Asmita Mukherjee 
Dhawa a brand by Banyan Tree Group enters Maldives with an idyllic island retreat set on the North Malé Atoll. The all-villa Dhawa Ihuru invites sun-seekers and marine life enthusiasts to explore its new dining and leisure offerings as the property unveils new facilities following a rebrand from Angsana Ihuru. Located only a 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport, Dhawa Ihuru is set amid azure waters with signature vibrant interiors and a collection of relaxed dining venues designed to promote natural immersion and connectivity through local flavours in stunning settings.
The new Twin Island dine-around concept offers travellers a chance to explore premium dining at the sister resort Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, while the new social hub, the Nest, Dhawa’s signature 24/7 concept, allows guests to connect with other holidaymakers over delicious refreshments any time of day or night. Barception offers a chic yet relaxed dining experience centred on local bites and cocktails, while Nook serves elevated fare all-day with breath-taking beachfront views, and Nectar allows guests to dine on authentic Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Maldivian and Western flavours in any location on the island, from villa to the beach with a unique bento box-style dining.
Sea lovers will be in heaven at the water sports centre. Windsurfing, wakeboarding, water skiing and canoeing are complemented by private sailing excursions with Kahan’bu Catamaran that takes guests over the house reef to snorkel among some of the most beautiful reefs in the Maldives as well as dining on uninhabited islands. With 30 diving spots at the house reef and a PADI 5-star Gold Dive Centre on site, guests will never run out of new dives to discover and new diving skills to learn.
For travellers who want to enjoy a bit of downtime at the end of a long day in the sun, 8LEMENTS Spa offers authentic and impactful therapies and practices, including indulgent massages and cooling and restoring body wraps. Over at Activa, the resort’s fully equipped 24-hour fitness centre and a yoga room with stunning views of the Indian Ocean, wellness-minded guests will find everything they may need to stay in shape during a holiday in paradise. The resort also offers a multi-purpose room for meetings and team-building activities that immerses delegates in a local experience and connects them with the outside during indoor sessions.
