Wish you were here

The melting pot   

Sandip Hor travels to the Indian Ocean isle of Mauritius for a glimpse of its rich history

In 1598, Dutch colonists occupied this uninhabited island in the Indian Ocean and cultivated sugarcane on it. Those plantations grew during subsequent periods of colonisation by the French and British. The production of sugar turned Mauritius into a prosperous nation, and its sugarcane plantations make this volcanic island’s landscape lush and green.

Located nearly 2,000 kilometres off the east coast of Africa, this 2,040 square kilometre island exhibits a unique blend of European, Asian and African cultures. It has been progressively built over the last 700 years by colonisers and their plantation labourers. These workers were initially brought from neighbouring African countries as slaves – and later, from India as indentured labour.

Today however, they live harmoniously as Mauritians. They speak Creole (which is a fragmented version of French), eat spicy Indian curries and swing their hips to African music. Of its 1.3 million people, the majority are Hindus of Indian origin.

Dominated by rugged mountain peaks, and green forests and valleys, nature is said to be at its best in Mauritius and the country is often referred to as ‘Paradise Island.’

WHERE TO STAY The island is famous for its seafront resorts, which combine pristine nature with luxury and offer multiple choices for dining. They also offer various facilities for entertainment and leisure activities, and holidaymakers can find almost everything they need to spend quality time with family and friends… or simply chill by themselves.

Of the many hotels, Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas, Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort and Long Beach Mauritius are popular among international travellers.

WHAT TO EAT The local cuisine reflects a combination of French, Indian and African flavours that are filled with fragrant spices. Restaurants range from open-air beach side shacks to fine dining outlets at the various resorts, while trendy cafes in the towns and cities exude French culture.

The popular street food known as dholl puri is a savoury Indian flatbread made of flour, stuffed with ground split peas and served with vegetable or lentil curries.

WHERE TO SHOP The best place to shop is the Central Market in the capital city Port Louis, where you will find everything you may want from fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and meat, to clothing, shoes, luggage and household items.

Located on the first floor is the famous Craft Market where an expansive choice of locally manufactured souvenirs, spices and handicrafts are available at affordable prices. And there are shopping malls of varying sizes dotted across the island to enable visitors to engage in trendy retail therapy.

 

WHERE TO GO Port Louis is located on the northwestern coast, and is the ideal place to learn about the pear-shaped island’s history and culture. Travellers can visit religious sites and museums that elaborate on the nation’s poignant past, and its thriving traditions and lifestyles.

Some sites worth visiting include the Blue Penny, National History and Intercontinental Slavery Museums; and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Aapravasi Ghat where multimedia presentations tell the story of how the British shipped in half a million indentured labourers from India.

While there are temples, mosques and churches throughout the island, the nation’s most visited pilgrimage site is the Grand Bassin where two 33 metre high statues of the Hindu deities Shiva and Durga dominate the landscape, while temples dedicated to several gods and goddesses edge a massive crater lake called Ganga Talao.

Though the site is aligned with Hinduism, it’s regularly visited by communities of all faiths in Mauritius.

Other attractions include national parks with waterfalls and geological wonders, the best of which is the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark.