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| Home :: Maldives Information :: Maldives Culture |
Culture of Maldives |
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| Maldives Culture |
 Located at the crossways of the Indian Ocean shipping lanes on the main seaway around the Indian subcontinent, the Maldives has long been a meeting point for African, Arab, Malay and Indonesian mariners. Throughout the centuries these influences have shaped the Maldivian way of life. This can be seen from the many facets of Maldivian lifestyle such as dining, music, art and craft.
Music
 Bodu Beru is the most popular form of music and dance in the country, believed to have been introduced in the early 19th century by African slaves. Historians believe that Thaara, which also holds a special place in local entertainment, have been introduced from the Middle East in the seventeenth century.
Other forms of dance such as Bandiya Jehun have a strong South Asian flavor. Today western pop and Indian music is popular with the young and old.
 Art & Craft
The Maldivians are skilled craftsmen. This can be seen in several of Maldivian arts and craft; the deft coral stone carvings at Hukuru Miskiiy, the intricate lacquer art, the fine mats woven by the women of Fioari in the south and the work of skilled calligra-phers whose works old and new that can be viewed in mosques around the country. |
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| Clothing - What to wear and when |
A tropical island paradise also has a few bare essentials.
 Official regulations do not allow public nudity anywhere in the Maldives. Even on a privately booked safari vessel, decent bikinis and swimming trunks are needed.
Wear decent swimwear. Avoid offending one's fellow holidaymakers. At in-house restaurants, bars and the like, use casual tropical wear. Light cotton worn with light sandals work beautifully.
When visiting inhabited islands, please wear garments that cover your body from the torso to the knees. If you plan to make any formal visits locally, wear formal.
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| Dining in the Maldives |
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Simple meals or gourmet, the choice is yours.
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 For the best dining in the Maldives, note that the best international-cuisine restaurants and bars in the country are in tourist resorts. The best wines and liqueurs are also found there. Cruising vessels usually offer set menus, though some of the bigger vessels have restaurants.
When on excursion or when visiting a local village, keep in mind that you may not readily find a good restaurant there. If you are lucky, you may find a cafe which serves a limited range of local cuisine, especially local hors d'oeuvres and tea.
 The exception to this is Male', the capital island which has many restaurants ranging from humble eateries and cafes to superb restaurants offering a wide choice of local and international fare. The difference is that alcoholic beverages are not served in Male or any of the inhabited islands in the Maldives.
Though most Maldivian restaurants do not require formal dress, it is wise to dress appropriately.
All eateries, cafes and restaurants in the Maldives have to conform to state-decreed regulations concerning hygiene and food quality and are, therefore, reasonably safe. |
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| Eating Out |
Wherever you are in Male, there is a restaurant, a 'coffeeshop', or a 'teashop', or an eating establishment of some sort near you. Each type offers a different type of food and social experience.
 Restaurants
There are several restaurants, some of which are air-conditioned and others providing a more relaxed open air concept. Restaurants range from those offering sophisticated international menus to those serving more localized Asian and European dishes. Some open from breakfast while others are open from lunchtime. All restaurants close at 1.00 a.m. in the morning.
 Tea Shops
The traditional Male 'teashop' is still the most popular amongst the locals. Here you get to enjoy local foods and are sometimes noisy with lots of activity. There are several teashops scattered around the island. If you are in a hurry this is the ideal place as they serve the local version of 'fast food'. Teashops open early in the morning some as early as 5.00 a.m. and close at 1.00 a.m.
 Coffee Shops
The coffee shop is the modem version of the teashop. Coffee shops serve a variety of snack and quick meals such as noodles and fried rice. Mostly small and cozy, they offer good meals at lower prices compared to restaurants. Coffee shops open in the morning between 8.00 and 9.00 and remain open until 1.00 a.m. in the night. |
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