Destinations
Maldives Cruise Destinations In India
Maldives
The Maldives - a dream destination famous for its beautiful white beaches and breathtaking underwater scenery.
Consisting of 1200 islands spread across the Indian Ocean and circled into 26 natural atolls boast rich cultural traditions, a history of kings and queens, pageants, feasts and festivals, their own language and script.
The Maldives Islands, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, made up of 1200 small coral Islands covers an area of 90,000 sq. km. The length of the country extends to 820 km and width is 130 km. It spreads across the equator from north to south.
Geographically it is divided into 19 atolls but for administrative purpose officially it is grouped into 20 atolls. Most of the islands are uninhabited and people are living only in 199 islands.
Total estimated population is 246 thousands. The islands chain forms part of Laccadive Chagos submarine ridge, which extends into the Central part of Indian Ocean from the south west coast of India.
Since 1978, his economic policies have transformed a cluster of desert islands ringed by coral reefs into South Asia's most exclusive holiday destination. Entire islands have been given over to luxury hotel developments and tourism has become the engine of the Maldivian economy.
With a per capita income of $2,280, the Maldives' population of 250,000 Sunni Muslims is now one of the wealthiest in the region.
The Maldives is a democratic republic with President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom since 1978. He is South Asia's longest serving ruler and currently in his sixth term in office. Although the Maldives does not have a party system, a 1998 constitution gave citizens the right to contest the vote for the presidency in parliament.
During his 25 years in power, the atoll nation in the Indian Ocean, became the premier tourist destination of the region. With its near-flat islands, none of which is more than six feet above sea level, the sunny side of the Maldives has remained a major tourist attraction. India and Sri Lanka are the country's nearest neighbors.
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Bangaram Island
The world's 10 best secret beaches (Sunday Times Travel Magazine Feb 8th 2004) that is just an hours’ flight from Kerala’s cultural capital of Cochin. This teardrop shaped piece of land is encircled by creamy sand. For a perfect outing, there are three uninhabited islands in the same atoll, Tinnakara, Parali-I and Parali-II. The deep, warm, clear waters of Indian Ocean with its myriad flora and fauna are an irresistible invitation to the scuba diving fraternity of the world.
The exquisite coral formation including the black coral formations, the variety and number of coral fishes - the angel, the clown, the butterfly, the surgeon not to mention awesome -looking but harmless sharks, mantarays, sting rays moray eels and turtles make diving at Bangaram an addictive experience.
Agatti Island
