Holiday in Male

About Male

Male, the capital of the Maldives, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world — over 100,000 people live on an island of just 5.8 square kilometers. This compact coral island in the Indian Ocean is the political, economic, and cultural center of the archipelago of 1,192 islands and 26 atolls. The Hukuru Miskiiy (Friday Mosque) from the 17th century is built from coral stone and adorned with intricate carvings — one of the most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture in the Indian Ocean. The fish market at the harbor is Male's liveliest spectacle: fishermen bring fresh tuna, bonito, and mackerel directly from the boats in the morning. Sultan Park and the National Museum in the former Sultan's Palace showcase the history of the Maldives from its Buddhist past (before the 12th century) to the Islamic Sultanate. The colorful Majeedhee Magu is Male's main shopping street with souvenir shops, tea houses, and restaurants. Male is the gateway to the atolls: speedboats and seaplanes take visitors from here to the legendary resort islands, dive sites with whale sharks and manta rays, and uninhabited sandbanks. Hulhumale, the artificially reclaimed neighboring island, is Male's modern face with beach bars and guesthouses.