Interesting Facts And Tips About Male City, Maldives

Male City, the small densely populated capital of the Maldives may not be the ideal choice for a vacation, however, when visiting the Maldives, I recommend that you explore this Maldivian capital even if it is just for a day. Known as one of the smallest Capital cities, you can explore the entire city in a few hours. The city is crowded, the streets are narrow and host a mix of shops, new and old apartment blocks, office buildings and motorcycle jams.

While in Male city, visit the fish and vegetable market, see the presidential villa, visit the Male Friday Mosque and spend time learning at the National Museum. Don’t miss the Police Museum at the Maldives National Museum while you are there.

Here are some other interesting facts about Male City;

• The city was formerly called Mahal meaning “Palace”. Traditionally it was the King’s Island, from where the ancient royal dynasties ruled and where the palace was located.
• The whole island group, the Maldives, is named after its capital. The word “Maldives” means “the islands (dives) of Malé”.
• The island of Malé is the 5th most densely populated island in the world.
• The Friday Mosque was built in 1658. It was built over an earlier mosque constructed in 1153 and is reported to have a capacity of 10,700 for Friday prayers. This mosque and the other Maldives coral mosques were added to the cultural UNESCO World Heritage tentative list in 2008. According to the UNESCO appraisal, “The architecture, construction and accompanying artistry of the mosque and its other structures represent the creative excellence and achievement of the Maldivian people”.

Have you visited Male City? Did it make a good first impression? Share your experience with us.