Vaadhoo (

Dhivehi Dhivehi, also spelled Divehi, may refer to: *Dhivehi people, an ethnic group native to the historic region of the Maldive Islands. *Dhivehi language, an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Republic of Maldives ...

: ވާދޫ ) is an inhabited island of

Gaafu Dhaalu Gaafu Dhaalu (also known as Southern Huvadhu Atoll or Huvadhu Atholhu Dhekunuburi, ހުވަދުއަތޮޅު ދެކުނުބުރި) is an administrative district of the Maldives formed by the southwestern section of Huvadhu Atoll. It was created on ...

region in the atoll of Huvadhu,

Maldives Maldives (, ; dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, translit=Dhivehi Raajje, ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, label=none, ), is an archipelag ...

. It has its own dialect of Maldivian, which is considerably different from northern and Mid-Maldivian speech.

History

Archaeology

Important

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

remains have been found on this island, including: *A ruined stupa called “Vaadhoo Bodu Havitta” is located on the north-east of the centre of the Island. It is about 90m in circumference and 12 m in height. *On the north-east of the centre of the island is another mount (Vaadhoo Kuda Havitta) which is about 40 m in circumference and 7 m in height. *An ancient cemetery knows as “Thunndey Ziyaarai” located on the north-west side of the Island. *“Vaadhoo Gale Misskih” an ancient Graveyard and a mosque located on the north-east of the centre of the Island. *“Vaadhoo Dhanna Kaleyfaanu Ziyaarai” known as the grave yard of “ Mohamed Jamaaluddin” (Vaadhoo Dhanna Kaleyfaanu) who is one of the important scholars of Maldives. *“Vaadhoo Aasaaree Misskih” An old mosque where “Mohamed Jamaaluddin” (Vaadhoo Dhanna Kaleyfaanu) started his teachings with the help of Vaadhoo Katheeb (Mohamed Fadiyahthakuru). *"Bulhannaab" an ancient Graveyard located on the north-east side of the Island.

Thor Heyerdahl Thor Heyerdahl KStJ (; 6 October 1914 – 18 April 2002) was a Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer with a background in zoology, botany and geography. Heyerdahl is notable for his ''Kon-Tiki'' expedition in 1947, in which he sailed 8,000& ...

visited this island and investigated the ancient Buddhist ruins in the 1980s accompanied by Mohamed Lutfi. Some carved coral stones representing Buddha's foot (

Buddhapada Buddha's footprints ( sa, Buddhapada) are Buddhist icons shaped like an imprint of Gautama Buddha's foot or both feet. There are two forms: natural, as found in stone or rock, and those made artificially. Many of the "natural" ones are acknowled ...

) include

Vajrayana Vajrayāna ( sa, वज्रयान, "thunderbolt vehicle", "diamond vehicle", or "indestructible vehicle"), along with Mantrayāna, Guhyamantrayāna, Tantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, are names referring t ...

symbols that were found. However, the ruins have not been well researched yet.

Geography

The island is south of the country's capital,

Malé Malé (, ; dv, މާލެ) is the capital and most populous city of the Maldives. With a population of 252,768 and an area of , it is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city is geographically located at the southern ...

Demography

Education

Vaadhoo Jamaaluddin School, a government primary and secondary school, which is the second primary school opened in Gdh Vaadhoo. The school is named after the famous religious scholar Mohamed Jamaluddin, better known as Vaadhoo Dhanna Kaleyfaanu and the first Educator of the Maldives. The school first name was called "Vaadhoo Makthab" later changed for "Jamaaluddin School" and currently known as "Vaadhoo Jamaaluddin School".

References

*H.C.P. Bell, ''The Maldive Islands; Monograph on the History, Archaeology and Epigraphy.'' Reprint Colombo 1940. Council for Linguistic and Historical Research. Male’ 1989 *

Xavier Romero-Frias Xavier or Xabier may refer to: Place * Xavier, Spain People * Xavier (surname) * Xavier (given name) * Francis Xavier (1506–1552), Catholic saint ** St. Francis Xavier (disambiguation) * St. Xavier (disambiguation) * Xavier (footballer, ...

, ''The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom.'' 1999, *Skjølsvold, Arne. ''Archaeological Test-Excavations On The Maldive Islands.'' The Kon-Tiki Museum Occasional Papers, Vol. 2. Oslo 1991. {{Islands of the Maldives Islands of the Maldives United Suvadive Republic