About The Maldives
Millions of years ago, a volcanic mountain range stood in the heart of what is now the Indian Ocean. Over the ages as the oceans rose, those mountains became coral islands of incredible natural beauty that would be called the Maldives. Indeed, so unique are these islands that the word “atoll” was adapted to English from its Maldivian origin "atholhu".
Made up of 1,190 islands that form an archipelago of 26 major atolls, the Maldives is spread out over 90,000 square kilometres. At the centre of the atoll chain is the capital Male, possibly the smallest urban capital in the world, with a population of almost 103,700 (about a third of the nation's population). The island of Male happens to be the second most densely populated island in the world, after Hong Kong's Ap Lei Chau.
With a rich history stretching as far back as 2,000 BC, the Maldives was part of a thriving trade route for the ancient Egyptians, Romans, Mesopotamians, Chinese and Indians. Ptolemy, the ancient Greek geographer referred to the islands in his writings; ancient Chinese navigators knew it as the Three Thousand Weak Waters; and Marco Polo called the islands “the flower of the Indies.”
Today, the Maldives is considered a holiday-of-a-lifetime destination. Travellers from all over the world come to experience the paradise of endless turquoise waters, white powdery beaches and some of the world’s best diving sites with over 1,000 exotic marine life species.
The climate throughout the year is generally warm and humid, with two monsoon seasons – the Iruvai and Hulhangu. The peak tourist season is usually between December and April during the Iruvai (dry season), when humidity is lower and the weather hits the highest temperatures between February and April. During the “transition” month of April, leading into the Hulhangu (wet season), the waters are at their clearest and heat at its highest. Diving is best during this period on the eastern side of any atoll.
The Hulhangu from May to November is noted for its occasional storms, cloudy skies and higher humidity although the temperature remains consistently warm. There are fewer visitors during this period except for August when the visitor arrivals peak for the month. For the avid divers, life on the reef is more varied and visibility better on the western side of any atoll.
From May 1st, 2011, the Maldives Customs Service will introduce a change in its regulation governing the prohibited items. Under the previous law, passengers entering the Maldives could store those items at the airport and collect them back upon departure. However, with the new regulation this will no longer be possible. Read more.
Quick Facts
Capital: Male
Language: Maldivian Dhivehi
Currency: Rufiyaa and Laaree, but US Dollars most commonly used foreign currency
Time Zone: GMT +5
Monsoon Seasons: Hulhangu (wet season) from May to November; Iruvai (dry season) from December to April
Average Temperature: 28°C-32°C all year round
Electricity: 230-240 Volts –AC
