Kudagiri Picnic Island officially opens; President asks that it be maintained as a place for everyone

Kudagiri Picnic Island, developed for residents in the Malè region, has been officially opened to the public.

The island located 10.8 kilometers from Malè was developed on an eight-hectare land reclaimed in Kaafu Atoll Gulhifalhu.

The 300 reservations designated for the island’s inaugural day were fully booked.

At a special ceremony held at Kudagiri this morning, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih advised all those who came to the island to respect each other and maintain the island as a place where everyone can spend their holidays in comfort and satisfaction.

The President said that although Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has deployed many staff to maintain the island, providing services and security, the island will remain safe and clean only if the people who travel there pay close attention to these things.

The President said that while it has been close to 50 years since he started living in Malè, the beaches in the city have never been satisfactory. The people of Malè used to go to Kuda Bandos to relax but the previous government sold the island and deprived people of that happiness, he said.

"Today we are working to bring back this happiness and peace to the people living in Malé," President Solih said.

"There are still many facilities that need to be added to Kudagiri. However, I hope that the work done so far will give some satisfaction to the people who come to this island." – President

President Solih said that he was aware that some had called for Kudagiri to be a no smoking zone on social media and that HDC would make the necessary changes in light of the experience gained from the use of the island.

According to the HDC, approximately 500–600 people will be allowed to travel to Kudagiri daily.

Prices fixed for locals:

- Free boarding and transportation to Kudagiri during public holidays

- MVR 50 for boarding and MVR 50 for transport during weekdays

- Free boarding and transportation for children under two years and adults over 65 years

- MVR 25 for children aged between two and 11 during weekdays

Foreigners and tourists can visit Kudagiri Picnic Island every day for a fee.

HDC said carrying gas bottles, stoves, knives, and cutlery to Kudagiri will be prohibited as the items will be made available on the island.

There are 13 huts in Kudagiri which can be booked through the Kudagiri app and website. A small hut can be booked for the entire day for MVR 500, while a large hut can be booked for MVR 1,200. The huts are also powered by electricity.

Kudagiri is a 15-minute speedboat ride away from the capital. Kudagiri is accessible from both Malè City and Hulhumalè.