Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius. A city washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean. It got its name in honor of the King of France, Louis XV, also known as the Beloved. Local conditions and views make the city one of the favorite places for Russian tourists.
The appearance of Port Louis was formed under the influence of settlers and European colonists: here colonial architecture is adjacent to Muslim and Chinatowns; Hindu temples, pagodas and mosques were erected almost wall to wall. The local flavor is a mix of English, French, Indian, Creole, Chinese cultures. And, despite such diversity, the locals are very friendly towards each other and to visitors.
Let's get acquainted with the main attractions of Port Louis (Mauritius).
Saint Louis Cathedral
Let's start with religious buildings. Saint Louis Cathedral is the most famous temple of Port Louis. It was erected at the beginning of the 18th century by decree of the French colonial authorities. Interesting for its restrained appearance - herethere is no stucco, no other decorative elements, no engineering frills inherent in many styles of Europe. Strict design, neutral color of materials, cool temperature in the room itself - nothing distracts the mind, allowing you to focus on your thoughts. This place will be interesting to visit both as a temple and as a museum.
Lake Ganga Talo
Let's visit another place saturated with faith. This time we will talk about the shrine of the Hindus, created not by human hands, but by nature itself. Locals claim that Ganga Talo Lake is so ancient that it remembers the “bathing of fairies”. The legend about the appearance of this lake is very poetic: once Shiva drew water from the sacred river Ganges, flew across the ocean and extinguished the awakening volcano with this water. Also, locals can tell a frightening belief about a densely overgrown island in the middle of Lake Ganga Talo. Legend has it that any person who enters his land dies soon… But no evidence of this superstition could be found.
Like the previous attraction, this place will be of interest to both religious people and ordinary travelers - the landscape and diverse fauna will not leave anyone indifferent. A visit to this place will leave unforgettable impressions and emotions.
Cultural Center Domaine le Paille
Back in the city, many tourists follow the advice to visit the cultural center Domaine le Paille. On 12 km2 under the open sky there is a real time machine, with which you can see the life of the colonists of the 18th century. Sugarthe factory, the water treatment plant and even the train have hardly undergone major restoration work. Here you can also try yourself as a horse rider, learn about the intricacies of making rum and spicy sweets.
Already someone who, and the inhabitants of the island of Mauritius know a lot about the art of making sugar. The locals use the technology of cooking as many as fifteen varieties of sugar! And you can watch all this with your own eyes. If you wish, you can even participate in a tasting of the final product. Even if you don't have a sweet tooth, this would be quite an interesting experience for anyone.
Photo of Port Louis (Mauritius) is presented below.
Blue Mauritius Museum
This is a relatively young attraction - the museum is only 17 years old, and let its name not confuse the Russian-speaking reader. The museum takes its name from the stamp first issued by the British Empire outside of England - The Blue Mauritius. A small edition was issued specifically for invitations to the governor's ball in two colors - blue and pink-orange. As befits many collectible stamps, the printing of these copies was not without a misprint: instead of the inscription “postal service”, the inscription “duty paid” was assumed. Unfortunately, not all tourists will be able to look at the originals of these samples. The originals of the stamps are protected from exposure to light and sunlight, while their copies are exhibited in the hall. In addition to stamps, the museum offers a tour of the cultural and historical documents of the island, sculptures, engravings and maps of the area of varioushistorical periods.
Jammah Mosque
And back to the topic of religious buildings. Speaking of cultural diversity, it would be unfair not to pay special attention to the Jummah mosque. The architectural solution of the mosque comes into sharp contrast with the austere view of Louis Cathedral. The construction took almost twenty years! Although the mosque began to function long before the end of construction. The golden dome and the intricate carvings of the dazzling white stone make it no wonder why tourists take picture after picture, trying to capture this fabulous vision from the best possible angles. The name Jammah is translated from Arabic as "Friday", and this is no coincidence.
After all, the followers of Allah treat Friday with special trepidation - this day is considered the day of joint prayer and worship. For those who cannot be present in the mosque for prayer in person, live television broadcasts of sermons are conducted. Tourists are allowed into the premises, photography and video filming is also allowed - but only if they are dressed in appropriate clothing. It is still possible to order a guided tour.
Seven Colored Sands of Chamarel
Geologists can explain why these lands are painted in different colors - the point is most likely the difference in temperatures of the solidifying lava. Chemists can justify the redness of the sand - the point is the high content of iron oxide; cold shades of earth received from oxidized aluminum. But no one can explain why neither the wind nor the lingering downpours could mix this sandy rainbow into a homogeneous brown mess … They say thateven if you mix colored earth in a jar, within a week it will mysteriously separate into separate colors again. But despite this, the government of Mauritius decided to protect the colored dunes from tourists with wooden fences.
You can watch, but, alas, it is forbidden to walk. It is worth visiting this phenomenon either at sunset or at dawn - so the sands of Chamarel will show their bright diversity in the most open form. And at parting in any souvenir shop you can buy a transparent cone with magical colored sand.
Besides sightseeing, Port Louis has plenty of activities to do. These include horseback riding on the Champ de Mars, and a large number of tennis courts and golf courses. The abundance of beaches will offer you diving equipment rentals. Of course, the services of an underwater guide-instructor could not have done here.
Fort Adelaide
Farewell look at Port Louis can be thrown from the observation deck of Fort Adelaide. This citadel, impregnable and indestructible, bears the name of the wife of William IV. The fort was erected in the 19th century on a hill with the telling name Signalny. From it you can see at the same time the harbor, and the mountains, and the Field of Mars; and it is difficult to leave it without a replenished collection of memorable pictures. In the past, performing defensive functions, currently Fort Adelaide is the center for various cultural events, festivals and concerts. It cannot but rejoice that this miraculously survivedthe fortress is open for visits.
Conclusion
Port Louis is a great place for a family vacation. There is a wide range of various excursions, monuments and museums. It is also worth noting that shopping is well developed in this city, so every tourist will be able to find something to their liking. Enjoy your holiday in the capital of Mauritius!
