Maldives is yet another destination where you would enjoy the beauty of beaches with its white sands, the clear water with colorful fishes diving in, the coral reefs and free flowing tides of the Indian Ocean. Maldives is a tourist destination also known as the Republic of Maldives. It has been an independent nation and is the smallest country in terms of population and area in the whole of Asia. Divehi is the language of the locals and is a mix of Sinhala, Tamil & Urdu and is written in Thaana script. The 1,190 islands, consisting of 26 atoll (atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely) formations, are spread over an area of around 90,000 square kilometers. The view of this country from the top would seem like a clutter of islands studded together. Each region in Maldives is addressed as atoll, for example, North Atoll, South Atoll, etc.

The country has a tropical climate which is beach perfect as the hot weather is compensated by the cool breezes across the shore. The best season to visit the place are between November to April as it is hotter during these months. One should avoid coming here in the rainy season. So, if you are planning for a peaceful and relaxing honeymoon trip and wouldn’t be bothered much about the expenses incurred, then this place is a must go destination for you.

Reaching Maldives:

You just need to have a valid passport to visit this country. Visa is not a problem and you are issued one as a tourist. You get a maximum of 30 days tourist visa on arrival. For Indians, now that you have a direct flight to Maldives from the various cities of India, reaching Maldives wouldn’t be that troublesome. Earlier, you had to go to Columbia, Sri Lanka and then change for Maldives which made it a bit hectic journey. Male, the capital of Maldives, is the place where you get down from the airport. It is a small island with an overall length of around 2 kms. The airport is all beautiful and unique in ambience surrounded by sea from all the sides. Generally most of the hotels and resorts would have their own boats on the jetty outside of the airport to receive you.

Your very first travel by boat would give you a vivid picture about this place.  The view of the water with each bunch of coral reef encircled by the colorful fishes is an enchanting view in itself.

Adventures you can undertake in Maldives:

In Male, you can explore places like Golden Domed old Hukuru Miski mosque which is ornamented with coral gravestones, National Museum, Sultan Park and the fish and fruit market. But these places wouldn’t interest you much as they do not unravel much about the culture of Maldives and its history. So, you wouldn’t find something unique in them.

Maldives is a country which is full of scenic and natural beauty. There is not much places to see here except for some in Males. The main attraction of this place is the island hoping where you are left in one of the islands by the sea plane, you spend your whole evening enjoying the beauty of the ocean and you come back by the evening to your resort/hotel. Sea plane services are pretty expensive affair here but you would enjoy the ride to the fullest.  This is the most sought out option that is undertaken by the tourists especially the couples.

Another adventurous activity that you can undertake is the various aqua sports which is generally provided and taken care by the resort/ hotels where you plan your stay.

Underwater Diving:

Maldives is the hub for different kinds of colorful species underwater ranging from the big sharks to the tiny shrimps. You get to see here the small marine creatures as well as the microscopic plant cells. You need not be a professional diver to enjoy this adventure. Generally, you are given the basic training by the resort team where you plan the stay. Dives in this play usually takes place along the reef or a wreck. The reefs where you take the dive are locally called by the name of faru or thilla. You could enjoy the night diving or the micro diving there. Taking a dive in the midst of the reef is a thrilling experience in itself. You would love the beauty of underwater.

Water sports:

Almost every resort in Maldives provides you with the water sports activities. Each of these resorts /hotels has a water sports centre where you could play around with sports like water polo, surfing, etc. These centers equip you with masks and snorkels for snorkeling, windsurfing parasailing, kayak, kite-surfing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, etc.

Expenses, Accommodation and Food:

Maldives is an island which depends mainly on its tourism. As it has a lot of scenic beauty in and around, it is no less expensive place. There is nothing like budget tours over here. If you really want to enjoy the charisma of this country, you have to spend a substantial amount of money to enjoy it. Resorts are very common in this country and it is advisable that you opt for it as they provide you with many more facilities. The hotels are all expensive too with a 5 star to 7 star facilities. However, the hotels can be found in the range between 2750 INR to 8250 INR (50$ to 150$) per night stay. Some of the super deluxe can also charge you something around 42,000 INR per night stay but they are generally located nearest to the beach. Resorts generally charges you above $250 and most of them are located around the beaches. A four day trip to Maldives can cost you around 45,000 INR if you plan the most economical one.

Sea food is a specialty of this place and you get them all over here. The Sala Thai Restaurant is the most famous restaurant in Male and they say you get the best Thai food here. If you are vegetarian, you would have the option to get some vegetarian food especially the South Indian flavors which are provided by most of the hotels and restaurants where you plan your stay. The taste is also good but be sure that food will also be a bit expensive than you would expect.

Tips:

1. If you go for a packaged tour, make sure that you include water sports and island hoping in it. Else just staying in Male wouldn’t serve the purpose of the tour.
2. This is not a budgeted destination at all. If you plan to enjoy the beauty of this place, your expenses could go on a high. So, be prepared before moving on.
3. Make sure to enquire about the food that would be available to you, especially if you are a vegetarian.
4. You are not allowed to import drugs of any kind and the idols of worship, so do not purchase any one of them.
5. The souvenirs sold in Maldives are very expensively priced. So make your choices.
6. Medical facilities are limited and there are only two major hospitals in the capital island. Avoid touring if you have some major health issues.
7. Make sure that you have sufficient cash limit in your credit card as it is mostly accepted in most of the hotels and restaurants.
8. The local currency of Maldives is Maldives Rufiyaa. One Maldives Rufiyaa is equivalent to 3.52 INR. So, when you reach the country, make sure to exchange your money at the airport.

Image Source: Wikipedia