Plan Your Travel To Mauritius
Places To Visit In Mauritius
National History Museum, Mauritius
The south-west part of the Indian Ocean is home to the island nation of Mauritius. Quite a lesser known fact, Mauritius has a rich historical and geological background other than widely popular as an exotic tourist destination. It is the youngest among the Mascarene groups of islands and sitting nearly 800 kms to the east of Madagascar alongside the submerged Seychelles-Mauritius Plateau ridge.
Apart from tropical mangrove forests, vast stretches of sandy beaches and fascinating resorts and hotels, Mauritius also hosts a National History Museum in the south-east coastal town of Mahebourg. Founded in 1805 and named after the French governor Mahe De Labourdonnais, the National History Museum in Mahebourg will take you back on a historical journey all way to the 18th century.
The National History Museum showcases the epic Vieux Grand Port Naval Battle fought in 1810 between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy. Originally built as the Gheude Castle or the Chateau de Roubillard in 1772 by the La Chaux River, this mansion served the purposes of a home for the Commandant Jene de Roubillard of the Grand Port district.
Divided into different sections, it puts Mauritius’ different colonisation periods at a display. The tourists get to witness the remains of the great naval battle of Grand Port along with artefacts of shipwrecks.
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Natural History Museum Mauritius
Known to be the oldest museum in Mauritius and enjoy a great location in the less busy part of the city of Port Louis, the Natural History Museum is considered to be somewhat a replica of the Colombo Museum located in Sri Lanka. The building once used to be the premises of the Old Royal College in Port Louis. Designed by M. Mann, a British architect, the museum was proclaimed a National Heritage of Mauritius in the year 2000.
Nature Trails Mauritius
Ever wondered what would it feel like to go to the off beaten tracks and discover the serenity of Mauritius’ natural beauty? Ever had the desire to get away from the hustle and bustle of the cities and go on a venture to experience the astounding viewpoints? Located in Quatre Bornes, Nature Trails Mauritius is all about discovering the unknown and hidden treasures that Mauritius has in store for us and you must keep it upfront in your travel plans!
With Nature Trails, you are taken through unseen tracks and even private properties so that you can witness those amazing landscapes and viewpoints about which very few people have knowledge of. Be it valleys, mountaintops and hilltops, you get to explore the island and its flora and fauna in a whole new dimension. It was founded by a German businesswoman Hannelore Riesel after she discovered all the viewpoints herself with Alain.SourceAbout the TourThe guide, Alain, will take you to all those unknown places. He’ll come to pick you up from where you are staying after all the necessary bookings have been done. The tour starts from Meritim at 7.30 AM and you will be headed straight towards Balaclava to enjoy the first viewpoint. It is located on a small hill near Pamplemousses from where the sight over the vale with little white houses and various fields for vegetation along with the northern mountain range. Alain will brief you about the tour and tell you about how you will have seen almost 90% of Mauritius at the end of the tour. The key is the panoramic view. The second stoppage has a viewpoint that is a little higher than the previous one and has a better panoramic view of the coast from it. You can see mountains and vales and even the ‘Coin de Mire’ from there. SourceThe third viewpoint is further up the mountains from where you come the closest to nature and also enjoy the breathtaking views of Mauritius’ second highest mountain - Pieter Both. It kind of looks like a big stone ball being balanced on the mountain top. Fascinating, isn’t it?SourceIt is in the fourth stop is situated on a higher plateau and it is when you realize that this is an exclusive tour as most of the viewpoints are located in private properties which is not accessible by the public generally.From the fifth point you can see a secret waterfall. With some luck, you can see this unknown cascade at its full glory and it is also a possibility that due to water shortage, it might get reduced to a singular stream.In order to reach the last point, Alain will take you through rocky and steep roads until you reach a meadow that is almost 715 meters above sea level. Going up a few more metres, you can get a mind boggling outlook from the radio towers of the police station. You can see the island of Ile aux Benitiers and Le Morne Brabant further up the large part of the western coast. Big cities like Port Louis, Quatre Bornes, Rosehill and Curepipe.SourceDepending on where you are staying, Nature Trails offers you numerous trips and almost 26 unseen viewpoints spread out all over Mauritius. So come and experience this unique exploration of the paradise island!
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Notre Dame Auxiliatrice
Situated in Cap Malheureux, the Notre Dame Auxiliatrice is one of the oldest churches that stood witness to one of the most written-about wars between the French and the British over the control of the island. It was built as a commemorative landmark to the shipwrecks that happened off the northern coast. It is also known by the name "the red roof chapel" and is renowned for its aesthetic value as well as historical significance. With a bright red roof, the church is one of a kind and a picture-perfect postcard-worthy attraction in Mauritius.
