Addu City is the largest city of Maldives after Male and can be found on the southern extreme of the island nation. It is fascinating to get a view of it from the sky as it is shaped in the form of a heart. And Maldives being a prominent honeymoon destination, its shape attracts hordes of tourists to its boundaries. Addu City is a beautiful place to be at for vacationing with its sweeping landscapes lined up with coconut trees and a clear blue sky over your head. It is known as a backpacker’s paradise as it is a stretch of six islands, all linked by a causeway built by the Brits, which makes it easy to navigate here. With all the other islands just featuring beaches, this city has something unique to offer in the form of The Mosque of the Judge, which is a historical place that recalls the rules of the Sultanate in Addu City. Overall, this city offers everything right from beach fun to a dive into the city's unique culture.
Best Time To Visit Addu City
Home to some of the best sun-kissed beaches, Maldives is a tropical island that experiences a dry spell, 'Iruvai', between the months of December and April. On the other hand, it experiences a wet spell, known as ‘Hulhangu’, from the months between May and November. There is a very small change in the temperature between the two seasons. The dry season is characterized by clear skies, calm sea, bright sun, as well as only sporadic rainfall at times. This makes Addu City an ideal destination for snorkelling, sun bathing, and scuba diving. This time is also comparatively more expensive because it’s the peak season. For surfing enthusiasts, the ideal time to visit the Maldives is during the monsoon when there exists torrential rainfall and when the seas are rough. The place also experiences occasional bright days there. Budget tourists planning a trip to Addu City can visit during this time since resorts offer attractive offers and packages.
Places to Visit in Addu City
Gan island - The first place which the travellers reach when visiting the city is Gan island. Home to the International Airport of the Atoll, this particular island is an amazing destination which depicts the island’s long history. The history primarily involves it previously being home to the British naval, a cinema which was in operation in the past as well as an airbase plus clothing factories. Ruins from the British era and other important monuments are some of the places to explore. Apart from the airport, the other places to visit here include Equator Village resort, monuments made in memory as well as a mosque.
The Bonda Badi - This British memorial is one of the most tangible places to visit in Addu City. The Bonda Badi is one place which reflects a lot about how the scenario in Addu was back in 1965 before it gained complete independence. Until 26th June 1965, Maldives was completely under the empowerment of the British government, and apparently, the ‘Bonda Badi’ is the spirit of all there is left of the era.
British Base Area – This place is the memorial area where the British have their military base. This is a must visit place for people who like to visit spots which have historical significance.
Link Road – The Link Road is the longest road which exists in the entire Maldives. And just indulging in a long walk by the link road itself is spectacular. This road has a unique charm to it which you would not experience elsewhere in the Maldives.
Koattey – Being a treat to the eyes of a tourist, a part of the Koattey area is protected by the government to conserve the live species as well as natural beauty found on the site. Some of the significant sites found here include a big freshwater lake, a surf break, and a gravesite. A tale about the freshwater pond in Koattey is one of the major things that makes it appealing to visitors. Apparently, it was believed that fairies used to visit this stunning lake to take a bath in it.
Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo - These two islands which are separated from the rest have some remarkable historical ruins to explore. A historical gravesite and a well from the early days are few of the attractions to see in these islands. Apart from that, there also are plenty of spots to explore on bikes.
Ranin Hanaa Fennganda – Considered as one of the most prehistoric assets of the island, Ranin Hanaa Fennganda is a must visit place in the Maldives. Although it is not considered safe to go near this area, a close sight surely can be very enthralling for thrill-seekers. One of the significant things is that this lake does not consist of salt water. Many individuals also believe that this was where the early queens of the island bathed, and some paranormal things were sighted here.
Top Delicacies of Addu City
Bis Keemiya - Filled with gently a sautéed mixture of spiced onions, shredded cabbage, and hard boiled eggs, this is a delightfully chewy pastry which is also light and flaky.
Boshi Mashuni - Somewhere between a salsa and a salad, boshi mashuni is a combination of shredded but at the same time crunchy banana flowers, spices, and, fresh coconut which tastes zingy with lime, spicy with onion and Maldivian chilli along with a savoury background thanks to all the ingredients such as curry leaves, cumin, and turmeric.
Garudhiya - This traditional Maldivian fish soup is filled with citrus and spices. Fresh tuna is the main component, which offers that all-important umami ingredient to the soup. Apart from that, fish cubes are cooked up with curry leaves and water and curry leaves, onion, garlic and chilli. Finally, the entire lot is seasoned with a spritz of lime and crunchy fried onions.
Huni Roshi – These are flatbreads covered with coconut which are fried until they get crisp on the outside and chewy as well as soft within.
Saagu Bondibai - These tiny starchy spheres are a central component of people’s diets. These are derived as they are from the spongy cores of tropical palm stems. As soon as you try this scrumptious dish, you will realise why sago is still so famous in Maldivian households. Warmed with coconut milk, rose and cardamom, and covered with creamy condensed milk, it’s the type of dessert you could drink.
