Veligandu Island Beach

Velingandu is a charming island fringed with white beaches and features a huge 80m sandbank. It is one of the most economic destination in maldives. It contains rooms that are attractive and stylish, and nearly all of them are over water. The Jacuzzi Beach Villas are nestled among the trees on the beach. The very smart Jacuzzi Water Villas feature outdoor Jacuzzis and semi-open-air bathrooms. They have steps down into the lagoon for easy swimming directly from the sun deck. Guests are generally on full board, although all-inclusive packages are also possible. The main Dhonveli restaurant in velingandu serves up buffets three times a day, while the à la carte Madivaru restaurant is open in the evenings for a quieter and more romantic dinner.

The island is rightly famous for its great beaches and is located on a beautiful lagoon within Rasdhoo. There are a couple of excellent diving sites nearby, with hammerhead shark sightings very common. The Swiss-run Ocean-Pro dive base charges are pretty economic. The edge of the house reef is not very accessible and is not great for snorkeling, so most diving and snorkeling is done by boat at a wide range of nearby sites. All in all this is among the popular and smart midrange resort with superb beaches and comfortable over-water accommodation.

 The traditionally styled Veligandu Island Resort is surrounded by a lagoon with long stretches of white, sandy beach. Here you can enjoy a choice of dining from the buffet style Dhonveli Restaurant to the Madivaru Restaurant offering a menu of fresh grilled seafood and prime beef. The beautiful Jacuzzi Water Villas and spacious Beach Villas uphold a peaceful and exclusive feel, ideal for couples.

From the moment the seaplane takeoff to Veligandu you know that you are in for a treat. And finally the asatonishing moment arrives when you fly over the breathtaking island that is Maldives. The picturesque soft white beach surrounded by a turquoise lagoon defines the tranquility of Veligandu. The house reef is perfect for snorkeling with the most exquisite marine lives that in­habits the centuries old coral formations.

      You can explore the local island life on excursions or watch the playful dolphins on adventurous cruises. Soothe your senses at our unique over-water spa after an exhilarating day. Veligandu is a holiday experience that is memorable and equally magical in every sense.

The island of Veligandu may be pocket-sized, but it packs in everything you need to have the time of your life. There’s a white-sand beach that wraps around the whole island, a big infinity-edge pool, and a soothing over-water spa.

Rooms sit either beside the sand or on stand over the water through a set of posts, and all the luxurious needs are taken care off like espresso machines, iPod docks and rain showers. Private sundecks come as standard, too.

Huge spreads of around-the-world dishes are laid out at the sand-floored buffet restaurant. Not only this, once a week there’s a Maldivian theme evening with local cuisine and waiters in traditional dress. There’s also an à la carte place with a menu that includes freshly netted seafood.

Lastly, there’s a long list of activities that includes things like kayaking, volleyball and sailing. There’s even a dive centre that’ll take you to some of the atoll’s top sites.

The National Museum, Male

National museum in Maldives is one of the main tourist attraction destinations of the country. It is located in the Sultan Park, which was once a part of the Sultan's palace, it is basically a conversion of the old palace building to a museum. The museum has a valuable collection of objects of the past that highlights the history and rich cultural heritage of the country.

The Maldives national museum was opened for public display on the National Day, 1 Rabi-ul Awwal 1372 A.H., (19th November 1952). Rabi-ul Awwal is the third month in the Islamic calendar. A.H refers to ‘anno Hegirae’ or ‘After hijarah’ and is a representation of Islamic calendar to modern years.  It was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister, Ameer Mohamed Amin Didi. The purpose of setting up the museum was to preserve the history of Maldives and to encourage patriotism amongst the people.

The museum houses a number of fabulous objects belonging to the Sultans. It consists of the ornaments and costumes worn by various kings and queens, stone items of the Maldives' pre-Islamic period, paper and cloth manuscripts, arms and armor, photographs of important personalities, anthropological objects and other such items that exhibit the past Maldivian way of life.

