One of the most beautiful places you can go is the Maldives, it has beautiful beaches, water, landscape, culture and so much more. The official language of the Maldives is called Dhivehi which is of Indo-Iranian Sanskritic origin. One can see that this language borrows from all the influence and culture of Maldives. Islam is the official and only allowed religion in the Maldives. To be a citizen or to own land, one has to be a Sunni Muslim. The cuisine of Maldives, like the lifestyle, is dependent on the sea. Therefore, fish is an integral part of the culture of Maldives. The style of cooking again draws influence from Arab, Indian and Sri Lankan styles. Another primary ingredient used in Maldivian cuisine is coconut and its products, such as coconut oil and milk. Favorite local food items include:
Garudhiya: A fish broth served with rice, lime, chili and onions.
Mas Huni: A popular food throughout the island, smoked shredded fish, is served with grated coconuts and onions.
Fihunu Mas: Barbecued fish that is basted with chili
The Maldivians are expert craftsmen. They are incredibly skilled at wood carving and lacquer work making beautiful and intricate designs that are astounding. Both music and dance form an integral part of the culture of Maldives. Both of these are heavily influenced by North Indian styles of music and dance. Due to its position in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives has had a rich history. As per the records, early settlers haven't left any traces. There are possibilities that there were people from the coasts of Southern India who sailed and settled here. However, there remains no concrete evidence about the early settlers of Maldives. The first records of people on the Maldives are the Sinhala of Sri Lanka arriving and settling down. After an extended period of Buddhist rule, Maldives also saw Islamic influences. Today, the glorious island is a unitary presidential constitutional republic.
