Then we think of the white sand beaches, crystal clear water and ultra-luxe waterfront villas few of us can afford.

This is true of much of the Maldives, a chain of 26 picture-perfect atolls that fan out across the Indian Ocean, creating an oasis for the rich and famous and a romantic haven for honeymooners.

But also in the Maldives, escalating violence and a political tit-for-tat between the president and the top court is plunging the entire nation into chaos.

A two-week state of emergency has been declared in the island nation by iron-fisted President Abdulla Yameen, following his intense showdown with the Supreme Court.

As police forces turn on protesters in the capital Malé, and amid calls for the president to be impeached, the Australian government has updated its travel warning to the Maldives, especially Malé Island, urging travellers to take caution.

The governments of China, India, the UK and the US have also told its citizens to stay away.

Trouble has been brewing for years for the president, who was democratically elected in 2013 but has seen support plummet. He has jailed almost all the political opposition he has faced in office, AFP reports.

Meanwhile, the Maldives has had its holiday-friendly image marred by the rise of Islamist radicalism, massive anti-government protests, and rising violence and crime.

But the latest wave of drama began last week, when the Supreme Court ordered the release of nine political prisoners and the reinstatement of 12 elected members of parliament who were sacked for defecting from Mr Yameen’s party.

It was a move that would hand the opposition party the majority, along with the potential to impeach the president.

It would also pave the way for Mr Yameen’s political rival, the former president Mohamed Nasheed — who was controversially convicted of terrorism two years ago — to run for president in 2018.

The President rejected the court’s order.

On Sunday, the court fired back. The Attorney-General told law enforcement to uphold the constitution and warned the Supreme Court may “issue a ruling to impeach the president”, according to a Foreign Ministry press release.

Mr Yameen’s response came on Monday. In a shock move, heavily-armed troops and special police stormed the Supreme Court building in Malé.

According to a tweet from former Attorney-General Husnu Al Suood, security forces “blockaded and locked the Supreme Court building from outside and hence the justices are without any food”.

On Monday night, the country’s chief justice and another supreme court justice were arrested.

Security forces also arrested the president’s estranged half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom — another former Maldives president — at his home in Malé during a midnight raid.

Mr Gayoom ruled the country for three decades before the country’s first democratic election in 2008.

“I have not done anything to be arrested,” Mr Gayoom said in a video message on Twitter. He has since been charged with bribery and attempting to overthrow the government.

Meanwhile large protests have intensified in Malé, with hundreds of opposition supporters calling on the president to obey the court’s order. Police have used pepper stray to disperse crowds and soldiers in riot gear have stopped politicians from meeting in the parliament building, AP reports.

Amid all this, Mr Yameen has declared a 15-day state of emergency, which gives the government sweeping powers to arrest and detain people, limits the powers of the courts and stops the president from being kicked out of office.

Parliament was shut down and the state of emergency was declared on national television.

“The reason for the declaration is that the Supreme Court’s ruling was obstructing the functioning of the government,” presidential aide Azima Shukoor said during the broadcast.

Opponents called it a “desperate” move. Human rights groups were critical.

“Once again, dissent and critical voices are coming under attack in the Maldives,” said Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty International’s South Asia deputy director.

“Instead of respecting and implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling, the government is riding roughshod over any notion of justice and arbitrarily detaining members of the opposition.”

The latest developments have also drawn the ire of the US government, which said it was “troubled and disappointed” by Mr Yameen’s actions.

“Despite being elected in 2013 with the support of a broad coalition, President Yameen has systematically alienated his coalition, jailed or exiled every major opposition political figure, deprived elected members of parliament of their right to represent their voters in the legislature, revised laws to erode human rights ... and weakened the institutions of government,” the State Department said in a statement.

But the defiant Maldives government said the court was not above the law.

“The Supreme Court ruling stands in defiance of the highest authority in the country — the constitution,” a government spokesman said.

“The Supreme Court must remember that it too is bound by law.”

The spokesman said the government would “facilitate calm” and ensure the safety of all citizens and tourists “throughout this unusual period”, AFP reports.

About 7000 Australians travel to the Maldives every year.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said most of the country was safe but travellers should exercise caution on Malé Island, home to the country’s biggest international airport.

“Avoid protests and large public gatherings as they have the potential to turn violent,” DFAT said.

It also warned about the possibility of civil unrest and the possibility of terrorist attacks, including at tourist locations.

Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in the Maldives, but the Australian High Commission in Sri Lanka provides consular assistance.