A visit to Male' the capital of Maldives 
Male', the capital of the Maldives, is the commercial centre, seat of government and the location of many important historical and religious landmarks.
 
Male' Shopping
Male' is the busiest place for shopping, given the choice and variety of goods available in this centre of commercial activity
 
Male' offers a great choice of restaurants to choose from
 
Male' the capital offers a wide choice of interesting places to see, including a beautiful old mosque which  boasts some of the most intricate and oldest coral carvings in the world. 
 
Male' the capital - Photo Gallery
 
Souvenir Shopping 
In addition to every resort having a shop full of souvenirs for you to take home, Male' offers a wide choice including electronics and duty free shopping.

Souvenirs 
It is not difficult to find your way around Male?, especially if you carry a map with you. After all it is only two square kilometres. The main street Majeedhee Magu, runs right across the island from east to west. Chaandhanee Magu on the other hand runs from north to south. Most souvenir shops line the northern end of Chaandanee Magu, earlier known as the Singapore Bazaar for its many imports from Singapore. Guides and vendors speaking in English and other foreign languages patiently wait to serve the visitors. These shops are stocked with an ample supply of gifts and souvenir items. Best buys include the "thudu kuna" the Maldivian mat woven with local natural fibres. Attractive too are the wooden miniature "dhonis". When shopping for souvenirs, do keep in mind that export of products made of turtle shell, black coral, pearl oyster shell and red coral is prohibited. 

Garments to electronics 
Shopping is the favourite activity for the locals especially in the evenings, when it is cooler. The Majeedhee Magu, which is the main road on the island, has along its sides various shops selling goods from the smallest commodities to virtually everything you could think of. The shops are well stocked with garments, perfumes and cosmetics, jewellery, watches or electronics, to name just a few. Many find it a pleasant experience to join the throngs of shoppers on the main shopping streets in the evenings. All shops are open until 11.00 in the night, except for prayer times, when they are closed for 15 minutes.  

Fish Products 
Canned fish produced at the canning plant in Felivaru, Lhaviyani Atoll is available in a number of shops in Malé. Tuna used for canning are caught by the traditional pole and line method, as are all fish caught in the Maldives, and therefore are dolphin friendly. Vacuum packed smoked fish and chipped dried fish are also available in many super markets around Male'. These genuine Maldivian products would make excellent gifts for a friend.  Or just take some home and try them out yourself. 

Local Produce 
The Local Market, just a block away from the Male? Fish Market on the northern waterfront, is divided into small stalls. Here the pace is slower and the atmosphere peaceful, compared to the hectic activity in the rest of this neighbourhood. Each stall is filled with a variety of local produce mainly from the atolls. Here you will find different kinds of local vegetables, fruits and yams, packets of sweetmeat, nuts and breadfruit chips, bottles of home made sweets and pickles and bunches of bananas hanging on coir ropes from ceiling beams. Another building just next door sells smoked and dried fish.  
 

 

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