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The church stands out from the other churches on the island due to its plain architecture and muted colour schemes. Founded in the 1900s, this Roman Catholic Church continues to draw as many tourists as worshippers. Dedicated to Virgin Mary, the Notre Dame Auxiliatrice Chapel also boasts of a pretty little beach right behind its main building. The church has a massive influx of newly wedded couples, while it also boasts a wonderful choir that's well known in the country. The church is a must-visit if you're at the northern part of Mauritius.
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Notre Dame des Agnes
Mahebourg is a small city on the picturesque island of Mauritius. Located in the southern side of the island, it has a great line up of popular tourist attractions because of its rich culture and history. Among the notable tourist destinations in Mahebourg, Notre Dame des Agnes is of historical and architectural significance.
The skyline of this small town is glorified with the tower of the church which was originally constructed in 1849 when the Christian missionaries came to the island for the first time. However, the church has been renovated several times over the years.
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Pere Laval's Shrine
Christianity is followed by quite a significant portion of Mauritius’ population, and it’s a widely celebrated religion in the island. The number of quaint churches scattered across the mainland is evidence of their devotion towards to the Holy Spirit. The history of the emergence of Christianity in Mauritius goes back to the 18th century, and it was brought to the island by the French. A law was passed which made it compulsory for the slaves to be baptised when brought to the island.
Christianity in Mauritius would be incomplete without Jacques-Desire Laval, popularly known as Father Laval. He was a French Roman Catholic priest who served all his life in various religious missions in Mauritius. After his arrival in Mauritius in 1841, he fought very hard for a long time to help the sick and the poor people, especially the slaves of the island. His knowledge about medicines proved to be very fruitful in treating ill people and helping them to lead a better life.
It is believed that he has saved close to 67000 souls during his stay in Mauritius through the power of his devotion and his dedication to helping the poor and needy. Within his short stay in Port Louis, he became quite renowned among the people. The death of Father Laval in 1864 was a tragic blow to the entire Mauritian community. He was buried in the graveyard of Sainte Croix, an old church in Port Louis and more than 30000 people joined the funeral procession who mourned the loss of this holy man.
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Every year, on 9th of September, people from all parts of the country and even pilgrims from Britain, South Africa and France walk to the shrine and pay homage to this blessed man and commemorate his death anniversary. At other times of the year, the shrine remains relatively quiet. Services are held every Friday from 1 PM to 5 PM which is regularly visited by a decent number of people.
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Pereybere Beach
Located on the northern side of Mauritius, Pereybere beach is one of the most famous beaches near Grand Baie, with plenty of decent, affordable hotels and resorts lining the beach and the area around it. Stretching 150 meters, Pereybere is a family-friendly beach that's safe for swimming given that it's quite crowded most of the time. Apart from this, the beach is a hub for adventure sports like windsurfing and parasailing. You can also go kayaking or rent a catamaran, and go deep-sea fishing. The best time to visit the beach is from 9 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM. Although topless sunbathing is allowed, nudity is prohibited since the beach isn't a private space.
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Mauritius Photography Museum
The Photography Museum of Mauritius in Port Louis gives you the privilege of getting acquainted with a different angle of the camera along with a vast exhibition of some of the first photographs that were taken by the predecessors of the camera. Established by passionate photographers Mr Tristan Breville and his wife Marie Julie, the Museum keeps the traditions and history rooted. The exhibits are as old as the 1800s and are a treasure trove of old camera, photograph prints, including daguerreotypes (the forerunner of photographs) that was produced in 1840.
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Pieter Both Mountain
With a height of 820 meters, the Pieter Both is the second highest mountain range in the island of Mauritius. Pieter Both is a part of the Moka mountain range of Mauritius that is situated in the centre of the island. It is an iconic and unique mountain as it is easily noticeable due to its round-shaped boulder at the extreme top of the hill, almost making it similar to a human head. It is also famous for being the home to rarest palm species Hyophorbe amaricaulis, which covers most of the mountain.
Pieter Both MountainSource
History of Pieter Both
The mountain gets its name from the first Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Pieter Both. Under his command, eight vessels left the Netherlands for Mauritius. Unfortunately, after being caught in a cyclone, Pieter Both’s ship sank near Tamarin Bay killing him and 45 other men.
