Dhevvadhoo (Gaafu Alif Atoll)

Dhevvadhoo
Island Summary
Belongs to	Gaafu Alif Atoll
Population	1005
Length	600 m
Width	520 m
Distance from Malé	403 km

Dhevvadhoo or Devvadū (Div: ދެއްވަދޫ) is one of the inhabited islands of the administrative division known as Northern Huvadhu Atoll (code letter: Gaafu Alifu). It is a sizeable round island located almost in the centre of Huvadhu Atoll. Some of the ancient kings of Maldives traced their ancestry to certain families of this island.

Archaeological Remains

There are many Buddhist archaeological remains in Devvadū. It is likely that it was an important island in that period of Maldivian History.

• A mound called “Dhevvadhoo Usgadu”, probably a large Stupa is on the north-east of the island, about 285 feet (87 m) from the shore. It is 200 feet (61 m) long, 96 feet (29 m) wide and 4 feet (1.2 m) high.
• A ruin also called “Usgadu”, measuring 96 X 64 feet (20 m) with a height of 4 feet (1.2 m) is on the northwest, about 485 feet (148 m) from the shore.
• Near this “Usgadu” there is another mound 116 feet (35 m) long, 52 feet (16 m) wide and 4 feet (1.2 m) high.
• There is a third mound 69 feet (21 m) long 47 feet (14 m) wide and 4 feet (1.2 m) high within this area.
• On the north-west there is another “Usgadu”, measuring 120 X 49 feet (15 m) with a height of 4 feet (1.2 m). It is about 385 feet (117 m) away from the shore.

None of these ancient remains have been properly investigated yet.

References

• HCP Bell, The Maldive Islands; Monograph on the History, Archaeology and Epigraphy. Reprint Colombo 1940. Council for Linguistic and Historical Research. Male’ 1989
• H.C.P. Bell, Excerpta Maldiviana. Reprint Colombo 1922/35 edn. Asian Educational Services. New Delhi 1999
• Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5
• Hasan A. Maniku. The Islands of Maldives. Novelty. Male 1983.

Coordinates: 00°33′32″N 73°14′37″E / 0.55889°N 73.24361°E / 0.55889; 73.24361