THE MALDIVES
Iconic scenes of overwater villas, turquoise-hued horizons that never end, curvaceous white beaches, and an unbelievable underwater world that leaves you feeling like you're part of a David Attenborough documentary are all part of the appeal of the Maldives, but there's even more to this country if you scratch beneath the surface.
People have been settling in the Maldives for 2,500 years, particularly from the Indian subcontinent, and the Maldivian language of Dhivehi has its origins in Sanskrit.
The garlanded islands sit on vital trade routes, making them a natural stopover for those transiting the world's oceans. This includes Abdul Barakat Yoosuf Al Barbary, who introduced Islam to the island nation in the 12th century, and whose tomb is a popular sightseeing spot in the small, densely-packed capital of Malé. As a Muslim country, the Friday Mosque in Malé is deemed the nation's most important heritage site. It is one of the largest coral stone buildings
