Maldives

From space, Maldives looks like little polka dots in the middle of the ocean. The country is located in the Indian Ocean right at the confluence of the Arabian Sea just below India. It is made up of 26 vertical atolls north to south and each atoll has several small islands and sandbars about 1200 to be exact. However, only 185 of them are inhabited, the country is divided into 19 administrative divisions and two administrative city councils. The capital male is nearly where a quarter of the entire population lives and the city of Addu is in the south. 

Most of the best islands in Maldives on the atolls are incredibly small the largest one being the Gan island which is only 8 kilometers long and 3.4 kilometers wide. At only about 115 sq. miles or 300 sq km, Maldives is the smallest country in Asia by land area. But if we include water territory, the country takes up a space of about 35,000 sq. miles which is over 99% of their territory. After the capital city of Male, the largest cities are Addu City and Fuvamulan both in the south of the equator. 

There are four international airports in Maldives, Male’s Velana International which is on a completely different Island, Hulhule. Others are Hanimaadhoo International in the North, Villa International in the middle, and Gan International in the south. 

The atoll chains that make up the country are split into three general sections divided by the Karvida channel in the north and the one-and-a-half-degree channel in the South named after a line of latitude that separates it. The island lies on what is called the Chagos- Laccadive ridge and underwater volcanic, glad that stretches from the Southern Tip of India into the middle of the Indian Ocean. Close to the central Indian ridge fault line. This plateau is called the Chagos archipelago. The islands that make up the Maldives as well as the Chagos islands or British Indian Ocean territory. Administered by the UK in the south and Lakshadweep in the north administered by India the islands are too small to harbour any rivers. All the islands have pretty much the same coral, nice beaches, dropping vegetation, crops like bananas, Papayas, Bread, fruit, and drumstick trees. Only about 10% of the actual land is cultivated for crops due to the poor, highly alkaline permeation of salt water into the fresh groundwater deposit. This causes a problem as most of the residents depend on the ground for rainwater for drinking purposes.

Otherwise, when it comes to flora and fauna, the Maldives is going down underwater. The reefs themselves contain nearly 200 species of coral, 11 species of fish, three species of sea turtle, 12 pieces of whales and dolphins, and 145 crab species. You can feed stingrays or see blue bioluminescent Plankton wash open the store lighting up the Maldives beach at night on certain islands if you are lucky.

Maldives is famous for being a honeymoon destination. The famous Maldivian luxury water bungalows can go anywhere from about $500 to $2000 a night. Usually, they come with glass floors to view the water below, top-of-the-line pieces of furniture, jacuzzis, free wifi, air conditioning, gourmet meals, and even pools. You can dive into the ocean from your bungalow.

Although most major inhabited atolls do have luxury Maldives resorts, it is so much more than that. If you want the truest Maldivian experience, you have to sail or fly to a local island run inhabited only by the locals with no bungalows.

Maldive islands like Vaadho or Fiyori with thick palm forests, and the streets of Didhoo in the north where you can watch local kids play soccer at the sports field. While Kalaidhoo is pretty big and spacious with a nice lagoon, but no major resorts. Abound Holidays presents to you the Maldives tour packages created for your life-changing experience. You can customize the package according to your preference.

Beaches in Maldives:

• Como Cocoa Beach
• Male Beach
• Alila kothaifaru Beach
• Hideaway Beach 
• Bagiloni Beach

Food in Maldives:

The Maldives is a huge seafood country. Their favorite fish is the skipjack tuna, and they love cooking up yellowfin, which is one of their national animals in addition to the white-breasted waterhen. Maldives is also known for the mouth-watering delicacies the country has to offer. Some of the food in Maldives is a must-try when you pay a visit to the land of delicious cuisine:

• Fish curry
• Bis keemiya
• Gulha 
• Mas huni
• Saagu bondibai
• Masroshi
• Maldivian live lobster
• Fried yams
• Garudhiya
• Reef fish cutlets

Tourist attractions in Maldives

Maldives is not exactly a backpackers country. However, tourism in Maldives has flourished over the years. Everything is separated by water and unless you own your boat or seaplane, chances are you need to hire one which will cost an extra couple of hundreds or thousands of dollars. And unless you know a local that's willing to let you stay at their house and give you the hookups. Chances are you will be paying an additional hundred dollars for accommodation. But your Maldives vacation will give you an insight into what nature has to offer to you in a million different aspects, not just hills and mountains. 

Male’s Friday mosque and the garden Dome Hulhumale, the male tsunami monument, the president's house, the victory monument, Republic Square, the historic battleground of the Uthemma Ganduvaru, the damaged Buddhist stupas, the Vasho Veyo pool are some of the tourist attractions in Maldives and if you are curious, you can stop by Thilafushi island, which is also a dumping site. 

Maldives tour booking is available at Abound Holidays. Pack your bags and fly to the land of the best beaches, crystal clear waters, romantic sceneries, and a land of abundant culture. 

FAQs

How much is a trip to the Maldives?

• The cost of the trip to Maldives may vary depending on your choice of accommodation, the activities you take part in, the places you visit, and the duration of your stay. Maldives offers you a wide range of selections for hotels from pocket-friendly options to mega over-water villas. The average hotels range from $200- $400 and the luxurious ones range from $500 and more. Abound Holidays offers you packages according to your preference with some exciting price ranges. 

How is the weather in Maldives?

• There are primarily two seasons in Maldives; dry season( November to April) and wet season (May to October).

When is the best time to visit Maldives?

• The best season to visit Maldives is during the dry season to enjoy the tropical climate. You can indulge in water activities during this time of the season. But for a budget-friendly option, consider visiting the Maldives from May to October. 

Is the Maldives tourist-friendly?

• Of course! Maldives is best known for its tourism. The country’s economy and the income of a huge group of people in Maldives solely depend on the tourism industry. The friendly and welcoming hospitality makes Maldives tourist-friendly. 

Is Maldives safe for tourists?

• Yes! The crime rate in Maldives is comparatively low against tourists. Although safe, you should be careful while traveling and keep your belongings safe.