A view of Pieter Both MountainSource
LegendThere's a mystical legend related to this mountain that is not known to many, but the oldest locals only. It is believed that there was once a milkman from the village of Creve Coeur, situated at the foot of the mountain, who used to sell milk in the neighbouring communities. One beautiful day, the milkman decided to take a shortcut to reach the next village by passing near the mountain. Tired from the walk, he decided to take a nap. However, when he woke up to the sound of music, he was surprised by his core. He saw fairies singing and dancing around after opening his eyes. The fairies warned him not to reveal what he just saw to anyone; otherwise, they would turn him into stone. He agreed to the terms and continued his walk to the nearby village. Nevertheless, once he reached, he couldn’t keep the secret and revealed it to all the villagers. The fairies got to know about his disloyalty and turned the milkman into stone when he was on his way back from the village.In the present day, the rock on top of the mountain is believed to be the milkman who broke the fairies’ promise and failed to keep the secret.
Hiking Routes
Pieter Both Mountain is widely popular among the tourists for providing one of the most exciting hiking trails in Mauritius. You get a chance to savour the slender peak, panoramic views of the island and lush green surroundings as far as your eyes can see. Enjoying a picnic amidst this diverse wildlife setting is something you wouldn’t want to miss.
Towards Pieter Both MountainSource
The summit of Pieter Both can be divided into two stages – the first known as the ‘shoulder’ and for those who are willing to take a step further, continue ascending to the top boulder of the mountain; that is the second stage. With the growing popularity of hiking enthusiasts, iron rungs were installed on the rocks several years ago.
However, the iron rungs have deteriorated in their build and integrity over the years, and it’s not recommended to undertake the final ascent to the top without the use of ropes and proper rock climbing experience.
A view from the HilltopSource
The starting point to climb the Pieter Both is in a small village called La Laura, which is located near St. Pierre.
Take the Pieter Both road from the village and drive towards the mountain from the junction.
The condition of the road starts to degrade eventually, and it’s better if you find a convenient spot to park your car.
You’ll need to follow the broad grassy road that is quite curvy.
The area is covered with Chinese guava trees, and that's where you will find a track leading into the undergrowth. The path pierces its way through the guava trees emerging out to a large rock.
You can either choose to climb the rock or take the sideways through the shrubs and trees.
The path is pretty clean and comfortable to follow until you reach the top of the cliff.
However, once you keep on continuing to enter the small valley between Pieter Both and Creve Coeur Mountains, the route transformers into an overgrown path and the ground aren’t apparent either. So be extra careful while taking your steps.
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Up next, you'll come across the first hurdle of the hike in the form of a wet v-gully.
You can head straight up if you are confident enough and if not, always use the conveniently placed rocks to support your steps as you make your way up.
The track continues further ahead along a grassy slope, and this is where you should start becoming extra cautious. You’ll find another wet v-gully that needs special care to climb, as there is no support to hold. Also, keep in mind that the GPS will end a few metres ahead of that point.
The path leads to a narrow edge on the mountain, and this is the point that is known as the ‘shoulder’.
You can hike up to this point on your own, but we strongly recommend taking a guide along with you who will ensure your safety and lead you through the well-treaded paths.
Besides, it is challenging to remember the way while returning to the ground.
For those who wish to ascend to the top-most point will need a guide as well because it is quite risky to depend on the iron rungs and manoeuvre the climbing ropes.
Only go ahead if you have prior experience of rock and mountain climbing.
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Pieter Both Mountain is one of the most discerning features of this paradise island. The view from the top of the summit is unforgettable, as is the entire journey to reach it. Even if you are not up for an adventure, visit the village of La Laura and witness this massive spectacle of nature – the mountain with a human head, Pieter Both.
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Place d'Armes and the Government House
Considered as a jewel of the Mauritian heritage, the Place d'Armes is undoubtedly the most iconic place of the island. It stretches from the Hotel du Gouvernement all the way up to the Port Louis Waterfront. The road lined with royal palms leads to the beautiful French Colonial structure - the Government House - that dates back to 1738. Also famous by the name Sookdeo Bissoondoyal Square, Place d'Armes is the place where you can find the statues of some of the great personalities who contributed, in one way or the other, to the long and rich history of Mauritius; the buildings present in the area also reflect the deep-rooted history. Place d'Armes and the Government House are counted among the world-known monuments and sites and is a National Heritage for Mauritius as well.
Place d'Armes stands as a historic entrance for the city of Port Louis. Apart from the century-old palm trees, there statues found here is what accounts for its worldly reputation - statues of famous men, and a woman.
Place d'ArmesSource
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