Sought for its white beaches and startling turquoise blue waters, the Maldives comprise of over 1000 islands and is the the smallest country in Asia. Its capital city, Male is the biggest of the group of islands. Although long ruled by a monarchy, the palace, bastions and forts that were in place were destroyed at the end of the monarchy era.
Despite its small size and relatively small population, Maldivians are extremely talented in tuning out arts and crafts that are both exquisite and valuable.
The Esjehi Art Gallery situated in Male is a venue dedicated to the promotion and exhibition of local artist work and arts and craft work. The building itself is of distinct value as it is one of the oldest surviving building in the country, dating back to 1807. It previously was the residence of a nobleman and was later converted into a gallery. The interior of the gallery, although small, consists of rooms with intricate wooden carving on its paneling. The exhibition space sees local art work which can sometimes be bought for a price as well as various local arts and craft work. Whilst there is no guarantee on exhibitions, visitors may get the opportunity of meeting and mingling with some of the local artistic talents at the Gallery.
Through its existence, the gallery seeks to promote and preserve the indigenous art work and give an opportunity for the locals to display their work and gain prominence in the art world. To this end special workshops are also regularly held. The gallery can be visited from Saturday through Thursday from 8am to 6.30 pm and on Fridays from 2pm – 7pm.
Accommodation when visiting the Maldives is never a problem as most of the islands are dedicated to many Maldives Resorts. However if visitors are looking for a unique experience in terms of island stay and seek a Villa in Maldives then the highly acclaimed, Internationally renowned Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas will no doubt suit your tastes. With its pristine beaches and spectacular scenery these villas are sure to take your breath away.
