Rasgetheemu (

Dhivehi Dhivehi, also spelled Divehi, may refer to: *Dhivehi people, an ethnic group native to the historic region of the Maldive Islands. *Dhivehi language, an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Republic of Maldives ...

: ރަސްގެތީމު) the first capital island in the

Republic of Maldives The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives,, ) and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is a country and archipelagic state in South Asia in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about from the A ...

located in the north province in the north edge of Maalhosmadhulu Uthuruburi

Raa Atoll Raa Atoll (also known as Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll or Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi) is an administrative division from the Maldives. The capital is Ungoofaaru. It includes Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll proper and the island of Alifushi. 1. Alif ...

History

Maldivian legend says that a Sinhalese prince got stranded with his bride - the daughter of the Sri Lankan King in Rasgetheemu, the original 'King's Island'.

Etymology

The name comes from ''Ras'' + ''ge'' + ''theemu''. The word ''Ras'' means rule or monarchy, ''ge'' literally means house, and ''theemu'' meaning island. The word ''Theemu'' came from Tamil word ''Theevu'' also meaning island. It probably came from the tamil speakers of chola empire which used to rule northern atolls of Maldives. ''Theemu'' appears in the names of other islands, including Agolhitheemu, Utheemu.) Historians believe that ''Rasgetheem'' means "the King’s Town" or "King’s Island".

Geography

The island is north of the country's capital,

Malé Malé (, ; dv, މާލެ) is the capital and most populous city of the Maldives. With a population of 252,768 and an area of , it is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city is geographically located at the southern ...

Demography

References

External links

map of Rasgetheemu

www.rasgetheemu.com
Islands of the Maldives {{Maldives-geo-stub