Description
The Maldives is a tropical nation in the Indian Ocean composed of 26 ring-shaped atolls, which are made up of more than 1,000 coral islands. It’s known for its beaches, blue lagoons and extensive reefs. The capital, Malé, has a busy fish market, restaurants and shops on the main road, Majeedhee Magu, and 17th-century Hukuru Miskiy (also known as Friday Mosque) made of carved white coral.
The economic scenario has undergone a drastic change in the past decade or so. Inhabited islands such as Male, Maafushi among others have opened their doors to tourism by allowing the locals to make their own little bed and breakfast places or guesthouses to accommodate those travelling on budget, from backpackers to solo travellers who’d rather not go to a far off island and live in an exclusive resort. If you are a budget traveller and have Maldives on your mind, you can travel to it without a hitch and without burning a hole in your pocket. There are ample ferries and boats to make island hopping possible, and among them Maafushi is one of the largest islands that has a clutch of guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, hotels and small boutique properties, accommodating travellers across budget. The islands in Male and Ari atolls are massive centres in the present times where the private hotel and guesthouse industry is booming.
The main reason for travellers to make a beeline to Maldives is its diving and snorkelling sites that are among the best in the world. The crystalline waters home to breathtaking coral gardens, lagoons, caves and swimming among them shoals of vibrantly coloured tropical fish that include manta rays, a variety of crabs, reef sharks, sea turtles, parrotfish, barracudas, tunas, king fish among others, and the whale shark too which the world’s largest fish. The waters are warm, the visibility excellent, making Maldives an ideal destination for pursuing aqua adventures or simply taking a lazy swim and later soaking up some sun on the beach.
This island in the North Male Atoll is traditionally known for the production of bodu beru meaning big drums, salted-fish warehouse and the Coca-Cola factory. It is perhaps the only one in the whole world where the cola is made from desalinated water. But since tourism found its way into the island, several small hotels and guesthouses have come up here. The island has a bikini beach and a bridge that connects a small island. Thulusdhoo has several pristine beaches. The island is a 30-minute speedboat ride from Male’s Fishing Harbour and also the Velana International Airport.
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