Malé with a population of about 100,000 is the commercial and political hub of the Maldives. It is home to all government ministries and departments; all of the larger companies, banks, communications and the key institutions that control the nation’s economic and social life. Malé consists of five districts or wards; four on the island of Male’, A fifth on Villingili , the island to west of Male’ just 10 minutes away by boat, a sixth on Hulhumale’ which is 20 minutes away by boat. The Male’ International Airport is on Hulhule Island, a couple of miles to the north east of Malé.
Attractions in Male’
The Hukuru Miskiiy or Friday Mosque built in 1656 during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar contains some of the finest samples of Maldivian workmanship. The walls are built with finely fluted coral blocks with elaborate coral carvings. Inside the mosque are intricate wooden engravings. The minaret of the Hukuru Miskiiy was built in 1667.
The Presidential Palace, Theemuge is one of the most important attractions for those visiting Malé and is on the itinerary of any tour in Malé. The design and architecture of the palace combines the grandeur of local tradition with modernity. The palace is on Orchid Magu west of the main shopping area.
Mulee-aage was built just before the First World War by Sultan Shamsuddeen III for his son. The Sultan was deposed and his son never took office. In 1953, during the First Republic Muleeaage was designated as the Presidential Palace and was the official residence of the president until the new Presidential Palace was built.
The Islamic Centre opened in 1984, is located between Meduziyaaraiy Magu and Ameeru Ahmed Magu. The Centre’s most important feature is the grand mosque, Masjidul Sultan Mohammad Thakurufaanu al A’zam which holds up to 5,000 people. In addition to the Grand Mosque, the Islamic Centre houses a conference hall, an Islamic library and classrooms.
The Sultan Park and the National Museum are part of the old Sultan’s Palace and Palace grounds during the time of the monarchy. The Museum opened in 1952 and displays a large variety of objects and artifacts from times gone by. The collection comprises of relics from the pre-Islamic times to royal antiquities belonging to different monarchs. The Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. except Fridays and public holidays.
Just opposite the small park adjoining the Hukuru Miskiiy, is the tomb of Abu-al Barakaat, to whom the nation pays its respects for bringing to our shores the enlightenment of Islam in 1153.
It may sound strange in a country renowned for its beaches, however it is true that the residents of Malé get to enjoy an artificial beach built on the eastern side of the island. The beach is ideal for swimmers and those who cannot go to the nearby islands to enjoy the beach. There are food outlets and benches in the area where one can sit down and enjoy the scenery. Many of these food outlets are open till 1am in the night.
Male' at it's perimeter is only around 6kms and an early morning walk around the coastline road is a good way to explore this unique capital city.
Source: The official guide of Maldives tourism promotion board
The island of Bandos is a perfect setting for that romantic getaway or those two weeks of bliss away from work. The sense of calm and serenity the island emanates is truly otherworldly. The gentle lull of the sea, the whistling breeze, and the rustling of the palm fronds on the beach will help transcend you from the hurly-burly rigours of daily life.
This aural feast, complimented by an all colourful visual one, where the turquoise of the lagoon, the lush green vegetation, the pearl white beaches, azure blue sky and generous offerings of golden sunshine inspires in us the question, did heaven and earth meet?
Activities at Bandos
This 5 star Island is replete with activities such as Sports Fishing, Island hopping, Kuda Bandos, Snorkeling Trip, Sand Bank Picnic, Sunset Dolphin Cruise, Kids Club, Water Sports, Karoake and Live Music. We have detailed just a few of them for you,
Sports Fishing
Popular statistics have it that the average Maldivian consumes an average of 75 kilograms of tuna annually. Our love for fishing should then come as no surprise, and Bandos is proud to share the Maldivian flair for fishing with our guests, particularly the art of baitless fishing. One needn’t be a professional as our team includes professional fishermen who will be able to assist you throughout the course of the entire trip. Geared towards this end is our state of the art vessel. A Prowler equipped with a fish finder, global positioning systems, radar and so forth.
Different types of fish are caught depending on the monsoon. The country experiences two main seasons, the South West Monsoon and the North East Monsoon. The South West Monsoon, which usually starts in May and continues until August, is the rainy season. However, given that these coral isles have an abundance of marine fauna, there hardly is a time when a trip fails to yield a good catch.
Island Hopping
Hop on board a local mechanized 'Dhoni' and sail away across the North Male’ Atoll to explore the different types of Islands in the area. Snorkel or swim and take a nap while you top up that tan in our tropical paradise. Discover a local island and see Maldivians at work and experience their island lifestyle.
