Nestled up alongside eastern Africa,
Mauritius was discovered by the Portuguese in 1505. This small island nation
of the Indian Ocean is the most sought after tourist destination. The way
Mauritius unwind itself is mind blowing, where ever you go, you will
accompanied by the palm trees, trade winds, white sands and blue seas these
are what this island consist of. It is the most accessible island in the
region, boasting as much tropical paradise as Maui or Martinique. Off late,
the bargains offered by Mauritius have made this tropical paradise the
perfect destination for budget tourists also.
Its British and French ties influence
Mauritius. Mauritius' range of tourist facilities runs the gamut from
breathtakingly beautiful beach resorts and organized excursions. Mauritius
is the picture perfect destination for a lazy beach vacation amidst luxury.
Geography of Mauritius
Mauritius, independent state, is situated at 890 KM east of Madagascar,
between 19°50' and 20°32' of south latitude and 57°18' and 57°46'
of East Longtitude. Reunion, french island, is 200 km south west and
Rodridues, a dependence of Mauritius is 600 km to the East North East.
Regarding the topography of Mauritius, it has an area of 1860 Km2 and is
made up of a central plateau gradually rising towards the south west where
it reaches its highest point at 800 metres with the Piton de la Rivière
Noire. This plateau is still surrounded with what is remaining from the
primary crater in the form of a chain of mountains that are not very high
(Moka, Corps de Garde, Pieter Both) and some isolated peaks (Piton du
Milieu, Motte à Thérèse).
Climate of Mauritius
In Mauritius, the climate is fairly acceptable to everyone and the heat is
never unbearable. You have pleasant weather all through out the year. The
temperature varies between Summer (November to April) from 32 degrees on the
coastal areas to 24 degrees on the Central Plateau. In Winter the
temperature may vary from 22 degrees in coastal areas to 18 degrees on the
Central Plateau. one can travel here in any season but make sure you carry
clothes according to the season, so you can enjoy the Mauritius to the
fullest.
Culture of Mauritius
Mauritius presents a vibrant and colorful culture. More than half of the
population in Mauritius is Hindu and approximately one fifth is Muslim. Both
religions are descendent of indentured laborers that were brought during
British Colony to work in cane fields. The remaining population comprises
mainly Chinese and Sino - Mauritians, Creole (descendants of African slaves)
and Franco Mauritian who are the original settlers of the island. The latter
today still occupy many of the sugar estates and control almost all sugar
plantations. The people of Mauritius celebrate festival every religion with
same fervor and enthusiasm. The Sega is a dance, which originated from the
ritual music of Madagascar and the mainland of Africa. Sega is one of the
cultural pleasures to be enjoyed in Mauritius.
Cuisine of Mauritius
Apart from its exotic beaches it offers many mouth-watering cuisine to its
visitors. The most common varieties are Creole, Chinese, European and
Indian. A typical Mauritian cuisine includes rougaille (A Mediterranean dish
of tomatoes), Sounouk (Salted dry fish), Octopus stew, Daube de poisson and
Biryani (Mauritian version). Other favorite Mauritian beverages include
Alooda (a syrupy brew of agar, milk and flavourings such as vanilla or
Almond. You can also try our traditional snacks : Dholl puri (our national
food), Gateaux piment, Samoussa and Baja. Locally produced beer and rum are
potent, plentiful and cheap; wines are expensive and usually imported from
France or South Africa.
Martello Towers
The
Martello Towers are the mute reminders of colonial superpower rivalry and
symbols of human ingenuity and resilience. The Martello Towers witness a
major turning point in Mauritian history, namely the end of slavery and the
beginning of Indian immigration. The five Martello Towers are among the last
but the finest of the 220Martellos Towers built around the world and based
on the single prototype located in Northern Corsica.
