Grand Baie in Mauritius
Grand Baie is a classy and a cosmopolitan town located in Rivière du Rempart District, which lies towards northwest of Mauritius. Excellent beaches, scintillating nightlife and shopping; this town has everything you need for a perfect holiday.
La Cuvette and Grand Bay Public are the two main beaches. They are small but the water is clean and turquoise-coloured. The Grand Bay Public beach is a bit crowded with fishing boats and tourists. If you are looking for some quiet time and space for private swimming then head towards the La Cuvette beach. You may choose to lie on the beach, go for a swim or indulge in water sports like swimming, sailing, water skiing and windsurfing.
Grand Baie is a departure point for many cruises towards northern Mauritius; Gunners’ Quoin, Flat Island, Round Island, and Serpent Island. You can set your anchor here to explore such lesser known beaches of Mauritius.
A small seaside town, Grand Baie also offers bustling nightlife and shopping experiences. There are a few fashion and craft shops where you can get good bargains.
CHAMAREL COLOURED EARTH
Chamarel is a small village and a major tourist spot located in the south-western region of the country. What makes this place unique and a must-do in every traveller’s guidebook is the seven coloured layers of sand. It is a unique phenomenon that charms and attracts people from far and wide. The road to Chamarel is lined with sugarcane and pineapple plantations leading to a valley. It is a drive straight out of a movie scene.
Once you reach Chamarel, climb up the observation outpost and enjoy incredible views. As far as the eyes can see, there are sand dunes in unbelievable colours; yellow, red, brown, violet, purple, green and even blue. A natural phenomenon that takes your heart away with its sheer beauty.
Buy test tubes filled with seven coloured sands of Chamarel as a souvenir to keep memories of this natural wonder with you always.On your way back, a quick stop at the Chamarel waterfall and rum distilleries is recommended.
CASELA NATURE PARK
Casela Nature Park is the ideal location to spend a leisurely day with your family and friends. Located in the western part of Mauritius, this park is a favourite with kids. Spread over 14 hectares of land, the Casela Nature Park is home to exotic flowers and plants, more than 150 species of birds and rare animals.
Grand Bassin
Ganga Talao or the Grand Bassin is an important pilgrimage site. It is a natural lake within an extinct volcano crater. According to a mythological story it is believed that the water here is sourced from the sacred Ganges River in India. Taking a dip in this lake during the Shivratrifestival is considered auspicious.
At the northern side of the lake, just a little away from the parking lot you will see a 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shiva, which is the second largest statue in the world. The tallest Lord Shiva statue at 120 feet is in New Delhi.
LE MORNE
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Le Morne is symbolic of history, and identity of Mauritius. This is the place where slaves would hide while trying to escape and so commemorates the struggle against slavery.
Le Morne is a peninsula located towards south-western end of the Indian Ocean. The scenic beauty of this location is enchanting. It is also home to a few rare species of plants. Go there if history interests you.
Downtown Port Louis
The business and administrative capital of Mauritius, Port Louis is a beautiful town. You must visit Champ de Mars, the oldest racecourse in the Indian Ocean region where official flag-raising ceremony marking independence of Mauritius was held in 1968.
The bustling Port Louis Waterfront offers exciting shopping and entertainment venues along with world-class hotels and restaurants overlooking the Port Louis Harbour.
Rodrigues
Rodrigues, popularly known as the jewel in the crown of the Mascarene Islands, is just a short flight from Mauritius. This mountainous island, away from the hustle-bustle of a typical tourist destination, is a treat for sea lovers. The expansive lagoon with differing shades of blue will sweep you off.
Discover Rodrigues on your own, just walk around or rent a bike. It’s beautiful beyond imagination and if you are a traveller who likes to take unbeaten paths, Rodrigues is just right for you.
Ile Aux Cerfs
The Ile Aux Cerfs Island, also known as the Deer Islands in English is an island located near the east coast of Mauritius. Surrounded by the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean, this gorgeous island is spread over 100 hectares of land and is home to some of the most beautiful beaches. Popular for its beautiful beaches, serene lagoons and a plethora of activities and water sports, Ile Aux Cerfs is definitely a must visit.
The Ile Aux Cerfs is emerging as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mauritius and is a great place to spend the entire day just relaxing and enjoying yourself. The island also has many restaurants where you can sample delicious local cuisine. The island is highly recommended for snorkelling as the coral reefs are very beautiful and are teeming with marine life.
Chamarel Waterfalls
The Chamarel Waterfalls cascade down beautifully from a height of 83 metres and are formed by the St. Denis River. Surrounded by lush green, the Chamarel Waterfalls are one of the most popular waterfalls in Mauritius and are a popular tourist attraction.
Tourists can view the Chamarel Waterfalls either from an upper deck located at the Charamel Seven Coloured Earth Reserve or from the trail below, where one can also enjoy a swim in the shallow waters.
Blue Penny Museum
The Blue Penny Museum is a stamp museum in Port Louis. The most popular artefacts in this museum are two of the rarest stamps in the world- the red one penny and the blue two-pence stamps which were issued in 1847.
To prevent them from losing their colour, the stamps are lit up for only ten minutes at a time. These stamps are considered as a national treasure and are extremely valuable for the Government of Mauritius.
source: here