Visit a local souvenir shop; buy something for you to remember your the trip by, before we land on our own picnic island for lunch. The full day tour includes the picnic lunch on the beach on our very own uninhabited island of Kuda Bandos (Little Bandos). Half day tours start after breakfast and we return to Bandos for lunch
Kuda Bandos
A shout away from the main island of Bandos is the uninhabited island of Kuda Bandos (literally meaning small Bandos) ideal for a private picnic on the beach or merely enjoying the sunset after a full day of snorkelling the reef or swimming in the clear blue lagoon. Open throughout the week except Fridays, Saturdays and other public holidays, Kuda Bandos is the penultimate Robinson Crusoe experience.
Night Fishing and Kuda Bandos BBQ
Your visit to Bandos Island Resort and Spa is not complete without trying your hand at the local pass time activity- FISHING. This is definitely a night to remember full of scenes and memories. Bait your hook, drop your line direct from a 'Dhoni' to the reef and hope for a nibble as you watch the spectacular colors of sunset and ocean waves lap the surrounding islands. After 2 hours of fishing for your own supper, we prepare a delicious barbecue on the beach of Kuda Bandos. While you are waiting to barbecue your catch of the evening our staff will entertain you with spectacular 'bodu beru' (local music with drums, rhythm and dance). After dinner you can just sit and relax with your loved ones on the white powder sandy beach to watch the glittering bonfire on the shore.
Dining at Bandos
The Bandos Island Resort offers 6 different dining options ranging from fine dining restaurants to beach bars and cafés.
The Harbour Restaurant
Artful and elegant, the Harbour Restaurant at Bandos is designed with fine-dining in mind. With an option of dining either indoors, in a comfortable air-conditioned atmosphere or outdoors where you can savour the view and gentle breeze. The Harbour specialises, among many other culinary delights, in Maldivian game fish, innumerable seafood delicacies, the finest in Italian pastas and other international cuisines
The Sand Bar
As a classic island-beach bar, the Sand Bar's modern facilities blend well with the tropical atmosphere. The sand floor and island ambience of the bar is ideal for customers to enjoy one of our many tropical cocktails or any other beverage that suits their fancy.
The Sand Bar is designed with fun in mind and we assure you that our guests would have a wonderful time either with our top-notch karaoke facilities, live band or discotheque evenings.
The Sand Bar is open from 0730 hours in the morning till late at night.
The Gallery
The Gallery, consisting of three spacious pods, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is the main restaurant at Bandos. It usually has elaborate buffet setups during mealtimes and although open to all guests, the Gallery specializes in catering to those who have pre-booked their meals. Guests who have pre-booked their meal arrangements are also welcome to patronize our other restaurants and are eligible for discounts at both the Harbour Restaurant and Sea Breeze Cafe (Coffee Shop).
Sea Breeze Café
Aptly named, the recently commissioned Sea Breeze Café is situated at the edge of the water where customers can lounge on the large outdoor over-water deck and enjoy the breathtaking view of the lagoon while relaxing in the gentle breeze.
Open round the clock, the restaurant offers a wide variety of dining options from a la carte offerings such as spaghetti or even authentic Indian curries to alternative fast-food fixes such as pizza and hamburgers.
The Sundowners Bar
Situated near our world class diving facility, the Sundowners Bar is so named because it is the best place to watch breathtaking Maldivian sunsets. The enormous sundeck allows you to watch the beautiful stars in the night or the blueness of the sky in the day and makes you unwind and relax. Soft music fills the air in the evening while you watch glorious sunsets.
Pool Bar
Stop by our swim up pool bar while on your refreshing swim in our main pool. In the midst of the beautiful surroundings of palm trees and blossoms with their lush fragrance, a chilled drink is all you need to bring out the sunny spirit within you. Relax under the shade and feel the bubbles of its Jacuzzi stools with your loved ones.
Offering a wide variety of juice drinks to soft ice creams and milkshakes, the pool bar makes sure you are well cared for and looked after- providing for all your pool side requirements. There is no need to carry all those fully stuffed bags and towels to our pool, just simply enjoy yourself.
Diving
Maldives is home to some of the most diverse marine fauna and flora in the world. Tens of thousands of reefs, a thousand recorded species of fish, over two hundred species of coral and hundreds more species of other marine life; no wonder many see this as one of the greatest dive destinations on earth.
Dive Sites
There are thousands of dive sites; so numerous that you can literally swim over from one to the other. Only a small percentage of the Maldives reefs have ever been dived. Each dive site has its unique characteristics in form, fauna and flora, the currents and other elements that shape and mould them. Resorts concentrate on dive sites within a one or two-hour radius, while cruise boats cover more ocean and therefore a greater variety of sites.
Dive Facilities
The dive centre is one of the most important facilities in any resort. Each resort has a dive centre and are staffed by qualified dive instructors. Divers may, if they wish, bring along their own dive gear, however the centre carry a wide range of rental equipment. At resorts diving is conducted daily all year round. Even in Malé there are some dive centres, mainly serving the residents of Malé. There is a decompression chamber in Bandos Island Resort
Excursions
Almost all resorts offer an excursion program. Some of these programs are scheduled while others are tailor-made to suit individual needs. The scheduled programs often include island hopping and night-fishing; unique terms for a unique destination.
