Mesmerizing is the only word I could say when I looked at the amazing details of coral rock cravings of the Hukuru Miskiiy complex or the Old Friday Mosque in Male, the small capital city of Maldives. It was a great surprised that Maldives processes such a beautiful architecture gem which seem to be unknown among its many tourists who came to this coral atolls country for luxury resorts and beautiful coral sand beach. On my last day in Maldives before I went to the airport I decided to do a half day city tour.

Male in general does not have anything interesting except the small precinct of Mulee-Aage Presidential Palace and Old Friday Mosque which seem to be the sole area that could be considered as historic area. While the Presidential Palace and Medhu Ziyaarath Shrine which dedicated Abu al Barakaath Yusuf al Barbari, a man who convert Buddhist Maldives to Islam, are beautiful colorful colonial architectures, the opposite is the solemn white minaret of Munnaaru, Old Friday Mosque and cemetery. At first glance, it was a bit disappointing, the mosque was quite small and its tin roof was totally underwhelmed; however, my eyes was immediately at the tombs complex, there are four beautiful tomb chapels around the mosque, their craving walls are really amazing with unique design that I believed inspired by sea creatures and sea grass with Arabic writings, the closest comparison in my mind is Celtic pattern art. Surrounding these chapels are many tombstones for royal and noble Maldivians, these tombstones are quite impressive, and some even has gilded decoration. The sharp pointed tombstones were for men and rounded one for women. The wall of the mosque reminded me the Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka which later influenced similar temple design in Southeast Asia with impressive cravings on multi-tiers walls next to the ground, the design was much simpler with design of small windows and gates; however, the real gems are at mosque entrances and the stairway walls with very beautiful designs that possibly the highlight of this buildings. During my visit it was afternoon prayer time, inside the mosque was full with prayers, so I thought it was not a right time to ask for permission to see interior, but from the front entrance I still abled to see another beautiful design for inner craving wall, beautiful wooden and stone columns and wooden ceilings. Another unique thing is the old well for cleansing before enter the buildings, the walkway from the well to the mosque is just lovely to see.

Coral stone mosque of Maldives really opened my eyes to another side of this country, its beautiful cravings are in the same level of India and Sri Lankan arts. The layout of mosque also show some interesting cultural link with Buddhism and Hinduism which is quite outstanding. Too bad that this kind of art which supported by Maldivian Monarchy seem to be forgotten by locals after the country becomes a republic. Maybe because the craving designs have some link to religious, so no one seem to use them for any business opportunity especially for tourism which is unfortunate. If such art is founded in other country, I am confident that such craving design will be popular in gifts and souvenirs or even become a tattoo design.