When arriving in a new city, it’s always a good idea to visit the local museum in the early part of your vacation. It gives you background and a sense of the history and progression from the early era of the country to the present time. A visit to the Maldives National Museum will do just that.
It is a 3 storey building situated in the capital city of Malé. It is positioned on part of the site which was once the Maldivian Royal Palace. It is a large multi storey building with beautiful floor to ceiling windows bringing a great deal of light to the interior. The entrance hall is circular and made of marble. Above, balconies are visible at each level which gives way to the displays, many of which are fascinating historic artifacts that will take you to a bygone era.
The downstairs galleries are devoted to the display of relics from the ancient history of the Maldives. It is a step back in time as you trace the journey of life in the Maldives during medieval years, seeing what they fought with, how they lived, stamps and coinage as well as wood carvings showing the progression of the people towards Islam in 1153. There are garments from Sultans of the past and copies of the Quran some of which are hundreds of years old. You can also view an early printing press and an 11th century head sculpture of Buddha.
The more modern museum pieces are found in the upper floor. The Maldives is famous for their lacquer work boxes. The centuries old process is known as Laajehun. The artisan begins with a piece of wood which he sculpts into the shape and form that he desires. Once the form is complete, it is coated with multi-coloured layers of lacquer. When that process is complete, the finished article is dried with coconut leaves and design in hand-etched. Samples of prized lacquer work is found in the upstairs museum galleries.
More recent Maldivian treasures are also preserved at the Maldives National Museum. There is the head of a sperm whale found in the Maldives in 1996 but even more impressive is the 6m long skeleton of a rare Longman’s Beaked Whale retrieved in 2000.
While a visit to this museum will not take up too much of your time, it’s worth a visit to get an idea of the history and background of the Maldives.
Opening Times:
9am – 5pm, Sunday-Thursday (closed Friday and Saturday)
Admission tickets available at Museum entrance from 9am – 4pm