Sacred & Religious Sites

Maldives remains one of the most visited places of tourist interest. Though the island is known for its remarkable natural beauty and perfect looking beaches, it also lures travellers with its splendid holy places which tell a lot about Maldives’s religious background. Islam is the official state religion. The law in the state prohibits the locals from practicing any other religion other than Islam. Thus, Islam has a very strong dominance here and one can find many prominent mosques here.

Grand Friday Mosque or Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam remains a prominent religious site in Maldives. This is a major Islamic Centre and flaunts a unique work of architecture. The mosque features a golden colour dome dominating the skyline of Male. It was raised in 1984 using white marble which still looks as good as new. Travellers can visit this mosque between 9am and 5pm. This is the largest mosque in Maldives and welcomes pilgrims from all over the world.

Hukuru Miskiiy is another major mosque in Maldives. This is the oldest mosque of the state, dating back to 1656. A major puller of this mosque is its intricately carved walls. They have been made using coral stone and Arabic script, which take you deep into the historical and religious roots of the place. As you walk inside the mosque, you will see striking lacquer work and unmatched woodcarvings. In the past it was an old temple.

Travellers are advised to dress appropriately while entering any of the mosques in Maldives to avoid hurting the sentiments of locals.