Facts about Maldives

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History of Maldives in brief

The history of Maldives is as interesting as its people. It's a bit of a hazy past up to the arrival of the Muslims with myths, which are supported by somewhat questionable archaeological discoveries. According to archaeologist Thor Heyerdahl, Maldives was a trading point for many civilizations like Romans, Egyptians, Indus Valley and Mesopotamians from the time of 2000 BC. It is also believed that the sun-worshipper Redin were present in the island country till 500 BC when they were most probably overtaken by Buddhists from Sri Lanka and Hindus from northwest India. Certain excavations like Buddhist stupas have revealed the influence of Buddhism in Maldives. Some archaeologists, including the now much-dismissed Thor Heyerdahl, believe that the Maldives was well known from around 2000 BC, and was a trading junction for several ancient maritime civilisations including Egyptians, Romans, Mesopotamians and Indus Valley traders. The legendary sun-worshipping people called the Redin may have descended from one of these groups.

Around 500 BC the Redin either left or were absorbed by Buddhists, probably from Sri Lanka, and by Hindus from northwest India. HCP Bell, a British commissioner of the Ceylon Civil Service, led archaeological expeditions to the Maldives in 1920 and 1922. Among other things, he investigated the ruined, dome-shaped structures (hawittas), mostly in the southern atolls, that he believed were Buddhist stupas similar to the dagobas found in Sri Lanka (Ceylon).

For many years, Arab traders stopped at the Maldives en route to the Far East – their first record of the Maldive islands, which they called Dibajat, is from the 2nd century AD. Known as the ‘Money Isles’, the Maldives provided enormous quantities of cowry shells, an international currency of the early ages. The cowry is now the symbol of the Maldives Monetary Authority. It must have been an almost magical land at the time – forget money growing on trees, in the Maldives it was washed up on the shore!

 

Abu Al Barakat, a North African Arab, is credited with converting the Maldivians to Islam in 1153. According to the legend, young virgin girls in Male’ were chosen from the community and left alone in a temple as a sacrifice to Rannamaari, a sea jinni. One night Barakat took the place of a prospective sacrificial virgin and drove the demon away by reading from the Islamic holy book, the Quran. The Maldivian king at the time was sold on Islam, and ordered that the whole country convert.

A series of six sultanic dynasties followed, 84 sultans and sultanas in all, although some did not belong to the line of succession. At one stage, when the Portuguese first arrived on the scene, there were actually two ruling dynasties, the Malei (or Theemuge) dynasty and the Hilali.

Maldives history mentions that the Portuguese arrived in the island country in the 16th century in their attempt to expand trade over the Indian Ocean. One version of the story states that they first just built a fort and a factory in Male but soon they forced them to invade and defeat the army of the ruling sultan and the Portuguese under Captain Andreas Andre ruled for the next 15 years. Another popular version of the story suggests that the Portuguese had not ruled Maldives but merely created a trading post in the country. In any case, the Portuguese were defeated by Mohammed Thakurufaanu who succeeded in defeating the foreigners and successfully created the next Muslim dynasty.

The Portuguese attempted to conquer the country several times after that along with the rajahs of Cannanore, South India. The Maldivians took the protection of the Dutch but many limitations including the lack of good ports, outbreak of malaria and other diseases, its remote position and other factors neither compelled the British nor the Dutch to establish colonial administration in the Maldives.

It was only to save the islands from the monopoly trade of the Bombay Borah merchants that the ruling sultan signed a treaty with the British that would recognize the statehood of the British and formalize their status as protector.

It was the 20th century that witnessed the introduction of the Maldives constitution and statehood. The century also saw some real hardships like shortage of rice and other basic necessities, the outbreak of illness and also death because of World War II. A new constitution was constructed again in 1942 and a new prime minister, Mohammed Amin Didi was elected. The Maldives received its independence from the British on 26th of July in 1965 and also became a member of the UN.

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Maldivian ambassador to the UN became the President of the country and ruled it for three decades. It was under him that the country achieved an international profile and became a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) and the Commonwealth. Gayoom was replaced by Mohammed Nasheed and his Democrats in 2008 after Nasheed fought against the government, even going to prison for his controversial criticisms and actions.

