The Maldives

The Republic of Maldives is an island nation that consists of 26 main atolls encompassing some 1,200 islets, 200 of which are inhabited. They are scattered in the Indian Ocean 700 km (435 mi) to the south-west of Sri Lanka.

With a maximum natural heigh of 2.6 m (7.5 ft), the Maldives are threatened by global warming, as a comparatively modest rise in sea level would make them uninhabitable. Havoc caused by the tsunami in 2004 serves as a stark reminder of the sea's destructive power.


The functional literacy rate is 98 percent. Educational standards are among the highest in the region, and most schools teach via the English Medium and follow the British education system, while in some schools Dhivehi (the Maldivian Language) or Arabic is the medium of instruction.





The inhabitants were Buddhist, probably since Ashoka's period, in the 3rd century BC and possibly Hindu before that. Islam was introduced in 1153. The Maldives then came under the influence of the Portuguese (1558) and the Dutch (1654) seaborne empires. In 1887 it became a British protectorate. In 1965, the Maldives obtained independence from Britain (originally under the name "Maldive Islands"), and in 1968 the Sultanate was replaced by a Republic.


Tourism is the major money-spinner. Visitors are wooed with the slogan "the last paradise on earth" and they do indeed enjoy relaxed resort holidays in an idyllic setting, with a pleasant climate that encourages water sports such as fishing, swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, water skiing and windsurfing.

Telecommunication has developed very fast in this decade. Upto-date technology and international satellite links allow Maldives to have a sophisticated communications system. IDD facilities are available on all resorts, and card phone facilities are available on all islands.

Dhiraagu, the Maldives telecommunications company, an affiliate of the British Cable and Wireless Company, provides mobile telephones for rental on a daily basis. Dhiraagu is also the Internet service provider.

A typical resort in the Maldives will consist of an island occupied only by the workforce and visitors, with no local inhabitants, which will be up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) by 250 m (800 ft) in size. There will be swaying palm trees and a beautiful beach encircling the island, protected by a house reef that encloses a safe lagoon. They come in three varieties - luxury for honeymooners and the jet set, family resorts and dive resort.


The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in terms of both population and area; it is the smallest predominantly Muslim nation in the world. It is also the country with the lowest highest point in the world. This makes it a nation seriously under threat of simply disappearing, due to rising ocean levels caused by climate change.


The capital is Male', an extraordinary city that occupies an entire island - a place of contrasts where high-rise buildings rub shoulders with the narrow streets, lanes and alleys of the old bazaar area. Health care facilities are improving on a daily basis.

The Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male' is the biggest hospital in the country providing sophisticated medical care. ADK Hospital is the biggest private health care facility, and follows high medical standards. Experienced European doctors work at the AMDC Clinic. Regional hospitals are distributed throughout the country and Male' , the capital, has several well-established private general practitioners . Some resorts have an in-house doctor. Decompression chambers are within reach of most resorts in case of a diving emergency.

This crowded place houses a quarter of the country's population and is about as close as tourists get to the "real life" of the Maldives most of the other islands with local communities are off the tourist map. But if sun, sea and sand are your idea of bliss, the Maldives will delight.