Gan (Laamu Atoll)
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Gan |
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| Island Summary | |
| Belongs to | Laamu Atoll |
| Location | |
| Area | |
| Population | 2516 |
| Length | 7800m |
| Width | 3400m |
| Distance from Malé | 247.02km |
| Administrative Information | |
| Island Chief | |
- For other islands see Gan
Gan (Dhivehi: ގަން) is one of the inhabited islands of Haddhunmathi Atoll, administrative code Laamu. Gan is the longest island of the Maldives. It is divided in wards, the northernmost of which is called Thundi.
This island should not be confused with other Maldive islands called "Gan" in Addu Atoll and Huvadhu Atoll.
[edit] Archaeology
Gan Island has large ruins from the historical Maldivian Buddhist era.
- A ruin called “Gamu Haiytheli” is situated on Mudhin Hinna in the Mukurimagu ward of the island. It is 91.5 m in circumference and 7.3 m in height. Local tradition says that this was the last Buddhist temple of the Maldives.
- Ruins called “Munbaru” in an area called Kuruhinna. These were investigated by H. C. P. Bell in 1923 and a report with photographs was published in his monograph of 1940.
The ruins in Gan were the best preserved ruins from the Buddhist past in the Maldives when H. C. P. Bell excavated some of the island's Buddhist remains, especially one of the stupas and a vihara at Kuruhinna. Recently, however, much vandalism has taken place at those unprotected sites and only scattered stones and mounds of coral rubble remain.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Hasan A. Maniku. The Islands of Maldives. Novelty. Male 1983.
- Bell, H.C.P. The Maldive islands. Monograph on the History, Archaeology and Epigraphy. Reprint 1940 edn. Malé 1986.
- Romero-Frias, Xavier. The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999.
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