Maldives, An Unspoilt Island Paradise In The Tropics
Maldives, An Unspoilt Island Paradise In The Tropics
The Maldives is a nation in the Indian Ocean that consists of a great multitude of small islands numbering 1,192 of which 200 are inhabited. The largest city and capital of the Republic of Maldives is Male, which in an earlier era was known as the King's Island and was the location of the royal palace of the Maldivian kings. The language of the Maldives is Dhivehi which is identified as an Indo-European language.
According to detailed analysis of the culture and language of the Maldives, the first inhabitants of the islands were likely to have been fishermen from the southern regions of India and the western borders of Sri Lanka. Later continued waves of settlers from these areas intermingled with travelers from areas as diverse as Gujarat, Bengal, southeast Asia, Arabia and east Asia.
Buddhism arrived in the Maldives during its propagation by the Indian Emperor Ashoka and became the dominant religion of the nation until about the 12th century. The ancient kings of the Maldives actively endorsed Buddhism and elaborate artworks in the form of architectural creations and sculpture as well as creative writing are attributed to this period.
In the 11th century the Maldives were occupied by the Chola Tamil empire. According to legend a Sinhalese nobleman from Sri Lanka called Koimala arrived and founded a kingdom in Male in the 12th century. Islam arrived in later years and established a strong following, the entire population now being Muslim.
Today the Maldives is a premier tourist destination, attracting a multitude of visitors from around the world drawn by its sublime unspoiled beaches, pleasant sunny climate and charming traditional way of life. Popular activities for tourists include snorkeling and diving, cruises and a variety of water sports.
After a period of somewhat autocratic rule, the Maldives is now a functioning democracy. Maldivians are generally friendly hospitable people, ready to assist and guide the visitor.
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