Hithadhoo Koattey in time

Koattey literally means a fortress. Unfortunately, there is no trace of a fortress here... I must admit, I was disappointed to be shown an iron rod like thing in the center of a clearing as "koattey" by the youngsters who accompanied us to the site (more disappointed because of the obvious deficiencies in their knowledge on one of the most important historic sites on their beautiful atoll!)...   

Long long ago, during the reign of Kalhu Mohamed Rasgefaanu and Bureki Ranin, Gaafaru Kalhu Unbusheymu (Ibrahim) had built the fortress. Some believe that #PareenHanaFengandu was a man made bath within its grounds. 

Gaafaru Kalhu Unbusheymu had traveled to GDh. Atoll on a royal decree, to investigate rumors of a ship that was sailing through the islands of GDh Atoll, terrorizing the islanders... Tales of people being forced to drink alcohol and looting had the king and queen very concerned. 

view from koattey kolhu

Kaanzee kamana (Princess of Goa) and her husband had stopped over in #Maldives on a journey around the world.. After a long battle, in which sailors from Goa had been killed, Kaanzee kamana was widowed. Unbusheymu had been looking through the ship when he heard a door slam. He found Kaanzee Kamana hiding behind the door and she was taken hostage. 

Unbusheymu had asked her for her hand in marriage. Kaanzee Kama had been pregnant at the time of her husbands demise. She was taken to S. Hithadhoo where Gaafaru Kalhu Unbusheymu built a fortress, where Kaanzee Kamana gave birth to Andhiri Andhirin. 

Andhiri Andhiri had escaped to Goa, and returned to Maldives with assistance of Viyazor and Portuguese, thus began the brutal reign of Portuguese in #Maldives 

The fortress was later used by the British during the Second World War