reservations@crosswatermaldives.com
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Maldives is often portrayed as a tropical paradise and is a popular tourist destination located in the Indian ocean.
Maldives climate is warm and sunny throughout the year with very slight temperature variations. There are two monsoons - the south west and the north east monsoons. The south west monsoon (May - Oct) brings rain and the seas are moderate to rough during the SW monsoon winds. The north east monsoon (Nov - April) are marked by calmer and dry conditions. Surface currents and winds, humidity and rainfall and temperature and salinity are strongly effected by the monsoons.
The Maldivian language (Dhivehi) has its own script called Thaana. The language has its roots in Sanskrit and is an Indo-European language and is related to Singhala, the language spoken in Sri Lanka. Dhivehi is not spoken elsewhere in the world. The dialects vary across islands and atolls.
English is widely spoken by Maldivians. A variety of languages are spoken by the staff in resorts which includes English, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese and Russian.
The folk dance and music called Boduberu depics the exortic sounds of Maldives. The songs are euphoric and the drums play ethnic beats unique to the islanders.
Maldives has a wide variety of cuisine and the dishes are mostly made with Tuna and reef fish. Coconut juice, known as Kurumba in the Maldives, is the most popular refreshing drink.
Maldives has a history that goes back to more than 2500 years. In the early period, cowrie shells were used as a form of currency. They were traded in the 13th century as per many historical accounts. The remains of some historic artifects can be found in the National Museum located in Male', the capital of Maldives.
The Maldives’ economy has been growing at an annual average of 10% for the past two decades. Tourism is the main industry, contributing close to 20% of the GDP. Fisheries and trade follow close behind, with tuna being the biggest export.
The Maldivian currency is the Rufiyaa. However, US Dollars can also be used in resorts, guesthouses and many other facilitires. Generally resorts accept most currencies and credit cards. Commonly used credit cards are American Express, Visa, Master Card, Diners Club, JCB and Euro Card. ATMs are available at the airport and in Male’.
Many travellers venture to Maldives just to relax. However, there are abundant actvities like watersports, night fishing, snorkelling, diving and surfing. Maldives offers excellent snorkelling sites where you can swim in crystaline waters with thousands of fish near vividly colorful corals.
In the capital city, you can visit the Male' Fish Market area to observe the busy commercial activities. Great sight-seeing sites are available in the capital city. In the local islands, treat yourself the shades of palmtrees and you can experience the Maldives culture.
| Time | GMT+5hrs |
| Capital island | Male' |
| Total islands | 1,190 |
| Inhabited islands | 200 |
| Population | Approx. 350,000 (Census 2014) |
| Government working hours | 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Sunday to Thursday |
| Electricity | 240 AC |
| Major industries | Tourism and Fishing |
| Currency | Rufiya (USD 1 = MRF 15.42) |