Vaadhoo (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll)
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Vaadhoo | |
|---|---|
  Vaadhoo Location in Maldives | |
| Coordinates: 00°13′45″N 73°16′30″E / 0.22917°N 73.27500°E | |
| Country | Maldives |
| Administrative atoll | Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll |
| Distance to Malé | 437.12 km (271.61 mi) |
| Government | |
| • Council | Vaadhoo Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.673 km2 (0.646 sq mi) |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 2.320 km (1.442 mi) |
| • Width | 1.130 km (0.702 mi) |
| Population (2014)[1] | |
• Total | 712 (including foreigners) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (MST) |
Vaadhoo ( Dhivehi: ވާދޫ ) is an inhabited island of Gaafu Dhaalu region in the atoll of Huvadhu, Maldives. It has its own dialect of Maldivian, which is considerably different from northern and Mid-Maldivian speech.
Archaeology
Important Buddhist 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 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) include Vajrayana symbols that were found. However, the ruins have not been well researched yet.
Geography
Demography
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 662 | — |
| 2014 | 661 | −0.2% |
| 2006–2014: Census populations Source: [3] | ||
