Utheemu Ganduvaru

Dear History Buff, on the small island of Utheemu in the far north of the Maldives stands a wooden palace with an extraordinary story. This is Utheemu Ganduvaru, the childhood home of Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu—the Maldives' greatest national hero.

In the 16th century, Thakurufaanu led a daring guerrilla campaign from these northern atolls, sailing by night in his boat 'Kalhuohfummi' to liberate the Maldives from 15 years of Portuguese occupation. The beautifully preserved wooden palace, surrounded by tropical gardens, offers a window into medieval Maldivian royal life. The intricate woodwork, traditional swinging beds, and sand-floored cooking area paint a vivid picture of a bygone era.