Gan Island, Laamu

The island of Gan is part of the 3 islands, Gan-Kadhdhoo-Fonadhoo, interlinked by bridges (and considered the largest landmass in the Maldives). It is about 20 minutes by speedboat from our resort. I always go there coz the regional airport is just in the next connected island of Kadhdhoo.
With a population of about 2,700 residents, Gan is slowly being developed into the regional center for Laamu atoll with all the facilities relocated there, the Regional Hospital, schools, and a branch of Bank of Maldives.

But what is more interesting for me is to visit the location of the Buddhist stupas, the only remnants of the Maldivian pre-Islamic past. You can get more info from the Maldives Royal Family (thanks Chris, this site was my first source of Maldivian info back in the early days of my arrival to Maldives).

Sadly, the stupas have been covered now with gravel so we only got to see the mounds where the stupas were buried under and let our imagination reign free. Within the stupa grounds, we also found a burial site for two. The tombs were made of corals, very typical in the olden days.

The eerily beautiful “Healing Pond” is well hidden within the densely wooded area in the island interior. A real treasure to find.....although, yeah.....for the un-romantics, it looks like a dengue-infested area! lol

Comments

Chris said…
Hi Y.... It’s a pity that the remnants of the Maldive pre-Islamic past have dwindled so rapidly over just a generation. I have heard of bodhi trees near mosques surviving until recently. Such mosques were definitely former Buddhist sites. Some old mosques (e.g.: Malé's old Hukuru Miskiiy) still bear testimony to the pre-Islamic past. You may be aware that it does not face Mecca as mosques should. It faces the sun. I have seen two very old sun-facing mosques in Malé. They were both built out of recycled stone that betrayed signs that the stones had come from a more magnificent structure. In Laamu Gan there was a ruined seven tiered structure called Hatteli. I am sure they have demolished it by now.
May 10, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Bonangskie said…
It must still be there just buried beneath the rubbles, ive seen a couple of "hill" around the area and our local guide told us that these are the Buddhist stupas.
May 11, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Anonymous said…
really a interesting place

http://www.holidayindia.net/
December 18, 2010 at 11:47 AM
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