This way to Maldives

Male' - Capital city of the Maldives

About 2km (1.2mi) long and 1km (0.62mi) wide, Malé is small, quaint, and densely settled. Though not spectacular, it is quite unique as a capital city. It's clean and tidy, with mosques, markets, a maze of small streets and a certain, sometimes sleepy, charm all its own. Malé is packed to the edges with buildings, roads and a few well-used open spaces. Officially, the population is around 65,000, but with foreign workers and short-term visitors from other islands, there may be as many as 100,000 people in town - it certainly feels like it.

	THE ISLAMIC CENTRE
	Malé’s most famous architectural landmark is the three-storey Islamic Centre, opened in November 1984. The Centre’s Grand Friday Mosque, Masjid-al-Sultan Mohammed Thakurufaanu-al-A"z"am, is the biggest in the Maldives, - than 5,000 worshippers. The shining golden dome of the mosque is a standout as are also the interior walls decorated with beautiful woodcarvings and Arabic calligraphy. The Centre also houses a library and a conference hall.
	HUKURU MISKIIY
	The Hukuru Miskiiy, or Friday Mosque, was built in 1656 during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar I. The interior and exterior walls of this historic mosque, built with coral stones, are intricately carved with Arabic writings and ornamental patterns. The compound of the mosque also encloses a number of ancient tombstones erected in memory of past sultans, heroes, and nobles.
	MUNNAARU
	Close to the Friday Mosque is this gleaming white minaret also built by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar in 1675. The chief muezzin of Malé called the faithful to prayer from this minaret before the Islamic Centre was built.
	MEDHU ZIYAARATH
	Opposite the Hukuru Miskiiy is the Medhu Ziyaarath, the shrine of Abu al Barakaath Yusuf al Barbari, a North African, believed to be responsible for converting the Maldives to Islam way back in AD 1153.
	MULEE-AAGE
	Mulee-aage, the former Presidential Palace, was originally built by Sultan Shamsuddeen III for his son just before the First World War. After the country became a Republic in 1953, the Mulee-aage became the ‘President’s Official Residence’. In 1986, the house was renamed the ‘Presidential Palace’ and was upgraded to hold official functions and to accommodate visiting Heads of States and other foreign dignitaries.
	TOMB OF MOHAMMED THAKURUFAANU
	This tomb is erected in the compound of the Bihuroazu Kamanaa Miskiiy, in memory of Sultan Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu, regarded as the greatest of national heroes. He liberated the country from Portuguese rule, who had been occupying the land for 15 years after defeating Sultan Ali VI in 1558. The day of independence falling on the 1st of the Islamic month of Rabeeu'l Awwal, is regarded today as the National Day.
	JUMHOOREE MAIDAN
	Beautifully laid out with carpet green grass and lush vegetation, this public square, constructed along the northern waterfront in 1989, is Malé's most popular place for social gatherings and relaxation. It is also one of the favourite evening hangouts for children. On the eastern end of the square stands the official flag post on which is hoisted a permanent flag, the largest in the country.
	SULTAN PARK & THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
	Maldives changed from a Republic to a Sultanate and back to a Republic in a span of just 16 years (1953 to 1968). The Sultan’s Palace however was demolished except for a three-storey building and the palace grounds were turned into a public park, known as the Sultan Park. The surviving palace building within the park is today the National Museum. Opened on November 19, 1952, the museum displays a large and varied collection of a glorious bygone era including stone objects from the pre-Islamic period; royal antiquities like thrones, palanquins, royal sunshades, costumes and shoes, coins, and ornaments, arms and armour. Coral stone sculptures, lacquered wooden containers, miniature hand-written Quran, hookahs, sunshades, traditional log drums from the Royal Palace used in the popular music of Bodu Beru, and the very interiors of the museum - retained from the days of the Sultanate - are the added attractions. Two of the most significant items on display are the coral stone head of Lord Buddha, a 11th century piece from Alifu Thoddu and a 13th century engraved wooden panel from Hukuru Miskiiy. Timings: 9AM - 3PM. Closed on Fridays and public holidays.