“Mauritius was made first and then heaven, and heaven was copied after Mauritius” – Mark Twain said this while describing the beauty of the island nation.
Mauritius, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, is known for its beaches, lagoons, reefs and holiday spots. Whether it is the captivating view of waterfalls making way for themselves atop a towering mountain or the serene environment near a clean water beach, there’s a lot in Mauritius to fall in love with. The East African country is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the region. It welcomes thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. From newly-wed couples to groups of young friends, there’s a lot to explore in Mauritius for almost every age group.
When people talk about Mauritius, they mostly talk about the beaches, the hiking experience, honeymoon spots and natural beauty. Apart from the natural beauty of the island nation, what makes it interesting is its unique history. Surrounded by coral reefs, Mauritius has seen people from different cultures arriving and staying there. While Mauritius is popular for its beaches, it has equally magnificent green landscapes that add to the diversity of the country. It is a paradise carved upon the earth for adventure lovers and travellers. Not many would know, but Mauritius has a lot to offer to the history buffs as well. While we mostly talk about the beautiful places that one can visit in the island nation, this blog is dedicated to some historical places in the country.
Aapravasi Ghat
Not many would know that thousands of Indian bonded labourers were sent to different parts of the world such as Fiji and Mauritius during the British occupation. Aapravasi Ghat or Immigration Depot, a UNESCO World Heritage Site was used for bonded labourers arriving from India. It now serves as an interpretation centre. The building is a reflection of the British colonisation that happened in the region in the early 19th century.
St. Aubin House
The history of St. Aubin House can be traced back to nearly 200 years. There was a time when Mauritius produced huge amounts of sugar and had several factories across the island. The lawn of the house is now covered with rum distilleries. This huge house has a vanilla house, spice garden, tropical garden and several other gardens. Don’t miss the five-course Mauritian lunch available at the house.
Martello Tower
The British built as many as 5 towers in the 1800s to protect their territory from the French occupational forces. The French were trying to fuel the fire of revolt among the slaves to overturn the kingdom. Martello Tower now serves as a museum. The towers built by the British are 3 metres thick. These towers had copper cannons at the top that could shoot up to a distance of 2 kilometres.
Eureka House
The grand mansion was constructed in the 1800s during the British period. It has been converted into a museum and serves as a storyteller of the colonial past that the country has had. The house contains as many as 109 doors and the rooms are huge. With so many doors in the house, several rooms are built in such a way that they remain cold even during the extreme heat of summer. The house is filled with many antiques and the memories from the colonial era.
Le Morne
Just like Aapravasi Ghat, Le Morne is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most popular places on the island both from the historic perspective as well as from the point of natural beauty. Le Morne is a mountain located in the Southwest of the island that served as a safe refuge for the slaves who dared to run away from their masters during the colonial era. The mountains were not accessible easily and hence the people who ran away established their communities and started living in the caves here.
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Citadel Fort
Citadel Fort holds a great significance in the history of Mauritius. It was built by the Britishers in the 19th century for military purposes. Located in the capital of Port Louis, the fort gives a panoramic view of the gorgeous city. There are some boutiques as well where you can get some souvenirs. The fort still has some old cannons that were used in those days.
Matthew Flinders Monument
The Matthey Flinder Monument is not too old really, given that it was built in 2003. It was built in the memory of Matthew Flinders, the first person to identify Australia as a continent. Flinders was an English cartographer and explorer. The monument was built to mark the 200th anniversary of Flinders’ arrival in Mauritius. Flinders was jailed for six years immediately after he set his foot on Mauritian soil.
Beau Plan Sugar Mill
As told earlier, Mauritius once used to produce huge amounts of sugar and had several sugar factories. Beau Plan Sugar Mill was also a sugar factory that now serves as a museum and tells the story of the colonial period through its walls. If you want to learn about the history of the island and the practice of slavery, you should visit the mill for sure. The factory was started in 1797 and closed in 1999. You can taste as many as 15 types of sugar when you visit the mill.
