Located in the Indian Ocean some 435 miles (700kms) southwest of Sri Lanka, the Republic of the Maldives is an island nation comprised of 26 atolls encompassing 1,192 islets, of which about 200 are inhabited. With around 300,000 inhabitants, the Maldives is the world’s smallest Islamic nation and also the smallest Asian nation based on population.

As a holiday destination, the Maldives presents an idyllic tropical paradise with stunning coastal scenery and beaches that wouldn’t look out of place on the front of a postcard. A well developed tourist infrastructure makes holidaying a smooth and trouble-free experience for visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

Malé, an island with a population of over 80,000, is the nation’s capital and the location of the Maldives government and all of its main official buildings. The island is also the focus of much of the nation’s tourist activity and home of its most interesting sights such as the National Museum and the Grand and Friday mosques. Malé is located in the Kaafu atoll, as are most of the main tourist centres.

The Maldives is an ideal family holiday destination, offering safe and child-friendly beaches and resorts and hotels equipped with amenities for visitors of all ages. Sightseeing possibilities are plentiful for days when a break from the beach is desired, while daytrip options are also abundant for visitors wanting to see something of the myriad of beautiful sights on offer across the archipelago.

The Maldives might seem like a tricky place to get to, not having any direct flights from Europe or North America. However, with regular connections with Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and other Asian destinations, it can be reached without difficulty. Once settled at a resort, visitors can make their way easily between neighbouring islands via boats or between those in the outer atolls via air.

Accommodation in the Maldives is pricey, but resorts are generally luxurious and the standard of service is high. Aside from in Malé, individual hotels are hard to find. The norm here is for the small islands to be occupied entirely by resorts. Stilted bamboo bungalows are popular accommodations and make for rustic and romantic settings at which to enjoy the beauty of the Indian Ocean.

Historians believe that settlers of Dravidian origin were the first to make the region that we now refer to as the Maldives their home. These settlers probably arrived from Sri Lanka and the Indian subcontinent, and were most likely fishermen by trade. The next significant historical period is marked by the introduction of Buddhism to the region during the time of Aśoka the Great, the Mauryan emperor, in what historians estimate was the 3^rd century.

The Maldives developed and prospered significantly under the influence of Buddhist culture, with Buddhism remaining the chief religion of the archipelago until the 12^th century. While Islam is now the official state religion of the Maldives, the country’s cultural characteristics are derived almost exclusively from Buddhism. The majority of the archaeological remains in the Maldives are of Buddhist origin also, with digs in the mid-1980s having revealed fragments of monasteries and stupas displaying typical Buddhist iconography. The Malé Museum is now home to many of these ancient artefacts.

Islam arrived in the Maldives at the end of the 12^th century. Despite Buddhism’s overwhelming influence on cultural development, Islam is considered the cornerstone of Maldivian history. All events prior to the 12^th century are considered a part of Jahiliya (a period of ignorance) by locals. Arab seafaring traders were responsible for introducing Islam to the region, causing the last Buddhist king, who became known as Muhammad al Adil, to convert to the faith.

The king’s conversion is credited to Abu al Barakat, a Sunni Muslim visitor whose remains now lie in a tomb located in the grounds of the state’s oldest mosque - the Hukuru Mosque. The mosque, which was built in 1656, is now one of the region’s most visited sites. The Maldives was one of the last regions of South Asia to embrace Islam.

From the Middle Ages onwards, European nations took interest in the Maldives, with the Portuguese attempting to establish control here in the mid-16th century. The Dutch arrived in the mid-17^th century, followed by the British in the late-18^th century that expelled the Dutch before making the archipelago a British protectorate. Despite the British presence, the island of Malé managed to remain independent.

Independence was achieved on 26 July 1965 via an agreement with the United Kingdom, which was closely followed by the abolishment of the sultanate and the establishment of a republic in March 1968. A lengthy period of stability ensued until November 1988, when a coup was staged by businessman Abdullah Lutfee. The coup was short-lived, ending bloodlessly with the intervention of Indian troops.

The South Asian Tsunami of December 2004 brought major devastation to the Maldives with only nine of the 200 habited islands escaping flooding; 57 island s having received serious damage; and six having been totally decimated. Some 108 persons were reported dead following the catastrophic incident. Despite sustaining more than 400 million dollars worth of damage, the Maldives has managed to reinstate itself as a popular tourist destination.

The Maldives is subject to a monsoon climate and enjoys warm weather across the seasons. In contrast to other countries whose climates are influenced by the monsoon, the Maldives experiences significantly less rain due to its location on the equator. The rainy season runs from May through October; however, precipitation and winds are mild during this period compared with other monsoon regions.

Sunshine is a predominant feature of the climate, with the southern atolls receiving around 2,700 hours of sunshine per year. This makes the Maldives the perfect holiday destination weather-wise, especially between December and April when temperatures are at their most pleasant. This period is considered the high-season and sees higher accommodation prices and resorts becoming fully-booked several months in advance.

The low-season, while bringing rain and less favourable weather conditions, is still a viable time in which to visit the Maldives. Prices are lower, the beaches less crowded and the atmosphere altogether quieter and more relaxing.