is equipped with three bedrooms, along with spacious living, entertaining and dining areas. Muraka’s upper level features the private living and dining areas which are located above water, while the master bedroom sits underwater. Guests can take the spiral staircase or elevator to reach the bedroom. A 180-degree curved acrylic dome makes for the walls of the bedroom, which overlooks the ocean, while the bathroom has floor-to-ceiling windows with a dedicated tunnel viewing Aside from The Muraka, the hotel also has its own underwater restaurant called Ithaa, which is also the world’s first undersea restaurant located five meters below the surface of the ocean. Popularity Speaking about the popularity of underwater facilities, Sajesh Kana shares that, “…these are what create the ‘WOW’ factor for discerning travellers today. The white sandy beaches, blue crystal waters, and aquatic life is what defines the Maldives, and the underwater hotel facilities further elevates the luxury experience in the Maldives.” At present there are a total of nine hotels with rooms that are entirely submerged under water. This probably answers the question about the popularity of underwater hotels and resorts. While they are fairly new, they are slowly but swiftly gaining popularity. At first it was only the Maldives, but now a number of hotels across destinations like Dubai, China, Australia and Singapore have begun diving into the deep water for exotic travel experiences. While the stunning views are one of the main reasons for the popularity of underwater hotels, there’s also the dialogue of a sustainable ecosystem. While one can always explore the ocean and sea through activities like diving or snorkelling, these pose a number of dangers including destroying the structure of corals causing them to go extinct. Building an underwater facility, therefore, is a better, safer and more sustainable way to live and explore the deep waters. “Underwater facilities are very popularamongtouristsbecause you get to enjoy the beauty of marine life, an experience that the guests are looking for, without causing any intrusion into the ecosystem,” Rachelle Hill, Director of Marketing & Communications at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island added. While ensuring the safety of the corals, Hill also talks about the resort’s efforts to protect marine life. “The Muraka thrives within its environment with corals continuing to grow around the structure surrounding the underwater bedroom. The marine life too has been sustaining itself with the coral nursery built around The Muraka with the help of our resident marine biologist.” Architectural challenges The underwater hotels and restaurants are a beautiful sight to behold. However, it’s hard to ignore the architectural struggles of successfully designing and building these underwater wonders. The process of designing and building these projects is subsequently tougher than building a structure on land. While the InterContinental China InterContinental China InterContinental China InterContinental China 16|L U X E B O O K|J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 |L U X E B O O K| 17
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