Capital City
Mauritius offers a classic tropical holiday pastimes - relaxing on sun-kissed beaches, sailing to beautiful deserted islands, exploring the wonders of the coral reefs, diving through the crystal clear seas, adventuring into underwater.
Spend a day tracking the mellifluous markets found on Farquhar Street, and experience legions of sights and sounds. Markets are divided sections, which includes fruits and vegetables, meats and fish, souvenirs, crafts, clothing and spices
It’s good to make a trip to Fort Adelaide overlooking Port Louis. It's well worth to climb and get involved to see the views of this world.
And visit the old Le Caudan Waterfront. Its would be a gastronomical experience to eat, Stir-fried Chinese delights, piquant Indian curries and briyanis, seafood and other exotic cuisine are all available. And for most of all see the ships from past all over the world and experience the past and present, so get anchored into Le Caudan waterfront.
La' Bourbonnais Square. Here stands the statue of Mauritius' most glorious and magnificent French governor, Mahé de la Bourdonnais, amid tall palms. From there to a little way up the tree-lined road is Parliament House, with the statue of Queen Victoria at the entrance. In summers, this distinguished lady is surrounded by scarlet flame trees.
If you want a taste of Islamic architecture, visit Port Louis' Jummah Mosque, built in the 1850's, in the middle of Chinatown. Remember to remove your shoes before you enter, and dress appropriately.
The other places are, just 12kms south of Port Louis, is the town of Moka, blessed with forested landscapes, towering mountains and impressive manor houses with a fascinating view of nature. In here, the University of Mauritius and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute are two centers of the island's academic community. Just outside of Moka is Le Reduit (the Refuge), a former governor's mansion built in 1874. Eureka House, which is also near Moka, was opened as a museum in 1986. Built in the 1830s, it is dedicated to music, art, antique maps, Chinese and Indian household items and old-fashioned bric-a-brac, such as a shower from colonial times. And it’s also a worth to visit the nearby stone cottages and gardens.
Take a tour to Mauritius 3rd largest area “Curepipe” with 80 554 citizens. Curepipe is known for its model ship builders, tea industry. Nearby there is reposing crater of Trou aux Cerfs, Offers extraordinary panoramas of the island's landscape. There, you can view a statue of the mythical lovers, Paul and Virginie, from Bernadin de St Pierre's 1788 novel. Also there are the interesting local botanical gardens and the Tamarind Falls, which require transportation and hiking boots. The roads of Curepipe leads to Mahébourg which is located in South-Eastern tip of Mauritius. Where 17,031 inhabitants live there, Mahébourg is closest to the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport. But because of low inhabitants tourists don’t see at all. But there largest attractions are the silk, saris, and the lovely sea view of the three little islands. Mahébourg has the island's largest fishing fleet. This was established in the mansion that now houses the Naval Museum. This room was used to treat the French and British admirals that were injured in the Battle of Grand Port according to legend. And some say that the pirate stories abound, that apparently, there are more ghosts in this town than in Port Louis!
North of Mauritius there is the pristine, this is land is famous for there white beaches, surrounded by turquoise seas, stunning resorts. This area is also full of water sports.
Ile aux cerfs is a island found on the east coast of Mauritius close to the coastal village of Trou D'Eau Douce, Ile aux cerfs is famous for there Crystal clear waters and white sand beaches shaded by casuarinas, lagoon for water sports or sunbathing and palm trees surround. This tiny island is for those seeking peace and solitude or the thrills of Para-sailing, there is a boathouse where one can hire water skis, sailboards, Laser dinghies, canoes and surf cats and other water sports. And the fantastic restaurants and several souvenir stalls can also be seen here.
In south of Grand Baie, is the place where, in 1767, Pierre Poivre created the Pamplemousses Garden also known as the Royal Botanical Gardens. Started as a vegetable garden in 1735, to service the then governor's Mon Plaisir Château but now it’s a world famous unique collection of integrated and exotic plants, this gardens offer a peaceful heaven in which to wander and honor the giant lily pond, beautiful Chateau Mon Plaisir, lumbering giant tortoises and the model of a 19th century sugar mill. Pamplemousses stretches for four hectares, and features plants from all over the world like; wild bananas, camphor trees, clove and nutmeg trees from Manila and huge water lilies, known locally as 'flan tins' as well as a number of palms.
Case Noyal village leads from a twisting road to the colored earth at Chamarel. Chamarel is the one of the oldest sites in the island, also known as the Seven Colored Earth. This is a piece of undulating land lying in contrasting layers of colors, and the patches of blue, green, red, purple and yellow earth are considered to be the result from the weathering of volcanic rocks. The close by Chamarel waterfalls coming from the moors and native vegetation and is amazingly beautiful.
Grand Bassin is enchanting site nestles in the crater of an extinct volcano and is a place of pilgrimage for large number of Mauritian of Hindu faith, particularly on the occasion of Maha Shivratree, which is celebrated in the month of February.
Black River George was proclaimed in 1994. This 6,574 hectare park protects much of the remaining native forests of Mauritius and presents the visitor with a chance to relish the fantastic natural scenery and some of the unique endemic plants and bird life. A boardwalk provides access to the typical dwarf forest of the region and a fenced conservation management area which protects a sample of the remaining health land.
The island of Mauritius was the only home to the previously unknown species of bird, which the Portuguese named the dodo (simpleton), as they appeared not too bright. However, by 1681, all dodos had been killed by settlers or their domesticated animals.
In 1810, the British Empire took over Mauritius. After that, the Englishmen brought workers (coolies) from India to work in the sugarcane fields. In 1847, Mauritius became the fifth country in the world to issue postage stamps. The two types of stamps issued then, known as Red Penny and the Blue Penny. Now probably the most famous stamps in the world, being very rare and therefore also very expensive.
In March the 12th, 1968, Mauritius gained its own Independence from Great Britain and is since then they are a member of the British Commonwealth.
- Rodrigues, a populated island which used to be Mauritius's 10th district is now autonomous
- Agalega (two small islands about 933 kilometers (580 mi) north of Mauritius)
- Cargados Carajos Shoals also known as the Saint Brandon islands (about 402 kilometers (250 mi) north of Mauritius)
PORT LOUIS
At the north-western end of the island, leaning against the backdrop of mountains, is Port Louis the capital city of Mauritius founded by the French governor, Mahe de Labourdonnais in 1735, with a population of just 138,211 inhabitants Port Louis is prodigious with life. Visit the restless markets, the museum displaying the famous Dodo (Mauritius is the only place the dodo bird ever existed), the waterfronts shrinking with restaurants, shops and the busy streets vigorous with exotic foods. As it turns to dusk, there is cries of muezzin summoning the citizens to prayer, and the sounds of people having fun at the Le Caudan Waterfront, where you will find a casino, cinemas, shops and restaurants.