The Maldives or the Republic of Maldives is an independent island nation that lies in the Indian Ocean. It is made up of 1200 coral islands and sandbanks. Male is the capital of the archipelago, and is the main urban centre. A quarter of the country’s population lives in this part.
Historically, the island was inhabited by Buddhists from Sri Lanka and India in the 5th century BC. By the 1100s, Islam was adopted and the region was governed by the Islamic Sultanate for centuries. During the 17th century, Maldives fell under Dutch control, and later under the British. In 1968, the country was made a republic and all other colonial powers were removed.
Today, the Maldives is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. The Alimatha Island, the diving area of Manta Point, the National Museum, the Old Friday Mosque and the historical place of Utheemu Ganduvaru are some of the prominent places in the archipelago.
