The Republic of Maldives is an island nation consisting of a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India, about 700 kilometres south-west of Sri Lanka. The 26 atolls encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islets, roughly 200 of which are inhabited by people. The country's name may stand for the "Palace" or "Mountain Islands" (from al-Mahal in Arabic, or malai in Malayalam / mala in Tamil, and dvipa in Sanskrit, respectively), or it might mean "a thousand islands." Following the introduction of Islam in 1153, the islands later became a Portuguese (1558), Dutch (1654), and British (1796) colonial possession. In 1965, Maldives declared its independence from Britain, and in 1968 the Sultanate was replaced by a Republic.
Since 2003 the country has experienced occasional antigovernment demonstrations calling for political reforms. Political parties were allowed in June 2005. The first party to register was Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) headed by popular opposition figures like Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) and Mohamed Latheef (Gogo). Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party or the DRP headed by president Gayyoom was to register next. Currently MDP attracts huge support from the islanders and is believed to win the upcoming elections by a landslide.
Maldives holds the record for being the flattest country in the world, with a maximum altitude of only 2.3 metres. Although there have been reports of rising sea levels threatening the islands, the sea level has actually lowered in recent decades.
A tsunami in the Indian Ocean caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake caused parts of Maldives to be covered by sea water and left many people homeless. After the disaster, cartographers are planning to redraw the maps of the islands due to alterations by the tsunami. The people and government are worried that Maldives would be wiped out from the map eventually.
Maldivian culture is derived from a number of sources among them, its proximity to Sri Lanka and South India, its conversion to Islam in the 12th century , and its location as a crossroads in the central Indian ocean.
Most Maldivians are of Sri Lankan and Southern Indian origin, although there are elements of Arabian, African, and Indonesian origin as well. Maldivian culture shares many aspects with Sri Lanka and Kerala, namely a strong matriarchal tradition. A unique feature of Maldivian society is a very high divorce rate by either South Asian or Islamic standards, which demonstrates the high degree of autonomy that Maldivian women have over their lives.
The Maldives is an almost exclusively Islamic society. It is common to hear Maldivians refer to their country as a "100% Muslim country" . The isolation of Maldives from the historical centres of Islam in the Middle East and Asia has allowed some pre-Islamic beliefs and attitudes to survive. There is a widespread belief in jinns, or evil spirits. For protection against such evils, people often resort to various charms and spells. The extent of these beliefs has led some observers to identify a magico-religious system parallel to Islam known as fanditha, which provides a more personal way for the islanders to deal with either actual or perceived problems in their lives.
Things you should know when travelling to Maldives
There are no serious security or safety concerns. Petty crime is prevalent. Pay attention to the security of valuables at all times, especially on the beach. Large crowds and demonstrations should be avoided.
Permission is generally required to visit non-resort islands. Travellers who participate in water sports and scuba diving should be aware that rescue services may not be consistent with international standards.
