Dhaalu Atoll – Southern Nilandhe and the old mosque of Kudahuvadhoo
Dhaalu Atoll, or Southern Nilandhe, holds many traces of the Maldives' distant past. Several islands have remains from the Buddhist period, including mysterious mounds known as hawittas, and a copperplate was found on Kudahuvadhoo. The island's old mosque displays some of the finest stone masonry in the country, and Rinbudhoo has a mosque nearly 300 years old built with carved stones.
The atoll opened to tourism in 1998, but the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struck hard: Gemendhoo was abandoned and many people from Rinbudhoo had to resettle. Today Dhaalu is known for diving and island traditions. Do you have stories or photos from Dhaalu? Share them with our community!