Plan Your Travel To Mauritius
Places To Visit In Mauritius
Institut Cardinal Jean Margeot
Standing in the centre of Rose Hill in this island of serenity, the Maison Le Carne is an attractive Creole manse that houses the Mauritian Research Council; and now it is also a centre for the Mauritian Academic of Science and Technology. The white and blue painted House of Carne came into a new existence after its transformation into the Cardinal Jean Margeot Institute. However, before hosting the Mauritian Research Council for two weeks and later, the courses of the institute, the Maison Le Carne used to be a huge family home.
The Countess, Marie Camille, had inherited the house from her mother, who succeeded it from her mother, Pierre Marie Allendy. The exact construction date of Maison le Carne is not mentioned anywhere; researches tend to believe that it is more than 100 years old because the house already existed in 1912 when the grandmother of Countess Marie Camille died.
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Marche de Flacq
Named after the largest district of Mauritius and also a famous village, Marche de Flacq or the Flacq Market is reputed as the largest outdoor market in the paradise island nation. It's a haven of shopping malls and street markets. The market is open every day, but the best recommended time to visit the Flacq market is during Wednesdays and Sundays when all the stalls are open and the place is swarming with people.
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Starting from textile products to local vegetables and fruits, Flacq market is a one-stop shopping destination at Mauritius. Selling various range of local suppliers, seafood, vanilla and herbal tea, the market is a great place to buy food as well as souvenirs for yourself to take back home. The line of street food vendors sells fried eatable like samosa, bhajiyas etc.
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Martello Tower Museum
Being an island entrenched in colonial history, it’s a well-known fact that remnants of the imperial reign are scattered all over the island. Despite not being as big a tourist draw as its beaches and lagoons that the island is most famous for, Mauritius’ colonial relics are an important part of the island’s tourism industry as well. History buffs and history aficionados, as well as travellers who have the habit of wanting to know more about the history and culture of the place they’re travelling to, are in for a treat when they visit Mauritius. With a plethora of colonial-era buildings that still exude a distinctive old-world charm, Mauritius is one of the most diverse tourist destinations you could ever ask for.
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Matthew Flinders Monument
The paradise island with its rich history, Mauritius, does not fail to shower you with historical places to visit and take you back in time. One such significant marvel of the island is the Matthew Flinders Monument. It stands on the shore of Baie du Cap, 500 metres towards the west.
The Matthew Flinders Monument was unveiled on 6th November 2003 at Baie du Cap by Philippe de la Hausse de la Louviere, President of the Societe de L'Histoire of Mauritius. The bronze monument displays the structure of Matthew Flinders in a simple, stonewalled room marking his detention period and is surrounded by a chest, his flute, his loved cat Trim and a compass. The design of the monument is the work of Madame Szuszanna Szemok. Air Mauritius helped the construction in transporting bronze.
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The Matthew Flinders Monument was inaugurated in the year 2003 to honour the 200th anniversary of this English cartographer and navigator’s arrival to the island. His arrival was quite a dramatic one as the poor man had no idea about the war going on between England and France and immediately imprisoned for a period of 6 years!
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Mauritius Aquarium
Located in the heart of Pointe aux Piments towards the north-western part of the island, the Mauritius Aquarium takes you on a journey to discover the marine species. In the recent times, the Aquarium was redesigned to set up the new closed system of ecological operation which brings you as close as possible to the surrounding ocean and its depth and transports you into a whole other world.
There are a total of 5 large rooms in the 700 square meter building in which you can find more than 200 different kinds of aquatic species. Genetic maps are installed throughout the building to help the children and adults learn about the history of these marine species and their role in the biodiversity.
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Mauritius Glass Gallery
Located in Phoenix, the Mauritius Glass Gallery is widely famous for producing remarkable souvenirs made by recycling glass. Varieties of pieces are made in the workshop by using traditional methods, and they are put up for display in the small museum. This is home to some of the finest exemplifications of glass art where skilled artisans display their expertise through these handmade artefacts. Starting from watching the traditional process of glass blowing to having a glass-model of your hand or foot imprint is something you can cherish in the Mauritius Glass Gallery.
Mauritius Glass GallerySource
Brief History
Founded in 1991, the Mauritius Glass Gallery is a subsidiary of the Phoenix Beverages Limited, which is famous for its beer - a favourite beverage all over Mauritius. Everything is recycled and handmade in the premises of the Grass Gallery. The Glass Museum was inaugurated in 2001, and it has been visited by many celebrities from all over the world since then. You can see the footprint and handprint of some of the renowned personalities in the museum. The decorations inside the museum are dominated by glass, and the dim-lit ambience makes it more appealing.The Mauritius Glass Gallery has 30 employees; seven of them being appointed for glass blowing. One of the glass blowers has been a part of the Glass Gallery since the time it opened, in 1991!
Employees at the Glass GallerySource
The motivation and idea behind creating this company were directed towards the preservation of the local environment. The former Mauritius Breweries Ltd and Phoenix Camp Minerals share credit in initiating this cause, and the primary motive was to recycle the glass waste coming out of both these companies.
Inside the Museum
The 'Hands of Fame' is the first thing you get to explore right after you enter the Mauritius Glass Gallery. The ambience of the room matches it vintage stature - dim-lit and quiet; you may have to squint your eyes a little to read the names correctly.
The hand imprints are organised into different categories such as TV personalities, sportsperson, writers and so on. Besides, another category is relatively new and is dedicated to the well-known Mauritian people.
It is a good initiative and helps the tourist to know some of the local personalities. The motive for launching this project was to help the underprivileged through the funds being raised.
Handprint Sculpted in GlassSource
Things you can Do and See
You can get your handprint or footprint sculpted in a glass the way you like it.
