Kani is quite a unique resort. While you approach the resort on board the transfer boat which ferries you from the airport you will notice the dense vegetation. Buildings virtually cannot be seen. Then you walk along the wooden jetty towards Kani’s palm-fringed shore and finally find yourself captivated by a new experience. Entering the centre of the island you will be welcomed in the shade of a majestic old banyan tree and your holiday really begins.
The feeling of being at home with nature and in touch with tradition begin as you walk across the sands to the Reception right under this venerable tree, around which all the main buildings are grouped and whose broad branches span the entire area. Banyan trees are worshipped in some Asian countries and can sport a crown bigger than a soccer-field. Even in Kani this grand tree with an entanglement of roots as a trunk, forms the spiritual heart of the resort. The tree is estimated to be more than 100 years old and quite a few smaller versions are found all around the island. Kani started 20 years ago when a group of young Maldivians were enchanted by this island rich with coconut palms and dense tropical foliage untouched by man. They resolved to keep the essence of an unspoiled environment, even as they gradually added the comfort and sophistication demanded by today’s discerning travellers. What started with nine basic bungalows with rudimentary facilities and a small dining room is now a hotel with 150 rooms, each with its own bathroom, air-condition and solar-heated hot water as well as numerous restaurants and bars. Even when there are 300 guests on the island, the beaches and paths in the interior will seem deserted. To give the resort the ambience of a Maldivian village, each of the public buildings is housed in a separate pavilion, loosely grouped around the banyan tree just like in a village square and with their sides open to the breeze. Carved wooden posts supporting high, rattan-lined roofs, are linked by latticed screens placed above eye level to preserve an ever-open view of the beautiful surroundings. This concept of transparency has been persistently implemented with each new building, and now there are only few places on the island where you cannot see from one shoreline through to the other.
Kani is oblong in shape and stretches in a north-south direction along an outside reef. Although the island measures only 750 metres in length, that is 820 yards(less than half a mile) and 178 metres in width, it is easy to lose yourself amidst its lush greenery. There are guests who have come here repeatedly and have never even managed to walk round the island once!
A wide beach of coral sand embraces the island and, with bushes and plants growing down to the shore in some places, it is possible to find a secluded spot to relax and sunbathe in privacy. There is even a small plant nursery in the interior with hundreds of tropical plants grown to enhance the beauty of the resort.
Kani’s attractions on land are equalled by its surrounding underwater world. For divers, whether beginners or enthusiastic experts, the waters around the island hold a rich diversity of marine life. The energetic can enjoy a variety of organised water or land sports, including football on the grassiest pitch in the Maldives. And for those who simply wish to spend leisurely hours on the beach Kani offers the peace and quiet they will expect from a tropical paradise.
As well as being famed for its friendliness, Kani attracts singles, couples, honeymooners and families alike. With the wide range of sports and evening entertainment there is the right choice for everyone. Kani is definitely the resort for those who want to enjoy finer things in life! It is an experience you will never forget!
The moment, the memory and the dream.
The feeling of being at home with nature and in touch with tradition begin as you walk across the sands to the Reception right under this venerable tree, around which all the main buildings are grouped and whose broad branches span the entire area. Banyan trees are worshipped in some Asian countries and can sport a crown bigger than a soccer-field. Even in Kani this grand tree with an entanglement of roots as a trunk, forms the spiritual heart of the resort. The tree is estimated to be more than 100 years old and quite a few smaller versions are found all around the island. Kani started 20 years ago when a group of young Maldivians were enchanted by this island rich with coconut palms and dense tropical foliage untouched by man. They resolved to keep the essence of an unspoiled environment, even as they gradually added the comfort and sophistication demanded by today’s discerning travellers. What started with nine basic bungalows with rudimentary facilities and a small dining room is now a hotel with 150 rooms, each with its own bathroom, air-condition and solar-heated hot water as well as numerous restaurants and bars. Even when there are 300 guests on the island, the beaches and paths in the interior will seem deserted. To give the resort the ambience of a Maldivian village, each of the public buildings is housed in a separate pavilion, loosely grouped around the banyan tree just like in a village square and with their sides open to the breeze. Carved wooden posts supporting high, rattan-lined roofs, are linked by latticed screens placed above eye level to preserve an ever-open view of the beautiful surroundings. This concept of transparency has been persistently implemented with each new building, and now there are only few places on the island where you cannot see from one shoreline through to the other.
Kani is oblong in shape and stretches in a north-south direction along an outside reef. Although the island measures only 750 metres in length, that is 820 yards(less than half a mile) and 178 metres in width, it is easy to lose yourself amidst its lush greenery. There are guests who have come here repeatedly and have never even managed to walk round the island once!
A wide beach of coral sand embraces the island and, with bushes and plants growing down to the shore in some places, it is possible to find a secluded spot to relax and sunbathe in privacy. There is even a small plant nursery in the interior with hundreds of tropical plants grown to enhance the beauty of the resort.
Kani’s attractions on land are equalled by its surrounding underwater world. For divers, whether beginners or enthusiastic experts, the waters around the island hold a rich diversity of marine life. The energetic can enjoy a variety of organised water or land sports, including football on the grassiest pitch in the Maldives. And for those who simply wish to spend leisurely hours on the beach Kani offers the peace and quiet they will expect from a tropical paradise.
As well as being famed for its friendliness, Kani attracts singles, couples, honeymooners and families alike. With the wide range of sports and evening entertainment there is the right choice for everyone. Kani is definitely the resort for those who want to enjoy finer things in life! It is an experience you will never forget!
The moment, the memory and the dream.
No comments:
Post a Comment