Maalhos (Dhivehi: މާޅޮސް), known as one of the inhabited islands of Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll, code letter Baa Atoll.

Maalhos
Inhabited island
Maalhos Location in Maldives
Coordinates: 05°08′06″N 73°06′30″E
Country	Maldives
Administrative atoll	Baa Atoll
Distance to Malé	115.06 km (71.49 mi)
Dimensions
• Length	7.650 km (4.753 mi)
• Width	0.500 km (0.311 mi)
Population  (2014)[1]
• Total	484 (including foreigners)
Time zone	UTC+05:00 (MST)

History

By historical researches the researchers have found that Buddhism was the main religion of Maalhos. Hassan Ibrahim (Aveli) found a damaged part of a budda head from the old grave yard.

Geography

The island is 115.06 km (71 mi; 62 nmi) northwest of the country's capital, Malé.[2]

Demography

Economy

Tourism

The island is open for day trips by tourists that would like to get to know the local culture and way of life. The island has a small port, small shops and cafes. Here is a 360° panorama of The island white sand beach with fallen coconuts. Maalhos is just a couple of minutes away from the nearby resort islands.

Culture

In this island there is the custom once every year to take a bath in seven different wells (haiy valhuń feń veruń). This is probably an ancestral Dravidian custom. The Pulaya or Cheruman, an agricultural caste of Kerala, used to take a bath in seven different tanks when they were considering themselves polluted. During the eid festival, men cook 'firihenun kekkun' and serve dinner to the women of the island and vice versa. a Jungle Parade by the people of Maalhos is a modified edition of the parade by the Army.

References

• Romero-Frias, Xavier (1999). The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona. ISBN 84-7254-801-5.
• Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 2. Madras: Government Press.

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