Get a hand-frame made for your family and children with the dates engraved on them.
For couples, you could get both of your handprints in a heart-shaped glass.
The process of creating these imprints is fascinating. The hand and footprints are made on a sand base, which is used as a mould where the hot melted glass is poured. The 'misshapen' wine glass is the gallery's pride. So is the 'Famous Offset Glass' which has an unusual stem and is quite a unique coincidental product.After exiting the corridor, you will enter the next room that has a very distinctive characteristic - high temperature. This is the heart of the glass-making workshop where you can see the artisans blowing and handling glass. Watching the transformation from the red molten blob to a hard transparent glass in the split of a second is a fantastic experience.
Glass Making WorkshopSource
The Process of Glass Making
The process begins by taking out the hot melted glass from the oven.
Then it is transferred to the end of a long pipe, and the glass is blown into a mould so that all the glasses have a uniform shape.
Once that is completed, it is transferred over to two artisans who work on the foot of the glass.
After that, it is put into an oven specially designed to cool it down overnight.
It is a slow process as a faster cooldown break the glass.
After being cooled, the top is heated once more so that it can be cleanly cut to obtain the glass.
Artisans in Mauritius Glass GallerySource
The skilled artisans have become used to working while being watched by visitors. They are very attentive in arranging their seating position in such a way that people can see what they are doing.
There is a small display section beside the working area, which contains all the necessary information related to the history of glass and the various organisations that are connected to the Mauritius Glass Gallery.
The design is old school, and there is a lot of scopes to improve the presentation of the information in a better, entertaining way. That brings you to the end of the museum tour.
Display in Glass GallerySource
The Glass Gallery Store
Do not forget to visit the shop, even if it is for a few minutes as it is worth the time. Check out the vast range of products that are on sale. PriceThey also take orders depending on your needs, for example, if you want a slightly different model or need to order products in large quantities. The price range starts from INR 100 for small figures and goes all the way up to INR 8000 for the bigger ones. This shop is by far one of the best places in Mauritius to buy handmade souvenirs.Products in the Gallery StoreThe most popular product in the shop is the Phoenix glass, which is made from a Phoenix bottle. Other products include handy house objects, decorative glass figurines, large vases, lamps, displays, wine glasses, ashtrays, lampshades, candleholders, etc. You can also find the Dodo, Pink Pigeon, Echo Parakeet and Mauritian Kestrel being eternally engraved into the glass. There are also some products from various organisations as well.
History of the Glass Gallery on DisplaySource
The entire tour of the Mauritius Glass Gallery does not take long. It can be fruitful, especially for the children, as they learn a lot about the glass making process and also about recycling and environmental conservation.
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Mauritius Postal Museum
The origin of postal services in Mauritius date back to the early 17th century in the form of a series of letters exchanged between the island and other parts of the world. It started happening right after people set foot in Mauritius for the first time, namely the Dutch. Quite evidently, the post office in Mauritius holds an essential position in defining the country’s history; so is the Mauritius Postal Museum that stands within an old building adjacent to the post office of Mauritius that is located near the Port Louis Waterfront.
Mauritius Postal MuseumSource
The Mauritius Post opened the Mauritius Postal Museum in 1995 that exhibits various stamps and miscellaneous articles from all over the world. The latest addition to the display in the museum includes the history of Mauritius Post, and it is portrayed through photographs and other visual displays. The Mauritius Postal Museum was declared as a specialised museum in 2000.
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Mon Vert Natural Walk
Mauritius has a lot to offer beyond its luxury hotels, pristine waters, and white sand beaches. The country is also home to exotic flora and fauna species. Located in Forest Side, Curepipe Mon Vert Nature Park is where you will come across brilliantly made botanical gardens and indigenous forest. This is where you will meet nature in its best, purest form. Mon Vert park or nature walk is situated only 3 kilometres from the urban city, making getting away from city life more accessible than ever.
The area of Mon Vert was previously a dense indigenous forest - with Manglier vert, Bois Manioc, and Bois de Natte, and more such tree species being the most commonly sighted ones. In the early 1900s, the entire region was replanted with invasive trees after the area was taken for logging. This was done for the primary purpose of conservation because of high biodiversity of endangered species on the island. The nature walk was set up in 2001.
Mon Vert Nature WalkSource
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Mont Choisy Beach
Located on the north-western coast of Mauritius, the Mont Choisy beach is a haven for anyone who wants to experience a quiet beach time. Despite being right next to one of the most commercialized cities of Mauritius - Grand Baie - the Mont Choisy beach is almost a remote beach, lined by rows of trees along the coastline.
Untouched by the tourist crowd, Mont Choisy is a tropical beach with abundant marine life. However, the only catch here is that due to the absence of hotels and resorts around, there is hardly any scope for water sports or beach sports activities. During the peak tourist season, you might find a few snack stands and mobile food vendors frequenting the beach, but during other times of the year, Mont Choisy remains undisturbed and free from the crowds.
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Monument to Dutch Landing
If you are in Grand Port, Mauritius and you come across a beautiful – well-architectured stone like structure, here's everything you need to know about it. If you didn't realise, the Dutch first colonised Mauritius in the year 1638. So, a monument in Grand Port, popularly known as Dutch First Landing, marks the site where the Dutch first set foot on the island.
To know what the structure is all about and what makes it significant, we need to talk about some history. It was 9th September 1598 when Vice-Admiral Wybrandt van Warwyck and Admiral Cornelius Van Neck commanded eight Dutch ships to a major seaport in Indonesia, called Bantam. It is said that the ship contained exotic trading products from Europe. But a sheer mishap leads the Dutch to Mauritius. Mauritius was never on their radar, but fate had a different story to tell.
Inscription on the Dutch first Landing MonumentSource
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