Maldives, a destination for travelers

Between the trading routes of the Indian Ocean, lies the island-clustered country, Maldives — a destination, which with time has turned out to be one of the world’s finest for leisure and luxury. This spectacular archipelago offers something unique and impossible to replicate elsewhere.

The small Maldivian islands are surrounded by beautiful lights reflecting white sands fringed by coconut palms. The almost fluorescent whilst turquoise blue water of the shallow reef lagoons encircles the islands and slowly merges with the dark indigo blue of the Indian Ocean.

There are about 1190 islands, spread across 26 naturally formed coral atolls. Of these islands, about 200 are inhabited by Maldivians and the rest are either private resorts or just left to nature.

The key to enjoying Maldives is staying in a splurge island resort. Located on small coral islands, the resorts are absolute slices of paradise. Each resort has its own island. Three-course buffets, Kobe beef, corn-fed chicken and candlelight dinners are the aristocracies of pure five star luxuries being offered.

MaldivesFor the adventure lovers, there are trips such as Dolphin Discovery, Snorkeling on the Bay and also Deep Sea Diving. Nearly everything that is needed is just a call away. For those looking to stay connected to the world, there are high speed wi-fi networks present, which work even on the beach.

The resorts host quite a few different types of restaurants and bars. Every night there are shows and dances. A blend of numerous cultures defines Maldives since Maldivian genes were passed on by South and Southeast Asians, Africans and Arabs, preserving rituals from each.

One of the most famous of these traditions is ‘bodu-beruis’, a form of drum music. Bodu-berui music is often played in the night shows creating a very festive environment. A mix of dance and soft rock is also popularly played for the couples.

Maldives is one of the most ideal locations for a honeymoon. Every resort has facilities designed for couples to enjoy. From uniquely designed dining plans to breathtaking spa facilities, there are a lot for pairs to enjoy. Moreover, the islands are completely isolated and private with no distractions of the world present.

International visitors to Maldives land at the Malé International Airport, located on a separate island lying adjacent to Malé City which is the main island.

To get to the city, the easiest way is to use the local ferry, which costs just one dollar a person. The access to resorts is via speed-boats or sea-planes depending on the distance. Most resorts are less than thirty minutes away. The boat and sea-plane rides are quite entertaining with the view of the vast Indian Ocean all around.

A daylong stop-over in Malé City should not be missed. The city has shopping streets selling a variety of items like corals, pebbles and souvenirs. One such souvenir is shell money, an interesting pre-historic form of money.

Shell money is also sold in these shops for collectors from different parts of the world. The city also hosts the national museum of Maldives which hosts numerous items including three moon rocks and a Maldivian flag which went to the moon and back. The Maldivian palate too is diverse, with numerous cuisines available.

Located just a few flight hours away, the Maldivian islands are the place to be during summer. After all, Maldives is on the list of the very selective world’s exclusive places to be. Source- daily star