Wikipedia
Ga.Villingili ( Dhivehi: ގއ.ވިލިނގިލި) is one of the inhabited islands of Gaafu Alif Atoll.
It is located on the Northeastern rim of Huvadu Atoll. Traditionally this island is also known as 'Huvadu Atoll Vilingili'. Northern Huvadhu Atoll or Gaafu Alifu is an administrative division created on February 8, 1962 when Huvadhu Atoll was divided into two districts. In former times, Vilingili boat owners used to decorate their fishing boats with rich and varied decorative patterns. This practice was discontinued in the 1970s.
The World Health Organization has a local unit there.
Villingili is an island of geographical North Male Atoll, but not of administrative Kaafu Atoll, and is, administratively, known as Vilimalé and considered the fifth district of Malé, Maldives. It lies about two kilometres (1.2 mi) west of Malé island.
Villingili as a place name may refer to:
- Villingili (Alif Dhaal Atoll), an uninhabited island in the Maldives
- Villingili (Gaafu Alif Atoll), an inhabited island in the Maldives
- Villingili (Malé), an inhabited island in the Maldives
- Villingili (Seenu Atoll), a resort island in the Maldives
- Villingili (India), a village in the Lakshadweep group of islands, India
Villingili is the only resort island of Seenu Atoll, Maldives.
In 1997 the government of the Maldives contracted the American firm Abonmarche to build a large resort and marina there, to attract tourism. Later, the government redacted this contract in 2000 and, finding no other bidders, awarded it to another firm called "Energy Tours" to build a smaller resort. Energy Tours defaulted on this contract.
In 2005 Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom contracted Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, a Hong Kong-based company, to build the first luxury resort in Addu Atoll. The resort is being developed by Addu Investment Private Limited (70%) and the Maldivian Government (30%). The resort has costed an estimated USD 150 million and opened in early 2009. Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa features a range of 132 villas including two Presidential Villas.
The island is also notable for having the highest natural elevation in the Maldives, Mount Villingili. It stands at a modest 5.1 metres and is located at tee number eight on Villingili’s Golf Course – the only golf course in the Maldives. Despite its humble height, it dwarfs over the previously known highest point on Addu Atoll that stands at only 2.4 metres above sea level.