When recounting famous volcanoes in history, the historic and destructive eruption of Mount Vesuvius which covered the nearby city of Pompeii in a layer of volcanic ash and molten lava is easily one of the most well known. Other prehistoric volcanoes include the Painted Hills in the American state of Oregon which are believed to be over thirty million years old and the Mammoth Hot Springs found in the famed Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Volcanic eruptions such as the eruption of Mount Etna in the Italian city of Sicily continue to remind us of its deadly and destructive force. However, many would find it extremely surprising to learn that one of the most beautiful remnants of a prehistoric volcano lies beneath villas Maldives resorts in the Indian Ocean for the Maldivian islands are the modern remnants of ancient volcanoes that have become extinct.
For those visiting the islands and staying in resorts such as Anantara Kihavah Maldives, both the natural beauty as well as the cultural and social structures are worth exploring. While the natural surroundings can be explored extensively by engaging in water sports and other activities, making a trip to the capital city, Male, can provide tourists with the opportunity to explore the everyday life of the locals.
One place that must be visited when exploring Male is situated in the vicinity of the famed Friday Mosque i.e. the Mulee Aage Palace. At present, the Palace houses the office of the president even though it was initially constructed in 1906 by Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen III for his son. It was declared to be property that belongs to the state only in 1936 when the Sultan was removed from power. Since then the Palace has operated as the President’s Official Residence and its architectural beauty coupled with its historic and present importance makes it an ideal place to visit when exploring the city of Male.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.