Nilandhoo

Nilandhoo in Faafu Atoll holds Aasaari Miskiy, a mosque built of dressed coral stone thought to date from around the twelfth century and among the oldest in the Maldives, put up on a site that had held a Buddhist temple, with stones from the earlier structure reused in the walls. Excavated remains of the pre-Islamic complex lie nearby. Coral stone building of this quality is a Maldivian speciality and very little of it survives. The mosque stands within a walled enclosure with a cemetery of carved coral headstones, several of which are as old as the building itself.

What you actually see

• Aasaari Miskiy - the coral stone mosque, among the oldest in the country.
• The reused stone - Buddhist-period blocks built into the mosque walls.
• The excavated remains - the pre-Islamic temple complex nearby.
• The coral masonry - the dressed stone technique the Maldives specialised in.

When to go

November to April is the dry season with calmer crossings. Ferries run on limited days. Visiting the mosque requires appropriate dress.

Honest expectations

The mosque is in use and access depends on prayer times and permission. Interpretation is minimal. Ferry connections are slow and infrequent.

Nearby

Rinbudhoo is southeast, and Malé is northeast.