National Museum of Maldives, National museum in Malé, Maldives
The National Museum in Malé is a three-story building displaying ancient artifacts from the Maldivian Buddhist period, royal objects, and everyday items from different eras. The spaces are organized to show how people lived and what they valued across the islands' history.
The museum opened in 1952 when the first building was inaugurated by Mohamed Amin Didi, the country's first president, marking an important moment for preserving the nation's past. This establishment reflected a broader shift in how the islands began to document and honor their heritage.
The collection displays Buddhist and Islamic artworks, traditional musical instruments, and ceremonial garments that reflect the islands' spiritual and royal heritage. You can see objects that reveal how people marked important moments and expressed their beliefs over time.
The museum is open most days but closed on Fridays and public holidays, so plan your visit accordingly. The building is easy to walk through, and you can explore all three floors and their collections in two to three hours.
The museum preserves the last remaining ancient coral stone head from before Islam arrived on the islands, discovered at an archaeological site in Thoddoo. This rare artifact offers a glimpse into a period of the islands' history that left few other traces.
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