Local Market
The local market, just a couple of minutes' walk up the road from the fish market and also on the beach road, is a place where you will find Maldivians from all over the country, in Male' to sell produce from their own islands. different kinds of local vegetables, fruits and yams, packets of sweetmeat, nuts and breadfruit chips, bottles of home made sweets and pickles and bunches of bananas hanging on coir ropes from ceiling beams. One particular item that you might find of interest is a very Maldivian concoction, the rihaakuru, which is the boiled-down version of clear tuna soup.
Chaandhanee Magu
Chaandhanee Magu on the other hand runs from north to south. Most souvenir shops line the northern end of Chaandanee Magu, earlier known as the Singapore Bazaar for its many imports from Singapore.These shops are stocked with an ample supply of gifts and souvenir items.
Best buys include the ‘thudu kuna’ the Maldivian mat woven with local natural fibers.
Caution
When shopping for souvenirs, do keep in mind that export of products made of turtle shell, black coral, pearl oyster shell and red coral is prohibited.
