The islands of the Maldive Islands with its sparkling sun-kissed pure white beaches surrounded by crystalline lagoons in varying shades of blue studded with multi-coloured corals, swaying palm trees and warm azure seas abundant with exotic marine life are just a few of the reasons that a trip to the Maldives should be on everyone’s holiday destination list.
Located in the Indian Ocean, the Maldive Islands consists of a double chain of 26 coral atolls. These chains stand in the Laccadive Sea, about 400 km’s south-west of India. Known for its deep blue seas, turquoise reefs, beautiful white sandy beaches, crystal clear lagoons and palm trees, the Maldives is a true Indian Ocean paradise.
Nalaguraidhoo, located on the South Ari Atoll, is considered one of the Maldives most beautiful beaches with its natural lagoon perfect for watersports and a reef teeming with fish.
The near-perfect all the year round weather provide plenty of activities for holidaymakers from soaking up the sun aboard a luxury catamaran, diving the magnificent coral reefs, enjoying some incredible watersport activities including surfing, kiteboarding and skiing, visiting Male’ artificial beach, browsing its two markets to touring the magnificent Hukuru Miskiiy (Old Friday Mosque), one of the oldest mosques in the Maldives.
The origins of the Maldivian people are shrouded in mystery. The first settlers may well have been from Sri Lanka and Southern India. Some say Aryans, who sailed in their reed boats from Lothal in the Indus Valley about 4,000 years ago, probably followed them.
Archaeological evidence suggests the existence Hinduism and Buddhism before the country embraced Islam in 1153 A.D.