Utheemu Island in the Maldives: where to stay, eat, relax

Did you know about the close connection of the Maldives with Portugal? In the 15th century, Portuguese navigators landed on the very white sands where tourists now rest. Utheemu Island is a memory of the battles of those distant years.

General information

Located in the northern part of the archipelago, Utheemu Island delights tourists with its scenic beauty and historical significance. It is located on Haa Alif, in the northern part of the archipelago, about 297 kilometers north of Male. It is quite small: about 900 meters long and 700 meters wide.

Arif

Captured by Portugal

Utheemu Island that became one of the places where historical events unfolded in the Maldives.

The island is famous for being the home of Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu, who got the better of the Portuguese invaders. He defeated the invaders along with his brothers.

The Portuguese occupation is portrayed in official sources as "the most brutal and humiliating period in the history of the Maldives ". It lasted fifteen years.

The leader of the resistance was not from Male, but from the North Tiladunmati Atoll located to the north of Utheemu Island - Tiladunmati. Mohammed Thakurufaanu, the son of a respected island elder, religious leader and merchant, persuaded his two brothers, Ali and Ghassan, to join him in the war against Portuguese occupation and forced conversion to Christianity. He contacted the Maldivians living on Maliku (Minicoy), the island of the Laccadive group, located closest to the Maldives.

The Thakurufaanu brothers were able to build a fast vessel, which received the title of Kahluohfummi. On this ship they transported their families and other inhabitants of the island to Malika.

Thakurufaanu commissioned a boat, a metal model of which now stands on the shore, and hired two of his brothers and three other men as crew. The group then waged war on the Portuguese, launching stealth attacks on the invaders, one island at a time, under cover of night, retreating back to the open sea during the day.

They landed on the islands at night, killed the sleeping Portuguese, and then quickly sailed away. During one such raid, Ali was captured and beheaded.

A few years later, the tactics of surprise attacks ceased to be effective - the Portuguese increased their vigilance, and after a secret visit to Male Thakurufaanu realized that he could not cope with the invaders without outside help. He approached the Raja of Malabar. Note that the unexpected consequences of this decision the state had to disentangle over the next two centuries. In 1573, on the night of the first day of the month of Rabeu al-awwal (now called the Day of the Nation and celebrated annually on the first day of the third month of the lunar calendar), resistance forces attacked Male, and with the help of the inhabitants, the capital was liberated. It took eight years of guerrilla warfare to restore independence.

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History of the Sultan-Liberator

Thakurufaanu became sultan and ruled for sixteen years. He founded the Utheemu dynasty, which remained in power for 121 years. He took Ali's daughter Rasgefaanu as his wife.

He reformed the administration and the judiciary, and organized an effective people's militia. He was the first to introduce coins instead of shells into circulation and established trade relations with other countries. His reign was a period of peace and prosperity. The grave of this national hero is located in Male, an Islamic center and one of the capital's streets are named after him. Until now, the house in which he lived has been preserved - in Utheemu, a memorial center was built on the northernmost atoll of the Maldives.

The Sultan was crowned in 1573 as Mohammed Thakurufaanu. He raised the flag of the Utheemu dynasty, which dominated until 1692. In total, 11 sultans of the dynasty ruled the Maldives. A traditional wooden palace has been preserved from that era. He is over 500 years old. Locals are well acquainted with the landmark of Utheemu Island, the wooden palace of Sultan Mohammed Thakurufaanu. However, few vacationers know about this place.

What to see on Utheemu Island

The palace, built between 1512 and 1528, has survived - with its white curtains, antique lamps and swings.

But the most ingenious feature was a simple hole in the wooden wall. This hole projected a moving image of the exterior onto the drapery of the bed, just like a pinhole camera. The guide said that at that time this device was the closest thing to a video surveillance system.

The spectacular 500 year old wood-curved interiors showcase the skills of the early Maldivians. You'll see swings, coconut oil lamps, and a large palm-thatched barn that was used as a guest bedroom at the time.

It is also worth visiting the surroundings of the island to get acquainted with the local way of life. You can also take a look at the recordings at the Bod Thakurufaanu Memorial Center and pay homage to the old Kadhuwaloo Mosque.

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Island infrastructure

About a thousand people live on Utheemu Island. It is not particularly popular among tourists. But since the launch of local tourism with guest houses on the local island since 2010, the infrastructure has been improving. Guests can stay at one of the few guesthouses on the island and mingle with the locals while learning about the food and daily life of these beautiful tropical islands.

Accommodation on Utheemu Island

This is a day trip island. It does not have a special choice of housing: several guesthouses. But it is not far from inhabited local islands. Next door is the Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa , Annama Lodge And Dive , JA Manafaru.

Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa

How to get to Utheemu Island

It would seem that getting to the island is easy: just hire a boat or a boat. But the island does not have a harbor or pier for safer boat mooring. This is one of the main reasons why Uteemu Island is not among the most visited sightseeing spots.

Due to the complex structure of the sandy bottom around the island, not a single pier has been built so far. Attempts were made, but ended with the fact that the pier was washed away. So, when going to the island, be prepared to land in the water, at a shallow depth, the boat will be driven as close as possible, but the excitement of the sea can create some difficulties when disembarking and landing.

It is important to note that getting to Utheemu Island from any nearby island can be very difficult unless you are with an experienced local boatman.

To visit there, you can take a plane to Hanimaadhoo and then take a dhoni (fishing boat) that will take you to Utheemu in 45 minutes, or take a motorboat from one of the neighboring resort islands. 

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