Mauritius: The Island That Inspired Paradise – Part 2

A stopover in Mauritius’ capital

The country’s capital and largest city is called Port Louis. Around 160,000 people live there. It’s a kaleidoscope of cultures with influences from Europe, Africa, India, China, and the Middle East. The best view of the city is from the historic Fort Adelaide, built by the British in 1830 for defensive purposes, while tourists most often visit the modern seafront complex called Caudan Waterfront, because of its many shops and restaurants. Place d’Armes is lined with palm trees and old colonial buildings from the French era, now home to government offices. To really experience the city, it’s worth visiting the bustling central market, where you can blend in with the locals. The ground floor offers vegetables, fruit, and some spices, while the upper level is packed with souvenirs, mostly made in Madagascar, though the prices are quite steep. The meat and fish markets are located in a nearby building, but you might want to skip them due to the smell and poor hygiene conditions. Like across the whole island, the capital also has many religious buildings standing side by side, with the most fascinating being the colourful Tamil Hindu temples built by immigrants from southern India.

The sacred Hindu lake and volcanoes

Hindus, as the dominant religious group, have an important sanctuary on the island called Grand Bassin or Ganga Talao. It is a sacred lake where the largest Hindu pilgrimage outside India takes place. Of course, a sacred place like this has its own legend. It’s said that Shiva, carrying the sacred River Ganges on his head, visited Mauritius and was walking by the lake with his wife Parvati when a few drops fell from his head into the lake, which made it sacred. Goddess Ganga was, of course, angry that her water was being spilled unnecessarily, but Shiva reassured her, saying that one day Hindus would live on this uninhabited island and worship her, which eventually came true. Hindus believe that this volcanic lake is connected underground to the sacred Ganges River in India. Another trace of Mauritius’ volcanic past is the crater of a dormant volcano, about 300 metres wide and 80 metres deep, with a small lake at the bottom. It’s called Trou aux Cerfs and is located near the town of Curepipe, at an altitude of almost 600 metres. The crater is covered in lush vegetation, offering stunning views in all directions, even stretching to the sea and the island’s many majestic hills. Curepipe is the highest town in Mauritius, with a cooler, rainier climate, which made it a popular retreat for white settlers escaping the coastal heat.

The island’s green heart with its lush vegetation

Most people visiting Mauritius visit the inland areas on a day trip. They leave the coast and drive past sugar cane plantations. Sugar production used to be the main economic activity in the country, and you can still see plenty of fields around today. At the time of my visit, it was the harvesting season. Back in the day, wealthy landowners lived in lavish mansions, some of which have been turned into museums you can visit. But I’m more interested in nature. The first stop is Black River Gorges National Park, a beautiful gorge hidden in tropical greenery. The winding road gives you views of the sea to the south and the lush, tree-covered hills further in. The trip includes one of Mauritius’ biggest attractions, the Chamarel Geopark, where for around 11 euros, you can see the natural wonder called the Seven Coloured Earth, along with other sights. It’s a series of sand dunes in rainbow-like shades, formed by volcanic activity, and they really stand out against the lush green vegetation and blue sky. The red, yellow, purple, orange, blue, green, and brown shades were created by lava transforming into clay minerals, and they’re genuinely stunning to look at. You’ll also find giant tortoises from the Seychelles, and the area has its own 100-metre-high waterfall and a rum distillery.

Let’s go to the beach

On the far southwest of Mauritius, you’ll find the Le Morne Peninsula, shaped like a hammerhead shark’s head, with the 550-metre-high Le Morne Brabant rising above it. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its historical significance as a refuge for escaped slaves. Slavery was introduced by the Dutch and continued for two centuries, as the French and British carried on the Dutch practice of using enslaved people on plantations. The escaped slaves found refuge at the top of Mount Le Morne, where they hid in caves. According to legend, after slavery was abolished, policemen climbed the mountain to tell the slaves they were free. But, thinking they were about to be captured, the slaves jumped from the cliffs to their deaths. Le Morne now stands as a symbol of the slaves’ struggle for freedom, as well as their suffering and sacrifice. Once it was a refuge for slaves, but today countless tourists enjoy the stunning views from the top after a fairly challenging hike, with the view stretching all the way to Le Morne Beach, which I think is one of the most beautiful on the whole island. Imagine a long sandy beach, with holidaymakers lounging under swaying palm trees, shaded from the sun, gazing out at the magically blue ocean that seems to stretch on forever. The beaches at Trou aux Biches and Flic en Flac are much the same, and when it comes to that paradise vibe, they’re not far behind Le Morne. Even though many of the most beautiful coastal spots have been taken over and built up by famous hotel chains, all the beaches on the island are public, so everyone can swim and enjoy the gorgeous sea wherever they like. At the northern tip of the island, on Cap Malheureux, you’ll find the iconic Notre Dame Auxiliatrice Church sitting almost right on the beach. Its red roof, white façade, and the blue sky above often end up in photos taken by countless tourists visiting this tropical paradise. Not far away, right by the sea, there’s a cemetery with graves of all faiths except Hindus, who don’t bury their dead but cremate them and scatter their ashes into the sea.

Mauritius, I’ll be back!

Mauritius, with its stunning landscapes and mix of cultures, offers an unforgettable holiday and is definitely a gem of the Indian Ocean. Whether it’s truly a paradise, as Mark Twain said, mentioned in the first part of the article, is something everyone has to judge for themselves. The island is probably much more heavenly and dreamy for tourists, as locals do not have an easy life. To escape their daily worries, the people also love to go to coastal towns on their days off. It feels like all the Mauritians are at the beaches then, having picnics, swimming, eating, dancing and just enjoying themselves. It’s clear that the island’s paradise beaches are also a place for locals to relax, not just for tourists. The turquoise sea, long beaches with coral reefs, sugar cane fields, hills in unusual shapes, friendly and welcoming people, diverse local dishes, and the lively atmosphere of the capital, Port Louis, have certainly captivated me, and I hope to return to this "paradise" one day.