The Maldives is an island nation comprising of a total of 1,200 islands which are located south-west of India in the Indian Ocean.
In this article, we are going to be providing you with information about the Island of Male which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire country for reasons that we will explore further in our awesome trip to the island of Male, Maldives.
Famous Sights of the Island of Male.
Despite the island of Male being just 6.8 km squared in size, it is densely populated, with the island being home to over 140,000 people and hundreds of different locations and unique pieces of architecture that are influenced by the many empires and cultures that the Maldives was part of during its history such as Buddhism and Islam as well as the Dutch, Portuguese and British empires.
If you are passionate about history, then it is recommended that you visit the National Museum located on the island which was built in 1952 which is 13 years before the island was granted its independence from Great Britain.
Although the museum is much smaller than the massive museums you will find in other places around the world, it offers the most detailed collection of the Maldives related artifacts and items that date back from the tribes and nations that lived on the island before Buddhism came to the Maldives in the 3rd century B.C. to modern history, where you can view, for example, uniforms of the police and army during the 20th century.
Due to the Maldives being a majority Muslim country since the 12th century when traders and missionaries from the Arabian Peninsula started to visit the island you are able to find a wide variety of mosques that attract tourists from both Muslim and non-Muslim countries. For example, you can visit: Friday Mosque which is one of the oldest and biggest mosques on the island, and it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History of the Island of Male.
The island of Male has for the majority of its life been a low-populated fishing island, Male holds an important role in the Maldives as it is one of the biggest cities and islands of the country and also the capital with the word ‘Maldives’ itself meaning ‘the islands (dives) of Male Acute.
The culture of Maldives islands including the actual people is closely related to those of the Indian subcontinent with the very first settlers of the island of Male coming from what is now modern-day India.
Furthermore, throughout its history the Maldives has been strongly influenced by the geopolitics of mainland India, with multiple kings and princes most notably from the Tamil kingdoms on numerous occasions invading, taking over the islands and installing themselves as rulers.
Despite these foreign influences, the islands have managed to forge and maintain a unique identity despite being admittedly much weaker economically and militarily than its neighbors.
For centuries, only the most well-equipped and experienced traders on the islands have been able to interact with the island due to how far out they are in the Indian Ocean, this is why the island is influenced by seafaring nations such as Arabia, Indian subcontinent coastal nations, and European colonial powers such as the British Empire, the Dutch, and Portuguese.
Transportation Options on the Island of Male.
The Maldives being an island nation made out of a whopping 1,200 separate islands it is not a surprise that has an established and efficient transportation system that provides Maldives citizens and tourists with options that suit them based on how much they value their time and how much disposable income they have to spend.
The fastest way a tourist can get around the Maldives is by using a small chartered plane with all of the major islands that make up the Maldives having at least one plane runway. However, it is important to note that you will not be able to use a plane to land directly on every one of the over 1,200 islands that make up the Maldives; instead, there are planes that are able to land in the surrounding ocean waters.
Moreover, it is key to outline in this awesome trip to the island of Male, Maldives that there is also only one airplane landing strip on the island of Male, so this expensive option is not available for traveling around the island, but thankfully you will not require it since the island is only 6.8 km squared in size.
Arguably the best option available to you is taxis which are more expensive than the buses available but will save you a lot of time and will allow you to travel directly to a destination.
Since Male is the capital of the Maldives it is very populated and all the main roads are paved allowing for comfortable travel. Alternatively, there are many different ferries and boats that allow you to travel from one point of the island to the other with ease and also speed.
The Climate of the Island of Male.
A big draw in for tourists that visit Male and the other islands that make up the Maldives is the warm tropical climate which lasts literally all year with the two hottest months being April and May with the average monthly and yearly temperature being 30 degrees Celsius. Despite this hot weather, there are also a couple of days of rainfall every single month, with the average monthly rainfall on the island of Male being seven.
There is also a so-called Monsoon period which is when the most rainfall occurs on the island of the Maldives, this monsoon period generally takes place from May to October, although it can last until the end of December or even January the next year.
A Monsoon is a very windy and rainy period which is exclusive to Southeast Asia. Even though the Maldives and the city of Male can at times be a very windy and wet place, the average temperature is always very warm and rain quickly dries up.
Accompanying the climate there are many low inhabited or even deserted islands that allow you to experience nature interrupted without any of the ugly sides of civilization.
Why Is the Island of Male Such a Significant Part of the Maldives?
Another important aspect that we need to further elaborate on in this awesome trip to the island of Male, Maldives article is why the island of Male is such a significant part of the Maldives.
One of the biggest aspects apart from the fact that Male is the capital of the Maldives as stated further above is the population of the island, in total there are well over 140,000 people living on the island of Male which is one-third of the entire population of the Maldives. The second most populated island of the Maldives is home to just 13,000 people.
Due to this significant majority of the population in one place, the city of Male has established itself as the epicenter of the Maldives and if you are looking to experience all of the aspects of Maldivian life such as city life, Buddhist, Islamic and European influences as well wildlife on nearby uninhabited islands then this is the place for you to visit if you are interested in going to the Maldives.
Also read the article: We Are Going On An Amazing Trip To The Maldives. Unforgettable Impressions.
