# Kulhudhuffushi

Kulhudhuffushi (Dhivehi: ކުޅުދުއްފުށި) is the capital of Haa Dhaalu Atoll administrative division on Thiladhunmathi Atoll in the north of the Maldives. Kulhudhuffushi City is known as the "Heart of the North.". This city is famous for its mangroves (Mashi Kulhi), after which the island itself is named.

## History

In the years 1812, 1819, and 1921, the island was affected by heavy rains and storms, causing substantial damage. The island was also affected during the Keylakunu storm which lost half the population of the island. Since then the island has been famous for unity and hard workers around the Maldives. The ancient people of the island of Kulhudhuffushi were famous for their courage and bravery during the wars fought against the enemies of the nation. Apart from that, the people of Kulhudhuffushi City led the whole Atoll Thiladhunmathi in a rebellion act held against the Malé government during the 1940s because of the unjust governance for the people of the north at the time.

## Geography

The island is 274.96 km (171 mi; 148 nmi) north of the country's capital, Malé.
300 Hector Kulhudhuffushi is one of the largest and most populous islands in the northern part of the Maldives. The island itself is the administrative capital of the South Thiladhunmathi Atoll

## Transport

The new Kulhudhuffushi Airport (IATA: HDK, ICAO: VRBK) has been opened in August 2019 and now serves the island.

## Economy

Kulhudhuffushi City is the economic capital of the northern Maldives. Residents of the city and surrounding settlements are mostly employed in the service or produce sectors, such as the local Saturday Market. The Saturday market is a market that is held every Saturday at "Bandaara Road" in Kulhudhuffushi, where local farmer's products and domestic food are available. Hundreds of islanders of Thiladhunmathi visit for shopping and business to Kulhudhuffushi City mostly on Saturdays.
People from the island are known and famous for shark fishing, blacksmithing, producing coir rope, building boats, and working in cargo vessels. The culture of the island has its uniqueness until now.

## Education

H.Dh Kulhudhuffushi includes 5 schools.
| No. | Island | Name | Grades | Founded |
| 1 | Kulhudhuffushi | Ameer Ameen School | Pre-School | c. 1944 |
| 2 | Kulhudhuffushi | H.Dh Atoll Education Centre / AEC | Primary School, Grades 1-10, and also Kindergarten (between age 4-6) | March 1, 1979 |
| 3 | Kulhudhuffushi | Afeefuddin School | Primary School, Grades 1 - 10 | April 25, 2004 |
| 4 | Kulhudhuffushi | Jalaluddin School | Secondary School, Grades 1 - 12 | February 15, 1998 |
| 5 | Kulhudhuffushi | Maldivian National University Campus | Certificate level to PhD | 2003 |
| 6 | Kulhudhuffushi | Villa College Campus | Certificate level to Masters | 2007 |
| 7 | Kulhudhuffushi | MI College Campus | Certificate level to Bachelor Degree | 2012 |

## Health

Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital is an A-category hospital that serves the residents of the island and the islands of the region.

## Sport

Azneem Ahmed qualified for the 100-meter sprint in the 2012 London Olympics. Kulhudhuffushi is regarded as the basketball champion of the Maldives. Adam Ismail was a footballer during the late 1950s at the time when the Maldives got independence and started playing international football and also a martial artist. Football is the most widely played sport, and the island holds the highest number of quality football grounds around the nation, except Male'. The national 2015 President's Cup Group A matches were held in Kulhudhuffushi.

## Notable residents

* Azneem Ahmed - An Olympic sprinter who holds three national records.
* Corporal Hussain Adam - A Maldivian soldier who died while defending the Maldives National Defense Force headquarters during the 1988 Maldives coup d'état on 3 November 1988
* [[Adam Ismail—A sportsperson and huge role model for the youth. He played as a captain of the Maldivian national team in the first international match played by Maldives against Queen Elizabeth during Ibrahim Nasir's era. He was also a gymnastics teacher and a football coach during his time.

### Bus Service

Bus MTCC bus service has started in Kulhudhuffushi City