Dhanbidhoo

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Dhanbidhoo, also known as Dambidū, is an inhabited island in Haddummati Atoll (Laamu Atoll) in the Maldives. It lies about 230 kilometers south of Malé. The island is roughly 2.02 km long and 0.35 km wide. In 2014, about 647 people lived there, including foreigners. The local time is UTC+05:00.

Dhanbidhoo is famous for large ruins from the ancient Buddhist era. It has copper plates called lōmāfānu, which were royal edicts written in the old Maldive alphabet. These inscriptions, dating to the end of the 12th century, show that Haddummati Atoll housed important Buddhist monasteries. One Dambidū lōmāfānu is an edict from the Maldives’ king ordering the conversion from Buddhism to Islam across many islands from Kelā in the north to Addu in the south. The records also mention the destruction of Buddhist monuments, including stupas and Vairocana statues, reflecting a significant cultural shift.