Embark On A Historical Journey With Cora Cora Maldives
Monday 24th of April 2023
Nestled in the crystalline blue waters of Raa Atoll, the Cora Cora Maldives property is more than a dazzling resort in the Indian Ocean. The sun-drenched shores and swaying coconut palms are accompanied by a rich cultural heritage that tells the story of how the wonderous island has been welcoming visitors for almost 9 centuries!
The earliest travellers were not looking for a recluse in the archipelago but deemed it an essential trading post, making travellers from all around the world drop anchor and trade in this channel for generations. The remnants of the ancient Spice Routes are still evident on the island with excavations done on the island turning up more than 60 remarkable finds for guests to explore and marvel at. Adding to the collection of relics, Cora Cora Maldives have also acquired over 400 others from different parts of the country, truly giving the island the name of ‘Museum of Island Heritage’.
Guests can embark on this unique experience from the time of their arrival with an extravagant museum gallery housed in the lobby area itself. Here, guests will come across various traded goods hailing from long-forgotten civilizations such as the Qing Dynasty and the great Roman Empire of Byzantine. At the museum, guests can set their eyes on a 17th-century porcelain belonging to China’s Qing dynasty and an oil lamp dating back 1500 years and believed to be from the Early Byzantine era. Likewise, local treasures such as cowrie shells, which were once used as currency in the Indian Ocean can be seen in the museum.
In the heart of the Cora Cora island, guests will stumble upon another exclusive site, where they can first-hand discover time-honoured memorials that have lasted more than 5 centuries. Among the fascinating finds on the island, the most striking one were the two temple tanks which are thought to be around 900 years old. These well-preserved wells are shallow in nature and are believed to have been used for bathing and ceremonial purposes in the old pre-Islamic days.
To top it all, the resort has recreated and reimagined the island lifestyle through its 120-year-old traditional Maldivian house located on the island. With displays of island life portrayed in every nook and cranny, a visit to this historical site will allow guests to get the feeling of how life was on the island of Maamigili in the 1900s. Guests can elevate their historical experience further by arranging a free guided tour with the museum expert to get a full scope of the rich history and heritage behind the iconic property.
