our regular expert, the charming Veronica Birman, “Diving without lyrics - 13. The soul of the Maldives.”
Surfing
Wave boarding is a relatively recent entertainment in the Maldives: only in the late 80s. The first surfers flocked here. Today, the islands are considered one of the most popular places in the world for surfing: it is never crowded (the number of people going out to sea is regulated by a special service), and the waves are just a sight for sore eyes: high, stable, ideally shaped. The prestigious international tournament O’Neill Deep Blue Open is regularly held on the island of Lohifushi.
There are 7 popular surfing spots in the Maldives, including Sultans, Pasta Point (with exclusive rights to “rent” waves by the Atoll Adventures club) and the so-called “Police Island”. The most wonderful surfing is from June to September, the height of local waves is from 1 to 2.5 m.
You can also practice surfing in the capital Male: there is a sandy bottom, and there is no risk of cutting yourself on the coral at low tide. True, the landscapes are not as picturesque as at the atoll resorts.
Wedding in the Maldives
Entertainment and attractions
All the main beauties of the Maldives are located below sea level; there are no special attractions on land. There is the unremarkable capital of Male (excursion from 40 USD), many similar uninhabited islands where people like to have picnics (from 35 USD), as well as a kind of “action” - a fishing excursion. Perhaps the only notable overwater excursion is the Photo Flight, a seaplane flight over the islands. It costs a lot: for 15-20 minutes in the air you will have to pay about 150-250 USD. Other popular excursions are a yacht cruise (from 80-90 USD) or a submarine dive (from 45-50 USD).
Do you know how an atoll differs from “just an island”? Just in case, we provide information: an atoll is a coral island in the form of a continuous or discontinuous ring surrounding a lagoon. If you look from under the water, the atoll will most likely turn out to be a long-extinct volcano, on the slopes of which a coral reef once began to grow - and grew so much that it gradually appeared on the surface. But the top of the volcano, on the contrary, over many centuries collapsed and sank under water. You know the rest: people sailed from somewhere to the formed ring, built hotels with restaurants and spas, and opened diving centers.
If your soul still requires a cultural program, we recommend visiting the National Museum on the territory of the picturesque Sultan’s Park, the Islamic Center under the golden dome and the Presidential Palace in Male. The oldest in the country, the Old Friday Mosque with a unique minaret (1656) and the tomb of Mohammed Takurufanu, a legend of national resistance, are also located here. Ari Atoll has the ruins of a Buddhist temple from 90 BC. e., on the island of Matirah (Haa Alif Atoll) - a mausoleum with a sacred tomb, a place of pilgrimage for Muslims.
Holidays and Events
The main holidays in the Maldives are patriotic and religious in nature. The most magnificent celebrations take place on Independence Day, July 26: the islanders have fun in honor of the long-awaited exit from British protectorate and the declaration of sovereignty. On the first day of the month of Rabi al-Awwal, Nation Day is celebrated to commemorate the liberation from the Portuguese invaders by the troops of Mohammed Takurufanu. On the 12th day of the same month, the birth of the Prophet Muhammad is celebrated.
The end of holy Ramadan marks Eid al-Fitr: three days of hearty meals, visits and other entertainment. After 70 days, Eid al-Fitr begins with traditional services and sacrifices. November 3 is Victory Day in honor of the coup d'état prevented in 1988. In the first month of the Muslim calendar, Muharram, religious celebrations are held to celebrate the Islamic New Year.
December 10 is one of the most colorful local holidays: Fisherman's Day with folk festivities and noisy fairs. On New Year (January 1) and Christmas (December 25), adored by foreign tourists, colorful celebrations are held in hotels and on city streets: the degree of fun depends only on the thickness of the wallet.
The Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, geographically crossing the equator. Tourists associate the concept of the equator with unbearable heat, however, the average annual temperature there is 25-30 degrees. In other resorts in Italy, Spain or Egypt, the temperature during the season can be much higher, and most importantly, it is much worse to tolerate.
Among all the island groups, the Maldives, being a 100% Islamic state, have created perhaps the most original recreation system for their guests. Protecting the population from the bad influence of tourism, the government allocated 200 previously uninhabited islands for vacationers, on which there are no indigenous inhabitants.
Map of the Maldives online interactive from satellite
(to enlarge or reduce the map use + and -)
Residents of India and Sri Lanka are involved in the service sector there. Therefore, the rare opportunity to see an indigenous inhabitant of the islands does not come often. An interesting and important feature is that you don’t pay for anything on the spot, but collect bills that you will have to pay when leaving the country. And therefore, by chance, you may not calculate your material capabilities. The islands can be recommended to those who want to spend their entire vacation on the beach.
You can get there by direct flight from Moscow. You will be taken from the airport by boat or helicopter.
Pros: This is one of the best places for diving and snorkeling. Experienced instructors will make you a pro in a week.
Disadvantages - you cannot import alcohol, swim naked and have contact with local women. The last two points are prosecuted under Islamic law.