Vaadhoo
Island Summary
Belongs to	Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Location
Area
Population	1376
Length	2320 m
Width	1130 m
Distance from Malé	438 km
Administrative Information
Island Chief

For other islands see Vaadhoo

Vaadhoo (Div: ވާދޫ) is one of the inhabited islands of Southern Huvadhu Atoll, in the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll administrative division.

Archaeology

Important Buddhist remains have been found on this island.

• A ruined stupa called “Vādū Havitta” is located on the north-east of the centre of the island. It is about 90 m in circumference and 10 m in height.
• On the north-east of the centre of the island is another mound which is about 40 m in circumference and 5 m in height.

Thor Heyerdahl visited this island and investigated the ancient Buddhist ruins in the 1980s accompanied by Mohamed Lutfi. Some carved coral stones representing Buddha's foot with Vajrayana symbols were found. However the ruins have not been well researched yet.

References

• Hasan A. Maniku. The Islands of Maldives. Novelty. Male 1983.
• H.C.P. Bell, The Maldive Islands; Monograph on the History, Archaeology and Epigraphy. Reprint Colombo 1940. Council for Linguistic and Historical Research. Male’ 1989
• Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. 1999, ISBN 84 7254 801 5
• Skjølsvold, Arne. Archaeological Test-Excavations On The Maldive Islands. The Kon-Tiki Museum Occasional Papers, Vol. 2. Oslo 1991.

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