BACKGROUND :-
The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. It became a republic in 1968.
LOCATION :-
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India.
AREA - COMPARATIVE :-
About 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
COASTLINE :-
644 km
CLIMATE :-
Tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November - March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June - August).
POPULATION :-
359,008 (July 2006 est.)
ETHNIC GROUPS :-
Sinhalese, South Indians, Arabs.
ACCOMMODATION :-
Maldives has a wide variety of luxury accommodation and you can choose from 74 island resorts.
ACTIVITIES :-
Water sports is the most common activity in Maldives. Spearfishing is prohibited. Some nice resorts have tennis, squash or badminton courts and most have beach volleyball. Surfing is big in Maldives but you need to know where the breaks are.
WHEN TO GO :-
December to April is a good time to visit the Maldives.