Yesterday
From the Phoenicians, Egyptians and Mesopotamians to the Portuguese and British, the Maldives boast a wonderfully rich culture dating back to 2,500 BC. In the millenniums between, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Indians, Ottomans, French and more all left their footprints. On 26 July 1965, just 40 years ago, the Maldives gained full independence from the British; two months later the country became a member of the United Nations. Soon after, the miracle of a multi-island tourist paradise was born.

Today
Barely 40 years after independence, tourism is now responsible for more than 20 percent of the country's GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' receipts for foreign exchange. Currently over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import and related tourism taxes.

No wonder - check out the reasons. Nearly 100 private island resorts. Informal, laid -back life style. Unbelievably beautiful unspoilt islands, lagoons, coral reefs and dive sites. A near perfect climate. An incredibly peaceful and serene way of life that other countries can only dream about. All this plus the bonus of a friendly and ecologically aware people dedicated to keeping their islands unspoilt and free from the usual tourist overload. With all this going for the Maldives, perhaps it is not surprising that the country's pride and dedication in preserving its ancient culture is all too rarely publicised.

The Maldivians are hugely proud of their melting pot culture, a hypnotic blend of South-East Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, East Africa and Arabia. The mix is intoxicating, often making seamless transitions from ancient to modern, from folk music and dance to modern jazz and pop. Festivals, steeped in history and tradition, also play an important part of Maldivian culture.

Maldivians are almost entirely Sunni Muslim, and alcohol, pork, dogs and public observance of non Muslim religions are banned on the inhabited islands, however the resort islands are generally exempt from the strict observance of these regulations.

The business language in the Maldives is Dhivehi (rooted in Sanskrit), however English (and many other European languages) is the 'lingua franca' (spoken language of choice) of the tourism industry and business world, with the literacy rate a huge 98.2 percent.

Weekends in the Maldives are Friday and  Saturday (unlike our Saturday and Sunday weekends), so Sunday - Thursdays are work days and banks, government offices and many shops are closed. You won't notice this at the resorts though, except that lunch hours are usually staggered for Friday prayers.

If history and architecture are your idea of culture, you won't be disappointed with a day trip to Male', the capital. Located in the centre of the island chain, Male' is the busy home to more than a quarter of the population and is the seat of government and heart of trade and commerce. Well worth a visit is the national museum inside the old Sultan's Palace. Nearby is the Islamic Centre and Grand Mosque, big enough to hold 5,000 worshippers. A bonus for historians is the 350-year-old Hukuru Miskiiy, the mosque built by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar, which portrays the conversion of the Maldives to Islam.

In Male you can also take in some excellent shops and the incredible fish market. You'll also come across great bars, restaurants and internet cafes. After all, culture is more than an endless parade of famous buildings and landmarks. It's called lifestyle. And for that, you have to go a long way to beat the Maldivian definition.

You might also take time to visit a local village  - usually organised as an excursion from your island resort to a neighbouring village. Watch a fire dance performance. Pick up a few useful words of the language. Discover ancient island legends. Shop and bargain for native masks, carvings, lacquered wooden boxes and hand-woven reed mats.