Velidhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Noonu Atoll in the Maldives.

 

The origin of the first settlers of Velidhoo Island remains a mystery. Historians date the earliest settlements to the 5th century BC with Aryan immigrants coming from India and Sri Lanka. The Veliduans today are a mix of people from the two nearest islands in the atoll, Magoodhoo and Tholhendhoo. Today Velidhoo is the most populous island of Noonu Atoll. The Veliduans' language is Dhivehi.

 

The island has many historic monuments including a tree (Velidhu bodu nikagas), which has been there for more than five centuries. Much of the history of Velidhu is unknown, but research is ongoing.

 

A total of around 2,500 people live here. It’s a very quiet and well-run little community with a school, mosques, hospital, police station, shipyard and quaint little grocery stores. The island has only recently been opened to tourism and we are the first to offer commercial accommodation.

 

The guesthouse arranges tours and transport to the adjacent island of Thamburudhoo. This is an “uninhabited” Robinson Crusoe-like island. It takes 10 minutes to reach the island by speedboat. Here you can go snorkeling and women can bathe in bikinis. 

 

The area around Velidhoo island is said to be one of the greatest fishing areas in the Maldives.