| Bad މާލ | ||
 | ||
| State | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Inhabitants | 103.693 (2006) | |
Position
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Bad is the capital of Maldives
To know
Malé occupies the Kaafu Atoll. It is the commercial and bureaucratic heart of the whole country. The name derives from the word "Mahaalay" which, in turn, derives from the Sanskrit language. "Maha" means "great" and "aalay" means "home". Currently the word Mahaalay is used to designate the royal palace.
The city presents itself with an endless row of concrete buildings, paved roads and traffic lights that regulate the intense traffic of cars, mopeds and bicycles. Malé, together with Gan, is the only atoll equipped with roads and motor vehicles on wheels.The space available to citizens has now reached the minimum bearable, so much so that in a very short future Malé 2 will be built, reclaiming the reef of the Hulule airport.
The very high density of the city meant that the construction of a detachment of the capital was decided - "Male 2" - reclamation to the north-east the atoll of Hulhule (the one where the airport is located) an area of 188 hectares (more or less the size of Malé) suitable for offices, hospitals, homes and hotels. In the future, however, it should double in the next phase of reclamation, which will begin in 2010. A gigantic creation, in which 63 million dollars have been spent so far between reclamation and construction, built two meters above sea level in anticipation of the effects of global warming .
The area of the island of Malé had already been doubled with various reclamation techniques, but now the natural limit has been reached: the coral reef, beyond which the ocean floor declines abruptly. Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who promoted the Hulhumale project, is offering incentives and discounts of up to 40% on land compared to the capital's prices, for those who agree to relocate. Hulhumale[link previously not working] is on its way to being another tourist attraction: it has been linked to a nearby island that hosts the Maldives International Airport; it is already served by a handful of shops and embellished with some palm trees. For the moment, however, the inhabitants seem to appreciate above all the tranquility and the abundance of space.
How to orient yourself
Male (Maldives): full screen map.Malé is divided into 4 districts: Maafannu, Machangolhi, Galolhu is Henveiru. It boasts 20 mosques confirming the deep attachment of the Maldivian people to the Muslim faith
How to get
By plane
L'Male International Airport (IATA: MLE) is located on the neighboring island of Hulhule. The airport has a good range of services, including bank, ATM, pharmacy, internet cafe and a left luggage service ($ 5 / bag / day) which is located just outside the arrivals area. For more information visit the friendly information kiosk at arrivals.
Most visitors to the Maldives are met by local travel agents right outside customs, who will arrange to ship them to their respective villages, by speedboat or plane. If your destination is the city itself, turn right and continue to the public ferry dock. Ferries to the city take approximately 15-20 minutes and depart every 10-15 minutes during the day (10 Rf or 1 USD), every 30 minutes after midnight (2 USD).
Please note that you will not be allowed to enter the fresh and conditioned departure area of the airport until check-in opens, 2/3 hours before the flight (check the hanging monitors; the number next to the flight indicates the boarding sequence) . Facilities outside include free showers, nursing room, pharmacy, stationery, Bank of Maldives ATM (accepts Visa, Maestro, only gives Rf and no dollars!), A Help Desk, and the following two restaurants:
- Mariyaad (Right next to the departure).
Course: $ 5/20; drink: $ 4; pizza: $ 12. Mariyaad runs this restaurant like the one inside the duty free. Being located close to the main "lane" of the airport, tourists departing by boats arrive in droves, so it may be worth checking out the other restaurant just outside the airport. In case of bad weather, however, this is the best choice. - Aqua (After arriving on the right). Black tea: 1 Rufiyaa; Hedhika (sweet) 2 Rf / piece. The favorite place for locals and airport agents as well. Similar to more than a canteen, and plagued with long queues at rush hour (7am, 3pm), it's still the most beautiful place to enjoy the sunset or just wait. It features a lounge with air conditioning and free wifi, but with confused staff and an even more confusing menu, which does not justify the high prices (here you pay in dollars only). Since these things can only be resolved over time, this is the first place to head to the airport.
Course: $ 5/20; drink: $ 4; pizza: $ 12. Mariyaad runs this restaurant like the one inside the duty free. Being located close to the main "lane" of the airport, tourists departing by boats arrive in droves, so it may be worth checking out the other restaurant just outside the airport. In case of bad weather, however, this is the best choice.How to get around
What see
To visit: the fish market, the Islamic center, and the national museum where it is possible to observe finds of the Maldivian culture and of the colonizations suffered.
Events and parties
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
On the island, which is also the capital of the entire state, the hotels to stay in are the following:
Average prices
- Kam Hotel
- Mookai Hotel
- Nasandhura Palace
- Relax Inn
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Male (Maldives)
Commons contains images or other files on Male (Maldives)
