Capital: Bamako
Official Language: French
Population: 17 million (2015)
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +223
Mali is one of the countries in the world with fascinating and intriguing cultural landscapes. One cannot talk extensively about Mali without mentioning the cultural civilization of Timbuktu and Mansa Musa- arguably the richest man in history.
Timbuktu, a historical and still-inhabited site is an internationally recognised centre of knowledge: its libraries contain seminal notes on astronomy, mathematics and philosophy dating back to the 16th century. The town also became known for its influence in gold, salt, ivory and slave trade around that period.
Close by is another historical town- Djenné. Known the world over for its adobe architecture, in particular the Great Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest mud-brick building in the world. The capital city- Bamako, offers a more urban setting with its distinct nightlife and the rest.