The most popular landmark in Male is the Old Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiy) – built in 1656 by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, it’s the only one where the sultan himself worships. It’s a beautiful building, constructed from coral stone, teak, sandalwood and redwood, decorated with complex ornaments and chiselled Quranic scripts. One of the long panels, carved in the 13th century, commemorates the introduction of Islam to the Maldives. To one side of the mosque is a cemetery with carved tombstones with rounded tops for females, pointy tops for males, gold-plated lettering for former sultans and family mausoleums with carved stone walls.
The National museum is also worth seeing – in a building, gifted by China you can see a collection of artefacts, tracing the unusual history of these unique islands. There is weaponry, religious and household objects that mark the Maldives’ conversion to Islam in 1153. There are also more recent and modern exhibits, including the country’s first gramophone, telephone and computer. You can also see an eccentric collection, including a recording from President Nasheed’s underwater meeting from 2009 and a marine collection, including an impressive and rare skeleton of a Longman’s Beaked Whale, yet to be sighted alive in its natural habitat.
The tomb of one of the national heroes of Maldives – Mohammed Thakurufaanu lies on the grounds of a small mosque in the middle of town. He was the one, who liberated Maldivians from the Portugese and then ruled the country from 1573 to 1585. The ring-road around Male also commemorates him (Boduthakurufaanu).
If time permits, head over to the fish market in the morning for the catch of the day – which you can buy and then have it cooked at one of the many restaurants – or head to the main market for spices, clothes, local handcrafts, fruits and basically anything and everything under the sun. There is an artificial beach in Male as well, good for swimming, however, make sure you observe the local dress code.
Island trips are a great way to see more of the remarkable islands of Maldives. Some island-resorts also offer day visits. There are ferries you can catch to some of the inhabited islands, or you can pre-book a luxurious yacht trip. When you are looking to book one of the latter, make sure you are booking with a licensed provider. If you are on a cruise, make sure the location is not too far from Male, as you wouldn’t want to miss your ship. Any trips may get cancelled last minute because of weather conditions.