The Maldives has always been a place that I have wanted to visit but never thought I would get the chance to. The more that I have been thinking about our trip, the more I realize I know nothing about the Maldives or its culture. I decided to take this time and research a little bit about the place we will be going.
The Maldivian culture is influenced by the Indians, Sri Lankans, Arabs, and North Africans who visited the Maldives while using the trading routes of the central Indian Ocean, making the culture itself very rich and vibrant. The Maldivian people use a language of their own and the people converted to Islam, which has transformed and introduced new fundamentals to the culture.
The Maldives has sunshine for most of year, being nicknamed “the sunny side of life”. It has a dry and wet season and the hot and humid weather is complemented with a cool breeze and periodic rain.
Male’ is the capital city of the Maldives, which houses the 3 branches of government (executive, legislature, and judicial). It is also the financial and commercial capital of the country where major government offices, banks, and businesses are based, which contribute to the dense population.
The Maldivian people are known for their hospitality and affability towards guests. The population currently rests at 341,256 with an additional 60,000 registered foreigners who reside in the country. Most of the people in the Maldives share a similar cultural heritage, history, ancestry, homeland, language, and religion, which puts emphasis on their unity and harmony.