Sights in Male’
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Hukuru Miskiiy
Hukuru Miskiiy is the oldest mosque in the country, dating from 1656. It’s a beautiful structure made from coral stone into which intricate decoration and Quranic script have been carved. Even though an ugly protective corrugated-iron sheet covers the roof and some of the walls, this is still a fascinating place. The interior is superb and famed for its fine lacquer work and elaborate woodcarvings. One long panel, carved in the 13th century, commemorates the introduction of Islam to the Maldives. Visitors wishing to see inside are supposed to get permission from an official of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. However, most of the staff are officials of the ministry and,…
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Sultan’s Park
Surrounding the museum, Sultan’s Park was once part of the grounds of the sultan’s palace. It’s an attractive place full of flowers and trees and is the nicest public space in Male’.
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National Stadium
The National Stadium hosts the biggest football matches (tickets cost Rf15 to Rf40) and the occasional cricket match. More casual games can be seen any evening in the sports grounds at the east end of the island and near New Harbour.
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National Art Gallery
This small exhibition space is the only one of its kind in the Maldives and is therefore the important centre of the nation’s fledgling art scene. Solo exhibits from painters rotate, while the biennial Maldives Contemporary exhibition is a great chance to see the varied art produced in the country, from photography to painting and conceptual works.
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National Museum
The small NationalMuseum is well worth a visit. Housed in a small, three-storey building in one corner of the Sultan’s Park, it is the only remaining part of the original sultan’s palace – the rest was demolished in 1968 at the beginning of the second republic. At the time of writing, a rather gaudy new Chinese-gifted building was being built next door, which the museum will eventually move in to, making way for the old building to house a reconstruction of how the Sultan’s Palace’s interiors would have looked.
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Hukuru Miskiiy (Old Friday Mosque)
Hukuru Miskiiy is the oldest mosque in the country, dating from 1656. The exterior is protected by a corrugated-iron covering which doesn't look very attractive, but the coral-stone walls are intricately carved with patterns and Arabic script. The interior is superb and famed for its fine lacquer work and elaborate woodcarvings.
The mosque was built on the foundations of an old temple that faced west to the setting sun, not northwest towards Mecca. Consequently, the worshippers have to face the corner of the mosque when they pray - the striped carpet, laid at an angle, shows the correct direction.
Overlooking the mosque is the solid, round, blue-and-white tower of the …
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