White beaches, azure waters, swaying palms: Mauritius makes perfect getaway to unwind, detox

Hyderabad: During the festive holiday season, there are so many beautiful places to go to, but perhaps the easiest country to visit, with a hassle-free visa on arrival, is Mauritius. One of the top island destinations in the world, Mauritius, fringed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, is a must for any nature lover. It is also surprisingly easy on the pocket.

Travel to Mauritius for its white beaches, azure waters, swaying palms, together with luxury resorts, exotic food, and water sports. You can enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving in its vibrantly coloured waters, as well as other water sports like kite surfing, along with other adventure sports like quad biking and zip lining. Helicopter and seaplane rides are also available. Add to the mix rich historical and cultural tours, national parks, and theme parks like Casela to visit, coastal villages like Grand Baie (or Grand Bay) to experience; there are so many things to do in Mauritius.

Seven Colored Earths

Located in Chamarel, Mauritius, the Seven Coloured Earths is one of the popular attractions in Mauritius. A geological formation, it is a small area of dunes in Chamarel, made of seven distinct colors. The high concentration of metals in the soil is responsible for this special natural wonder, which shimmers in all its glory. Valle Adventure Park nearby has ziplines, quad bikes, rope bridges, giant turtles, and colourful birds roaming free.

Black River Gorges

Hike through the Black River Gorges National Park in Mauritius

One of the top things to do in Mauritius is hiking through the Black River Gorges National Park. You can observe rare bird species, many of which are only in Mauritius, as well as endemic flora in Black River Gorges.

Breathe in the fresh air as you walk through. It houses bright flowering plants and imposing trees. Enjoy the best views of Mauritius from the Gorges viewpoint.

Table Mountain

Le Morne Brabant Mountain, or Table Mountain, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mauritius. The 556-meter-high mountain has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008. During the reign of the French, this imposing boulder served as a refuge for slaves. Nature lovers can hike up the mountain as part of guided or self-guided tours. Enjoy stunning views of the Indian Ocean and admire the waterfalls and caves that dot the mountain as you hike up.

Or you could just laze at the beautiful sandy beach of Le Morne with the mountain in the backdrop, a truly Mauritian experience.

Port Louis

Visit the capital, Port Louis, to get a taste of local life in Mauritius. You will be staggered at the sheer variety of fruits, vegetables, fish, and spices that are available in the Central Market of Port Louis. Watch the local hawkers at work and buy souvenirs . One of the other top things to do in Port Louis is to visit the Blue Penny Museum to understand the history of the region. Citadel Fort is a very small fort nearby, but it commands a great viewpoint.

From Port Louis, you can also head to the Casela World of Adventures in Cascavelle, one of the popular day trips on the island, to enjoy a day of thrilling fun. Drive past emus, ostriches, zebras, antelope, peacock, deer, cheetah: Walk with the lions or see them in a jeep safari, check out the weaver birds and Giant turtles too. A thrilling Roller Coaster Ride where you control your own cable car is also available here.

Watersports in Mauritius

Mauritius is a paradise for watersports lovers. The top watersports in Mauritius include parasailing, kayaking, water skiing, windsurfing, deep-sea fishing, dolphin spotting, whale watching, and snorkeling among the coral reefs. At Pointe aux Piments on the northwest coast, you can swim in a reef teeming with vibrant corals and multihued fish.

Also, try a speedboat or catamaran ride in Mauritius for day cruises.

Resorts and hotels

Stay in a luxury resort in Mauritius for a truly relaxing holiday. You have several resorts in Mauritius to choose from, family resorts to intimate boutique beach hotels to suit every budget. Most of the hotels are beach-facing or lagoon-facing and offer a variety of activities, restaurants, live music, karaoke, and spa options.

Beaches of Mauritius

The beautiful beaches in Mauritius are easily the top attraction of the country, making it an ideal destination. White sands, azure waters, leafy palms, vibrant coral reefs, and rich marine life make the beaches of Mauritius a must-visit. Some of the best beaches in Mauritius include Trou aux Biches, Île aux Cerfs, Belle Mare Plage, Blue Bay, Flic enFlac, and Le Morne, among others. Glass-bottom boats let non-swimmers admire the teeming fish and beautiful coral under the ocean’s surface.

From watersports to swimming in the waters of the Indian Ocean, grabbing a bite at a beach shack, or simply sunbathing, your options are plenty. While Trou aux Biches is considered one of the most beautiful on the island, Île aux Cerfs(or Deer Island) lies in the largest lagoon on the island. The silvery, powdery sand of the beaches in Mauritius is kept scrupulously clean.

Extinct Volcano

The main extinct or dormant volcano in Mauritius is Trou aux Cerfs, a crater located near the town of Curepipe that is believed to have last erupted around 700,000 years ago. While considered extinct, some scientists suggest it could potentially become active again in the distant future, but as of now, there are trees growing in the crater.

Ganga Talao

Ganga Talao (commonly known as Grand Bassin in Mauritius) is a crater lake, about 550 metres above sea level, located in the mountainous Southwest district of Savanne.

This sacred site is home to a temple and several shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu gods. Visitors come here to pray, meditate, admire the peaceful scenery, or even play with the local monkeys. The lake of Ganga Talao is thought to be around 18 metres deep and is teeming with a healthy population of fish.

History of Ganga Talao

In local folklore, the Ganga Talao lake’s history as a pilgrimage site goes back to 1887, when a ‘pujari’, or priest, had a dream in which he saw the lake’s water springing from the river Jahnavi, another name for the goddess Ganga. There is a gigantic Mangal Mahadev or statue of Lord Shiva nearby.

Waterfalls

There are many beautiful waterfalls in Mauritius, and even an underwater waterfall which can be visited by speedboat.

Botanical gardens of Pampelmousses

The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden (also called the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden). The Botanical Garden, popularly known as Pamplemousses, is one of the top attractions in Mauritius. It is the oldest botanical garden in the southern hemisphere, close to 300 years old. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the gardens as you admire the variety of exotic flora and fauna, from palm trees and lilies to the scents of stunning flowers. Heads of State have presented trees to this Botanic Garden, and Indians will be happy to see a mention of Indira Gandhi, Abdul Kalam, and Narender Modi in this Garden. Buggies are available for those who cannot walk much. The Bleeding tree and the Sausage tree are two of the unique trees there.

Delicious cuisine

The cuisine in Mauritius has often been described as a melting pot of flavors. It is a mix of various influences with French, European, Indian, and Chinese flavors. The cuisine is seafood-heavy. Vanilla is grown in plantations, and even the most popular rum in Mauritius is vanilla-flavoured. Popular dishes include curries, farata, or a type of Indian bread, seafood dishes, as well as a popular street food called dholl puri, which is a wheat bread stuffed with ground split peas. From high-end fine dining restaurants to roadside shacks, there is no dearth of choice.

Drives are very scenic, through sugarcane fields, towns, and quaintly shaped mountains. One can spot traveller's palms, mango, litchi, pineapple plantation, and of course sugarcane and coconut trees everywhere. Buses and taxis are easily available and not very expensive.