The National Museum complex consists of two large buildings separated by Sultan's Park in the old palace grounds across Medhu Ziyaarai Magu (street) inland from the gold-domed Islamic Centre (Grand Friday Mosque). It show casts the opportunity "to examine and reinterpret the culture and whole way of life the Maldivians, before and after converting to Islam".

The Maldives National Museum, built and financed by the Chinese government. It was presented to Maldives on 10 July 2010, was officially opened by President of Maldives, on Independence Day 26 July. It exhibits mainly pieces from the old museum at the nearby Sultan’s Palace, while the other new building across the park features an exhibition of 120 faiykolhu or Maldivian legal deeds and other official documents dating from the 1600s to the 1930s.

It is one of greatest museum complex that includes Male’s best garden park providing lots of space for people to express themselves in various ways. Here people can recreate themselves and can take refuge from the daily hectic life. A place where they can relax, experience a bit of entertainment, and improve their historical and cultural knowledge.

The amazing collection inside the great museum displays ranges from thrones and palanquins used by former sultans to the first printing press used in the country. It also features the rifle used by Mohamed Thakurufaanu in his fight against the Portuguese in the 16th century, ceremonial robes, headgear and umbrellas used by Sultans to statues and other figures dating from 11th century, excavated from former temples.

A variety of artefacts from times past would give an idea of the unique rich culture and history of this island nation. A visit to the museum gives an instant insight to the wealth of history which most visitors never suspect existed. People perspective of the Maldives solely as a of a tourist destination changes at this point.

The old National Museum is housed in the only remaining building of the former Sultan’s Palace, which is now the Sultan’s Park. It is an Edwardian colonial-style building of three storey, fairly low key from the outside compared to the amazing collection inside.

Banana Reef

The Banana reef gets its name from its natural shape like a banana. This reef stretches from North-East to South over a length of some three hundred meters. Resort islands that surround banana reef include Fullmoon Island, Club Med and Kurumba. This reef has emerged as an ideal diving spot ever since scuba divers began to dive in this part of the North-Male' Atoll, twenty years ago. The banana reef provides a excellent platforms for taking photographs as the fish show absolutely no fear of photographers. However the strong current and the fragile reef makes anchoring the boat quite a task. Tourists are always requested to be careful not to damage the fragile reef when anchoring your boat.

 The first Maldives dives sites to be discovered and to gain international recognition was a long reef curved at the western edge giving it its name, Banana Reef on the south eastern side of the North Male Atoll. It is one of the most popular dive sites with thousands of scuba divers and snorkelers visiting each year. It is primarily known for the quality of its coral coverage supporting a high density of marine life.

While large shoals of reef fish are found everywhere in the reef, the eastern side is known for its enormous school of banner fish, sometimes so dense that a diver’s visibility is affected. This area also attracts morays seen slithering and coiled amongst the coral.

On the western side where the semicircular reef wall drops sharply to 25 metres, the underwater landscape boasts of a large cave (15 metres). It is  inhabited with a host of exotic reef fish such as squirrel fish, soldier fish, grubbers, puffers, groupers, small wrasse, large schools of moon, striped and blue dash fusiliers, sea fans and angel fish among a host of others. In some sections, the fish are regularly fed by divers.

One of the best dive sites of Banana Reef is at the north eastern end where the underwater landscape supports spectacular caves, rock faces, deep gutters and steep overhangs. Divers might come across predators such as sleek barracudas and sharks among giant trevallys, black snappers and lumbering giant wrasses. But is still might be worth because equally spectacular are the coral formations that include some of the best examples of table corals on top to colorful underwater soft corals and sponges below.

Designed with privacy, relaxation and luxury in mind, Naladhu Maldives offers some of the best experiences anyone can have on a tropical island.

It features spacious villas with cool interiors and magnificent views. The well planned and executed menus and myriad dining options are also present to suit every mood. The various options of water sports and rejuvenating spa treatments can often make it hard to pick one. All and all this Maldives hotel provides truly unforgettable memories.

Being one of the best Maldives Island resorts, it offers guests the very best of facilities, amenities and service that makes for a wonderful tropical holiday experience.