Top Tourist Attractions in Maldives – Tropical Lures, Culture and Tradition

The beautiful coral islands are the nation's biggest lure. These islands hold a thousand attractions; ensconced within tropical forests, glistening bays, lagoons and coral reefs. Some of the islands are isolated with common factors such as sun bleached white sand beaches, lush tropical forests home to colourful flora and swaying coconut palms. Island hopping tours are one of the most popular activities while visiting the inhabited islands offer tourists a taste of local culture and way of life. Look forward to picnics on isolated beaches, swimming within crystalline lagoons and relaxing under the gorgeously sunny skies.

Alimatha Island located on the beautiful Vaavu Atoll is a top tourist destination along the eastern border of the Maldives. Some of the nation's best dive spots are located there as well as an aquarium. The island skirted by a gorgeous white sand beach is home to a tropical forest hiding many splendid plant species.

The artificial beach of Male Island is quite famous. The main island is not blessed with many sandy beaches hence this artificial beach resplendent with a sandy beach is quite a treat. The place is famous amongst both locals and tourists and is quite a hip and happening place offering water sports facilities as well as lots of carnivals and other fun local festivals. Male is easily accessible from the South Male Atoll and the many Maldives island resorts there.

This is quite a popular activity especially amongst nature loving tourists; Coral Adoption Programmes in the South Male Atoll deal with first informing tourists on the coral formations, the fragile nature of this marine habitat and the many crustaceans and fish that live amongst them. Join a coral adoption programme at Anantara Naladhu Maldives as part of the Anantara conservation programme; there you will be able to learn how the beaches are protected, how to work towards accelerated coral bed regeneration and protection of the marine life.

Located in the Sultan Park of Male main island; the National Museum is one of the top attractions in Maldives. A must visit for all culture buffs the place has many interesting artefacts that chronicle the island nations history. The introduction of Islam to the island is well recorded in the most elaborate manner while weapons and costumes of past sultans and kings too are on display. Colonial influences upon the Maldives are recorded and displayed through various artefacts while nautical instruments and even the country's firs telephone and gramophone are on display there.

Hukuru Miskiiy or Old Friday Mosque is the oldest on the islands. A real treat to explore the place is made up of beautiful coral walls that are inlaid with carved wooden panels, some of these wooden panels are decorated with scripts from the Quran.