Where is the Maldives located?
Everyone has seen the beautiful photos of Maldives. Luxury resort, white sand, turquoise waters — Maldives is like heaven on earth for beach bums. As popular as this place is, very little is known or understood about its people, its geography, and its culture.
While tourists specifically visit the Maldives for the waters, it would not hurt to know more a little bit about it. We have gathered some information about this beautiful country that will, hopefully, make you fall further in love.
Unknown Beginning And Colonial Past
Ambiguity makes for an interesting history. Little is accurately known about the roots of Maldives. There are lots of different stories about the beginning of the Maldives. What is known is that it was first inhabited in the 5th century by Buddhist peoples that are probably from Sri Lanka or southern India. Islam then came in 1153 CE brought by prominent North African travelers.
The Maldives was then colonized by the Portuguese for a brief period of time. It then became under the protection of Dutch rulers in Sri Lanka. In 1887, the British took over the archipelago and the Maldives would not be free until 1968. This is what makes the Maldives such a myriad of different cultures.
It’s amazing how it managed to stay pristine!
Where Is The Maldives Geographically Located?
The Maldives is a small archipelagic state sprawled in the Arabic Sea portion of the Indian Ocean. It is made up of 1200 islands, most of which are uninhabited. With all its islands combined, the landmass is 298 square kilometers, making it the smallest Asian country.
The Maldives is incredibly low lying. This is why while the archipelago is supposed to have beautiful mountain ranges, all of it is underwater. Only 1% of the total landmass actually breaks the surface.
In fact, there is no definite number of islands present at any given moment. Maldivian Islands come and go with the wind and the water current. Know more about it here.
What’s Nearby?
The Maldives is approximately 717km from Sri Lanka and 430km from India. Pairing the Maldives with either of these destinations will make for an extraordinary trip.
After the Maldives, you probably got enough tan and water adventure. This is what makes Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle the next best thing. You can explore ancient ruins, climb rock fortresses, and many more.
If you are up for even more color and culture, Rajasthan is another great nearby destination. From street food, colorful architecture, and the plain experience of being in India.
Where Are The Locals?
Out of the 1200 islands, 88 are developed as tourist resorts. Only 200 are said to be inhabited by local Maldivian people. The Maldivian government ruled that the two cannot be combined. An island can either be for tourists or locals. This is why you are unlikely to encounter locals in their residence once you are in one of the islands.
Its capital, Male, is actually one of the most densely populated cities in the world. While you will most likely only drop by the capital for the airport, the capital boasts of beautiful mosques, colorful architecture, and bustling markets.
If you are now thinking of visiting the Maldives, we got some tips to make the most out of your Maldivian experience. All without draining your savings. Here is our ultimate budget travel guide to the Maldives.
