Sultan's Park in Male' is a public park laid out on the south side of the royal palace in the 16th century in the capital of the Maldives. The royal palace was blown up and razed to the ground except for one three-storey wing. The adjoining gardens survived, became a public park, and now only the massive iron gate at the entrance, opposite the Islamic Centre, is a reminder of a bygone era of monarchy. The surviving wing of the palace served for decades as the National Museum, housing a collection of royal property, Islamic exhibits and archaeological finds.
The Sultan's Park, with its lily-covered ponds and deciduous trees along the banks, filled with birdsong, forms a quiet green oasis in the bustling capital. The park itself is a large collection of various tropical plants. It offers a magnificent view of the city and is also the only spacious place among the narrow streets of Male' where people can express themselves in a variety of ways and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
