A sanctuary of tranquillity with powdery white sands, azur lagoons, and vibrant coral reefs, the Maldives is a tropical dreamland lined with coconuts and saturated with beauty. Enjoy the endless skies, laden with stars or lit with the sun, while the gentle lullabic rhythm of the waves lulls you into a peaceful reverie.
Enjoy the luxurious resorts made to charm their inhabitants while providing world-class amenities. With dance and bonfires, there is not a second of boredom when you are here. Dive through the corals and the various underwater sights that rival the rainbows in the sky. During the time of pub-hops and restaurant crawls, challenge the norm by island-hopping and absorb the allure of hidden gems and secluded islets.
The gastronomic offerings resemble those of South India and Sri Lanka. Rice and fish are greatly favoured by the inhabitants of this island, with a heavy-handed use of coconut. Add to that the love for spices and spicy chillies, and you are up for some creamy savoury delights that will warm you to the core.
The Maldives are a group of 1190 tiny tropical islands, most of which you can walk across in a couple of hours. Lying in pristine blue waters, their thatched roofs, virtually untouched coral reefs, privately owned islands and atolls with swaying palms and beautiful beaches are under threat due to global warming. Snorkel amongst colourful coral and fish, take a flight over the clear blue lagoons and dive under to explore the shipwrecked Maldive Victory or visit turtles and hammerhead sharks. But get your piece of manicured paradise before it is lost to the world forever. To get under Dhivehi skin read ‘Mysticism in the Maldives’, watch documentary film ‘The Island President’ and listen to the local sounds of Mezzo and Zero Degrees.
+5:00 GMT (½ hr behind India)
