Sunday, October 7, 2012

About Maldives

An archipelago in the Indian Ocean, Maldives is one of the world’s few remaining unblemished tropical islands. Cirrus Holidays provides you with comprehensive information on this beautiful island-nation, so that you get to know everything about Maldives before venturing out for a holiday in Maldives.
Keeping in mind the weather in Maldives, the best time to visit this place is between November and April. However, due to its tropical climate, it is a hot spot for travelers all through the year.
History of Maldives
The smallest country in the Asian continent, Maldives derives its name from the Sanskrit term ‘maladvipa’, meaning ‘garland of islands’.
Buddhism was believably introduced in the Maldives way back in the fourth century, courtesy Theravada Buddhists in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The Maldives has been a major maritime trading route for early civilizations in 2000 BC.
Islam was introduced in the Maldives by Muslim sultans in the year 1153. However, a tumultuous past shows that the nation has been subjected to dominance by Portuguese, Dutch and British administrators.
Even in the recent past, Maldives has witnessed a constant strife between the Islamic sultanate and British. However, the nation is now a republic, after peace building measures undertaken with the help of neighboring nations like India.
Geography of Maldives
Paradisiacal and pristine, Maldives is made up of 26 atolls that further comprise more than 1,190 isles. About 200 of Maldives’ islands are inhabited. It is known to be the flattest country in the world, as the maximum natural ground level is a mere 2.3 meters.
The perpetual increase in sea levels has time and again threatened the existence of Maldives. The biggest example in this context is the devastation caused by the killer tsunami in 2004.
Culture of Maldives
The culture of Maldives is an amalgam of many different ethnic communities. Due to its proximity to India, Sri Lanka, East Africa, Malaysia, the country has a tinge of all these cultures. And, after its conversion to Islam in 1150s, Maldives also has had a strong connection with the Middle East as well.
Most of the Maldivians are natives of South India or Sri Lanka, and this is the prime reason for the presence of a matriarchal culture in Maldives. Artworks, music and architecture in Maldives are all closely reminiscent of Arab and north Indian regions.
Given its ethnic diversity, Maldives is the best reflection of Asian culture and lifestyle.
To know more about Maldives, please check the following links: cirrusholidays.com