Alifushi

Alifushi in the north of Raa Atoll is where Maldivian boats are built: the dhoni, the curved-stem wooden vessel that does everything from fishing to ferrying, has been made here for generations, and a boatyard on the island turns out hulls that go to the whole country. The work is done largely by eye rather than from plans, with the shape carried in the builders' heads and passed down.

History

Alifushi and Etthingili were named the Powell Islands by Captain Robert Moresby during his survey of the Maldive atolls between 1834 and 1836, after his assistant surveyor, Lieutenant F. F. Powell (Wikipedia, Alifushi).

What you'll find

• The boatyard - the working yard building dhonis for the whole country.
• The dhoni form - the curved-stem hull shape the Maldives is known for.
• The building method - work done by eye rather than from drawn plans.
• The village - the community the boatbuilding tradition sits in.

When to go

November to April is the dry season with easier travel. The yard works to its own schedule. Ferry connections are infrequent.

Things to know

The yard is a working operation, not a visitor attraction, and access depends on asking. Fibreglass has replaced timber for many hulls. Accommodation on the island is very limited.

Nearby

Ifuru airport is south, and Malé is far south.

Key facts