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Updated by Sri Lanka Hotel Offers on Apr 22, 2019
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Six Things You Should Know About the Maldives

Most people first encounter a picture of the Maldives when their loved-up friends post amazing photos of their honeymoon or romantic couple’s getaway. However, while the country is known for its premier post-wedding bliss, it can also be an ideal vacation spot for friends and family! If you were one of the many who believed that the Maldives was out of your reach until you met your soulmate, here are six more things you probably didn’t know about this beautiful country!

1

The Beginning

The Beginning

Around 269 B.C., a prince of the Indian kingdom of Kalinga angered his father enough that he was exiled to Dheeva Maari, which would eventually become the Maldives. The prince established his own kingdom there, and so it came to be that the people of India were the first to officially colonize the islands.

2

The Locals are Muslim

The Locals are Muslim

In 1153 A.D., the population of the Maldives converted to Islam, and the nation has remained a Muslim one ever since. The Maldives is the smallest Muslim country in the world and, as such, requires visitors to observe its customs when not on a private resort island. This means that tourists must wear modest clothing, and that alcohol is prohibited on all of the local islands. But don’t worry, you don’t have to abstain on your entire trip if you want to respect the country’s laws! If you’re staying at a hotel on a private island, like at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, it is perfectly fine to indulge. You are also allowed to wear bikinis or open clothing when staying on a private island – just don’t wander into local areas and you’ll be fine!

3

Over 1000 Coral Islands

Over 1000 Coral Islands

The Maldives is an archipelago that comprises of 1192 coral islands, grouped into 26 atolls – 99% of the Maldives is water, and the country is spread across the Indian Ocean for approximately 90,000 square kilometers. It is also the flattest country in the world, which means that it has to deal with the immediate threat of rising sea levels due to global climate change. Of over 1000 islands, only 200 are inhabited, with an additional 80 islands that host tourist resorts.

4

First Underwater Cabinet Meeting

First Underwater Cabinet Meeting

In October 2009, the president of the Maldives met with his cabinet in the world’s first underwater governmental meeting. They donned scuba gear and headed down to desks that had been sunk to the ocean floor. The purpose for the peculiar setting of this meeting was to raise awareness of climate change, and of the dangers that the rising sea levels placed the Maldives’ chain of islands in. The Maldives has been ranked as the third-most endangered country in the world due to the threat of flooding from climate change. In addition, the underwater meeting was aimed at tackling sustainable projects that would reduce the carbon footprint of the country as a whole. Talks included ideas on maximizing the use of renewable energy sources like solar power, and working on sustainable tourism initiatives.

5

Sea Turtles

Sea Turtles

The Maldives hosts a stunning array of aquatic wildlife, from seahorses, to eels, to reef sharks. Interestingly, it is also home to five the world’s seven species of marine turtles: leatherbacks, loggerheads, hawksbills, Olive Ridley sea turtles, and of course green turtles!