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Hotels in Maldives

Name of the Hotel	Name of the	Phone number	e-mail	Operator	Beds /
	Island				Rooms
Coral Hotel & Spa	Male'	3348833	info@coralhotel&spa.com	Najaah Artpalace Travels Pvt.Ltd	81 beds
				M.H.A Building (3rd Floor)	41 Rooms
				Orchid Magu, Male', Republic of Maldives
Equator Village	S. Gan	6898721	equater@dhivehinet.net.mv	Gan Invest Maldives Pvt Ltd	156 beds
					78 rooms
Hotel Relax Inn	Male'	3314531	hotelrelaxinn@relaxmaldives.com	Fathimath Jennifer (ID No. A049269)	74 Beds
				Anbugasdhoshuge	37 Rooms
				Ha. Kelaa
				Rep of Maldives
Hulhule Island Hotel	Hulhule	3330888	sales@hih.com.mv	Maldives Inflight Catering Services Pvt. Ltd.	272 bed
					136 rooms
Kam Hotel	Male'	3320611	resevation@kam.com	Kam Company Pvt Ltd	24 beds
				H.Maagala	12 rooms
				Meheli Goalhi
				Male'
Lucky Hiya Hotel	Male'	3315856	info@luckyhiyahotel.com.mv	Hassan Waheed	60 beds
				H.Homa	30 room
				Dhonhuragolhi / Violet Magu
				Male'
				Rep.of Maldives
Marble Hotel	Male'	3302778	reservation@marble.mv	Marvel Investment Pvt Ltd	55 beds
		7771855		H.Marvel, flat 2, 1st floor	30 rooms
				filigas magu,
				Male'
				Rep.of Maldives
Mookai Hotel	Male'	3338811	mookai@dhivehinet.net.mv	Mookai Hotel and Service Flats Pvt. Ltd., H. Kandige, Dheefram Goalhi, Male'	102 beds
					51 rooms
Mookai Suites	Male'	3322212	kaimoo@dhivehinet.net.mv	Mookai Suites Pvt.Ltd	98 beds
				M.Sakaimoo	49 rooms
				Haveeree Higun
				Male',Republic of Maldives
Nasandhura Palace Hotel	Male'	333884	info@nasandhurapalace.com	Galaxy Enterprises MaldivesPvt Ltd	36 beds
		7945077		H.Maadhoo,	18 rooms
				Boduthakurufaanu Magu
				Male', Rep of Maldives
Off Day Inn	Male'	3316914	info@offdaymaldives.com	Off Day Maldives Pvt Ltd	30 beds
				M.Madhoshigasdhoshuge, Male'	15 rooms
				Republic of Maldives
Baani Hotel	Male'	3001818	admin@altairholdings.net	Baani Hotel and Travel and Tours Pvt. Ltd , 2nd Floor, M. Dhillevilla	34 beds
		7778323		Male', Republic of Maldives	17 rooms
Hotel Jen Male', Maldives	Male'	3321378	farahdidi@gmail.com	Traders Hotel Male' Private Limited	234 beds
				Champa Center Point , 4th Floor	117 rooms
				Male' Maldives
Gan Island Retreat	S. Gan	332 5012	info@mvkmaldives.com	MVK Maldives Pvt. Ltd	50 rooms
		7771719		Gaadhoo Building, 01st Floor	100 beds
				Boduthakurufaanu Magu
				Male', Maldives
The somerset Hotel	Male'	3009090	reservations@thesomerset.com.mv	The somerset Pvt Ltd	30 Rooms
		7776529		Keneree Magu	60 Beds
				Male', Rep of Maldives
Amilla Fushi	Finolhas, Baa Atoll	3312140	coast@dhivehinet.net.mv	Coastline Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd (C-1033/2007)	68 Rooms
				120 Maafannu	146 Beds
				Majeedhi Magu
				Male' Republic of Maldives
The Barefoot Eco Hotel	Hanimaadhoo,	3323032	admin@island-expert.com	Barefoot Noomadi Hotel Pvt Ltd	40 Rooms
	Haa Dhaal Atol			(C-0794/2014)	80 Beds
				H. Meerubahuruge, 4th Floor
				Ameer Ahmed Magu
				Male' Republic of Maldives