Malé

Malé is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. It is geographically located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll (Kaafu Atoll). Administratively, it is a city-class constituency and is governed by the Malé City Council. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where the palace was located. The city was then called "Mahal". Formerly it was a walled city surrounded by fortifications and gates (doroshi). The Royal Palace (Gan'duvaru) was destroyed along with the picturesque forts (kotte) and bastions (buruzu) when the city was remodelled under President Ibrahim Nasir's rule after the abolition of the monarchy. However, the beautifully decorated Male' Hukuru Miskiy remains. In recent years, the island has been considerably expanded through landfilling operations. Over the years, with the fight for democracy, Malé has been the epicenter of political protests and milestone events.