Island Hopping
An ‘island-hopping’ excursion would take you to another resort, an uninhabited island and an inhabited island all in a day-tour designed to give you a taste of the country. You would also get the opportunity to snorkel in the clear waters of a desert island and experience a barbecue on the beach. Some resorts take this a step further by conducting the excursion by sea plane.
Night Fishing
Night fishing is a special Maldivian form of evening entertainment in which you could enjoy the peace and stillness of the night under starry skies while you fish for snapper or grouper, and end the evening with a barbecue prepared with your very own catch.
Photo Flights
Resorts also offer you the opportunity to savor the beauty of the Maldives from the air. While some resorts offer organized photo flights by seaplane, you have the option of arranging your own aerial expedition as well.
Male’ Excursion
Male’ Excursions are organized regularly by resorts in Male’ Atoll, however some resorts in other atolls also offer you the opportunity to visit the capital during your stay. Male’ is the political and commercial hub of the country.
Culture
Located at the crossways of the Indian Ocean shipping lanes on the main seaway around the Indian subcontinent, the Maldives has long been a meeting point for African, Arab, Malay and Indonesian mariners. Throughout the centuries these influences have shaped the Maldivian way of life. This can be seen from the many facets of Maldivian lifestyle such as dining, music, art and craft. A tour of Male’ gives you an opportunity to experience these various cultural flavors of Male’
Music
Bodu Beru is the most popular form of music and dance in the country, believed to have been introduced in the early 19th century by African slaves. Historians believe that Thaara, which also holds a special place in local entertainment, have been introduced from the Middle East in the seventeenth century. Other forms of dance such as Bandiya Jehun have a strong South Asian flavor. Today western pop and Indian music is popular with the young and old and you can experience these in the many cafes' that line the Male' beach.
Art & Craft
The Maldivians are skilled craftsmen. This can be seen in several of Maldivian arts and craft; the deft coral stone carvings at Hukuru Miskiiy, the intricate lacquer art, the fine mats woven by the women of Fioari in the south and the work of skilled calligraphers whose works old and new that can be viewed in mosques around the country.
Spas
The Maldives’ spas are in a world of their own. It is the perfect blend of luxurious therapies, health and beauty experiences and sensory stimulation complemented by the tranquil surrounding and blissful tropical beauty. Spas offer a large number of therapies and facilities ranging from aromatherapy, massage to jacuzzis and saunas. Many of the treatments combine traditional Asian therapies with classic European spa techniques. While some resorts own and operate their own spas, many of the resort spas are operated by spa chains.
Sports & Recreation Sports in Resorts
Resorts offer a variety of sports for the enjoyment of their guests; among which beach volleyball is the most obvious. However many resorts have tennis courts of exceptional quality and fully equipped gymnasiums complete with instructors. Badminton and squash courts are quite common in the resorts as well. Billiards, pool and a variety of board games are offered on most resorts.
Resort Entertainment
Entertainment in the evenings differs widely from resort to resort. Some resorts provide a more club-like atmosphere. They may have a weekly program of animation with professional entertainers. Almost all resorts offer disco and live music either with their in-house DJs and bands or visiting bands from Male’. Some resorts include traditional dance and music in their entertainment programs.
Water Sports
All resorts without exception have water sports centres that provide a range of water sports and fun activities. The most popular among these are snorkeling, windsurfing and catamaran sailing. The water sports centres are equipped with boards and sails of different sizes and some offer courses for beginners and advanced windsurfers and sailors. Among other popular water sports activities are parasailing, kayaking, kite-surfing, water-skiing and jet skiing. Some resorts even offer you the opportunity to try out your sailing skills on a local dhoni.
Surfing
Today surfing is the fastest growing water sport in the country, with several surf breaks that are documented and well-known by surf enthusiasts. The most important surf event is the annual international surf event which has placed Maldives firmly on the world’s surf map. The best season to surf in the Maldives is the Southwest Monsoon from April to October. Surfers are most likely to enjoy the biggest swells from June to September. The surf generally ranges in size from 3-8 feet. The best known surf breaks are in the North and South Male’ Atoll and most surfers stay in resorts close to these breaks. However cruise operators offer specialized surfing cruises, that give you the opportunity to test some of the less known surf breaks in the atolls further away from Male’ Atoll.
Surfing Season
The best season to surf in the Maldives is the Southwest Monsoon from April to October. Surfers are most likely to enjoy the biggest swells from June to September. The surf generally ranges in size from 3-8 feet.
Surfing Breaks
The best known surf breaks are in the North and South Male’ Atoll and most surfers stay in resorts close to these breaks. However cruise operators offer specialized surfing cruises, that give you the opportunity to test some of the less known surf breaks in the atolls further away from Male’ Atoll.