Souillac (Gris-Gris), Mauritius
Souillac is a small seaside resort along the rugged coast in the Savanne
district. The appeal of Souillac lies in its scenery. In striking contrast
to the soft curves of the northern coastline, the high cliffs here drop
abruptly to the sea to face the bracing winds of the Indian Ocean as it
blows all year round. A charming feature is the garden overlooking the sea,
named after Dr. Charles Telfair.
Port Louis, Mauritius
Port Louis is the capital and main port of Mauritius, it was founded by the
French governor, Mahe de Labourdonnais in 1735. The harbor lies sheltered in
a semi-circle of mountains. The town has plenty of character, and shows in
certain quarters signs of its past elegance. This city still has its ancient
touch. Most of the construction came up in the 16th, 17th and 18th century.
Its Citadel, is on of the previous works produced by the military
architecture in France, as well as its rampart. The sea is very near to the
city, the coast is full with coves, all protected from the wind.
Off the main square, palm-lined Place d'Armes, there are some particularly
fine French colonial buildings, especially the Government house and the
Municipal Theatre, which were built during the 18th century. The are also
two eye catching Cathedrals, Anglican and Catholic and also a mosque. The
Supreme Court and natural history museum are also based in Port Louis.
To see a fascinating cross section of Mauritian life visit the covered
market where one can explore the exotic fruits and vegetables including the
meat market. Champ de Mars, originally laid out by French for military
parades is now a racecourse.
Moreover there is the Worldwide Masks museum which is a private Museum at
the heart of the unique and historic site of the ' Parcours Culturel '
situated at the Old Council Road, Port Louis. It displays a wonderful
collection of various tribal masks from Africa, America, Asia and Oceania.
Chamarel- Seven colored earth
We all have read in our school days that there generally three types of
soil but a visit to Chamarel will add some more type of soils. Here you can
find soil of seven colors. A twisting road leads from Case Noyal village to
the colored earth at Chamarel. It is one of the oldest sites on the island
and is also known as the Seven Coloured Earth. This is a mound of undulating
land stretching in contrasting layers of Colour, and the patches of blue,
green, red, purple and yellow earth are believed to be the result from the
weathering of volcanic rocks. The nearby Chamarel waterfalls emerges from
the moors and primeval vegetation and is startlingly beautiful.
Pamplemounsses Garden, Mauritius
Pamplemounsses Garden is consider the jewel in the crown and is known to
naturalists throughout the world for its collection of indigenous and exotic
plants, including the giant Victoria Amazonica water lilies, many species of
palm trees especially the unique talipot palm, said to flower once every
sixty years and then die. The garden was created by Pierre Poivre in 1767 in
the Estate of the French Governor Mahe de Labourdonnais. His Chateau known
as 'Mon Plaisir' which was built in 1735 can still be admired here.
Folk Museum of Indian Immigration, Mauritius
Folk Museum of Indian Immigration is located in the town of Moka which is
blessed with sylvan landscapes, towering mountains and a number of
impressive manor houses. Institute's Folk Museum of Indian Immigration
houses around 2000 volumes of Indian archives dating from 1842 to 1910 as
well as a small collection of artifacts, such as jewelry worn by early
Indian immigrants, traditional musical instruments, books and assorted
household knick-knacks.
Eureka House, Mauritius
Eureka House was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1986. It
was built in the 1830s and has a mesmerizing views across the valley. The
museum inside has areas dedicated to music, art, antique maps, Chinese and
Indian house wares and quirky contraptions like a colonial-era shower.
Grand Basin, Mauritius
Within a short Distance of Mare Vacoas is one of the island's two lakes
called Grand Basin. It rests in the crater of an extinct volcano and is a
place of pilgrimage for large number of Mauritius of Hindu faith, especially
on the occasion of Maha Shivratree which is celebrated in the month of
February.
Black River Gorge National Park, Mauritius
This 6,574 hectare park was established in 1994 which protects much of the
remaining native forests of Mauritius and provides opportunities for the
visitor to enjoy spectacular 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 protects a
sample of the remaining health land. There is also a number of longer
walking trails, including one to the island's highest point, Black River
Peak (828 m)
