Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Maldives . Destination Guide
Destination Guide
The Maldives is the best-kept secret of the Indian Ocean, 'paradise lost' waiting to be rediscovered. The 26 atolls and 1,190 beautiful sun-kissed islands south of Sri Lanka are nothing short of a natural wonder with their untouched ecosystems and unparalleled bio-diversity. With over 900 species of fish, the Maldives boasts some of the most breathtaking dive sites in the world.
Origin of the Maldivians are lost in antiquity, but history reveals that the islands have been populated for over 3,000 years ago. Early settlers were travellers on the Silk Route and from the Indus Valley Civilisation. Inherently warm, friendly and hospitable by nature, it is easy to feel comfortable and relaxed with a Maldivian.
A proud history and rich culture evolved from the first settlers who were from various parts of the world travelling the seas in ancient times. The Maldives has been a melting pot of different cultures as people from different parts of the world came here and settled down. Some of the local music and dance for instance resemble African influences, with handbeating of drums and songs in a language that is not known to any but certainly represents that of East African countries. As one would expect there is a great South Asian influence in some of the music and dancing and especially in the traditional food of the Maldivians.
Throughout the Maldives, Dhivehi is spoken, a language with roots in old South Asian languages, mixed with Arabic, Hindi and English words, while Islam is the mandatory state religion.
Maldivians are renowned for their skilfulness and creativity in a wide range of crafts. These skills have been passed on from generation to generation with crafts made using locally available materials. Handicraft household items like coconut graters, wooden mortars and coconut shell spoons are the most popular items in the market.
In the beginnings of the tourism industry in the Maldives in the 1970s, the much valued production of ornaments from tortoise shells and black coral boomed. However, this craft has ceased completely following the protection of marine turtles by the Maldivian government along with the growing awareness among the locals on the preservation of the environment.
The most distinctive type of Maldivian handicraft is the production of wooden lacquer work, formed by shaping and hollowing out pieces of wood. The objects are made from a locally grown evergreen, funa.
Mat-weaving is another traditional craft and is mostly undertaken by women. The mats are hand-woven on a loom from reeds which are dried in the sun and stained with natural dyes ranging from fawn to black. The patterns and the inter-woven abstract designs vary according to the weaver's imagination and skill.
Boat-building is another craft that has been passed on from the ancestors. Traditional Maldivian long tail boats, or dhonis, are mainly used for fishing but some are modified to be used for transportation of passengers. In the ancient times, dhonis, which provided livelihood to the majority of the country, were built without a blueprint or a plan. The hull of the vessel was built with coconut wood and coir rope was used to hold the planks together. A half century later, little has changed for the basic design of these vessels. The boats are still built the same way, without a detailed plan. However, imported hardwood has since replaced the coconut wood and almost all dhonis are now driven by diesel power instead of wind.
