South & Highlands: Grand Bassin, Trou aux Cerfs & Bois Chéri

Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao) is the holiest place in Mauritius and one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites outside India. The crater lake is located at 550 meters altitude in the central highlands, nestled in extinct volcanic cones and surrounded by tropical forest — an atmosphere of deep spirituality and silence.

According to legend, the water of Grand Bassin is directly connected to the holy Ganges in India. For the approximately 600,000 Hindus in Mauritius (almost half of the population), the lake is therefore a place of utmost religious significance. Colorful temples and shrines stand on the shore, devotees offer sacrifices, and the air is filled with the scent of incense and flowers.

Mangal Mahadev — The Shiva Statue

At the entrance to Grand Bassin stands the Mangal Mahadev — a 33-meter-high statue of the god Shiva, the largest Hindu statue in Mauritius and one of the tallest in the world outside India. The statue was erected in 2007 and is visible from afar. It depicts Shiva in his classic representation with trident, snake, and water jet — an impressive monument of Hindu art and devotion.

Maha Shivaratri

The largest Hindu festival in Mauritius takes place every year in February or March: Maha Shivaratri (the “Great Night of Shiva”). Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walk to Grand Bassin — some over 50 kilometers — carrying colorful offerings and singing religious songs. The procession through the night, illuminated by torches and candles, is an unforgettable cultural experience and the second-largest Hindu pilgrimage festival in the world after the Kumbh Mela in India. As a visitor, you are warmly welcome — the Mauritian Hindus are proud to share their culture.

Visitor Tip: Grand Bassin is accessible year-round, no entrance fee. Appropriate clothing (shoulders and knees covered) out of respect for the religious site. At the entrance, there are small stalls with offerings, flowers, and coconuts. The best time to visit is early morning when the mist lies over the lake and the temples are bathed in mystical light.

In the middle of the city of Curepipe — Mauritius' highest city at 560 meters — lies a dormant volcanic crater, reminding of the island's fiery past: Trou aux Cerfs (literally: "Deer Hole"). The almost perfectly circular crater has a diameter of 300 meters and is 80 meters deep — filled with dense tropical forest and a small lake at the bottom.

The Crater Rim Walk

A paved path leads around the entire crater rim in 30–45 minutes. The walk is easy and family-friendly, and the views are spectacular: In clear weather, the view extends from here over almost the entire island — the Moka mountain range to the north, Le Morne to the southwest, the coastline to the east, and the city of Curepipe directly below. In the morning, before the clouds gather, the visibility is best.

Volcanism in Mauritius

Mauritius is of volcanic origin — the island was formed about 8–10 million years ago by volcanic eruptions over a hotspot in the Indian Ocean (the same hotspot that still feeds the island of Réunion with the active Piton de la Fournaise). The last volcanic activity on Mauritius was about 25,000 years ago. Trou aux Cerfs is one of several recognizable craters, but the best preserved and most accessible.

Curepipe — The "City of Rain"

The city of Curepipe (approx. 80,000 inhabitants) is significantly cooler and rainier than the coast due to its altitude — the Mauritians jokingly call it "Curepipe: deux saisons — la saison des pluies et la saison où il pleut" (two seasons: the rainy season and the season when it rains). Nevertheless, a stroll is worthwhile: The colonial-style town hall, the botanical garden (smaller than Pamplemousses but charming), and the model ship workshops are worth seeing. Mauritius is world-famous for its handcrafted model ships made from camphor wood — in the workshops of Curepipe and Floréal, you can watch the craftsmen at work and buy ships.

In the highlands of Mauritius, on gentle hills between 400 and 600 meters altitude, stretch the tea plantations — a green sea of neatly trimmed tea bushes that undulate across the landscape to the horizon. Tea was brought to Mauritius by the French in 1770 and has since been an important part of agriculture and culture.

Bois Chéri — The Tea Factory

The Bois Chéri Tea Factory (founded in 1892) is the oldest and largest tea plantation on the island and offers the best tea experience tour in Mauritius. The visit includes three stations:

1. The Plantation: A walk through the tea fields, where you learn how the leaves are hand-picked (only the top two leaves and the bud). The tea pickers have worked here for generations — a tradition that dates back to the Indian contract workers.
2. The Factory: From withering to fermentation, drying, and packaging — the entire production process is explained. Particularly fascinating: the flavored tea varieties (vanilla, coconut, bergamot) that are only produced in Mauritius.
3. The Tea House (Le Saint Aubin): The tasting takes place in a colonial pavilion with panoramic views over the lake and tea plantations — one of the most beautiful places in Mauritius. You taste 5–8 types of tea and can buy your favorites. The vanilla tea is a popular souvenir.

Entrance Fee: 350 MUR (approx. 7€) including tour and tasting. Open: Mon–Fri 8:30–15:30, Sat 8:30–11:30.

La Route du Thé

The Tea Route (Route du Thé) is a combined tour that includes Bois Chéri as well as the Domaine des Aubineaux (a restored colonial house from the 19th century) and the Domaine de Saint Aubin (a sugar and vanilla plantation with a Creole restaurant). The combined tour costs 750 MUR (approx. 15€) and is a half-day well spent — history, nature, and culinary delights in one.

The south of Mauritius is the counterpoint to the calm lagoons of the north and east. Here, there is no protective coral reef — the Indian Ocean crashes against the coast with full force and has created spectacular cliffs, rock formations, and wild surf bays over millennia. The south is less touristy, rougher, and more authentic — here, the Mauritian people live largely untouched by resort tourism.

Gris Gris — The Cliffs at the Edge of the World

At the southernmost point of the island, the cliffs of Gris Gris rise steeply over the surf. There is no beach, no reef, no calm water here — only the raw power of the ocean crashing against the basalt rocks and sending spray meters into the air. A viewpoint with a railing offers safe views into the depths. Particularly impressive in rough seas (June–September). The "weeping rock formation" (La Roche qui Pleure) nearby — where water seeps through rock crevices and flows down like tears — is a popular photo motif.

Mahébourg — Colonial History

Mahébourg on the southeast coast is a sleepy port town with a great history: In 1810, the Battle of Grand Port took place here — the only naval battle that Napoleon won against the British (and the only battle engraved on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris). The National History Museum in Château Ghislain tells the story, displaying ship models and artifacts from the colonial era, including remains of the wreck of the Saint Géran (1744). Admission: free.

Mahébourg's Monday market is one of the best on the island — more colorful, authentic, and cheaper than the tourist market in Port Louis. Fresh fruits, spices, clothing, and street food in an atmosphere barely discovered by tourists.

Blue Bay Marine Park

Just east of Mahébourg lies the Blue Bay Marine Park — Mauritius' only underwater national park. The bay is home to over 50 coral species and hundreds of fish species in crystal-clear water. Snorkeling here is a must — glass-bottom boats (from 300 MUR / 6€) showcase the underwater world to non-swimmers as well. The beach itself is small but beautiful, with turquoise water in all imaginable shades. On weekends, many Mauritian families visit — during the week, it is quieter.