Map of Mauritius

Visitors to this enchanting island nation have always been awed-awed by the impressive way in which so many cultures- Indian, African, French and Chinese coexist together. A modern nation comfortably existing with its ancient heritage, Mauritius is a treat to explore. An impressive collection of beaches and stunning coral reefs remain the focus of visit for tourists in Mauritius. Tourism in Mauritius provides a comprehensive holiday package, which covers all the major tourist attractions in Mauritius.

The epitome of Indian Ocean paradise, Mauritius island of pristine sea beaches and a well stocked marine life that are an object of fascination for the majority of tourists. Spend your time lazing around on the beaches or if you are the type of the person who craves adventure, indulge in the various water sport activities that this beautiful island has to offer.

The warm crystal clear waters of the lagoons and white sandy beaches are ideal for any water sport activities such as sailing, diving, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing. Snorkeling and scuba diving will provide the perfect opportunity for guests to marvel at the rich marine life of Mauritius with its amazing coral reefs that are home to splendid multicolored fishes. Also, with record catches of blue and black Marlins, sharks and other marine fauna, Deep sea fishing in Mauritius has its own special charm.

Cuisine of Mauritius

Mauritius is a paradise for the palate where the ethnic diversity of the local people is reflected in its cuisine. The cuisine of Mauritius is a testament to the influence of the culinary traditions of France, India, China and Africa that the people of Mauritius have incorporated with their local fruits, vegetables and other ingredients. The cuisine of Mauritius, with its with its variety of flavors and aromas is indeed a gastronomic delight.

Mauritian cuisine is mix of Creole (African), Indian, French and Chinese cuisine. Hence starting from Creole rougailles, Indian curries and biryanis, Chinese chopsuey to French civet de lièvre, everything is a part of cuisine in Mauritius. The most basic and the common ingredient used in Mauritian recipes are the tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic and chilies while the traditional base is definitely the curries and "rougailles" which is made from the blends of home crushed spices. Spices also constitute a major part of Mauritian cuisine. The extensive use of spices such as saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves provide a powerful, yet subtle flavor to the dish.

The combination of curries and rougailles along with white rice and other beans is popular with the locals and is generally included in their everyday food. The unique interblending of spices with vegetables, meat and fish is what lends that distinctive, unique charm to the food of Mauritius.

Along the years each community has adapted and mixed each other's cuisine to their liking, which resulted in a Mauritian cuisine that brings to the front the cultural richness of the pluri-ethnical Mauritian society. As a result, Creole rougaille served with a variety of achars (pickles) or dals (pulses) and rice from Indian origin is a very common sight in Mauritius.

While on a trip to Mauritius, tourists must savor the Mauritian food to the fullest. Some of the must-eat Mauritian dishes are dholl purri, farata, gâteaux piment and samosas. For sea food lovers, they must treat themselves to the "Millionaire's salad" comprising of oysters, shrimps, crayfish, crabs, Rosenbergi prawns that is served with sauce rouge (red sauce) and the heart of a palm tree. To get the taste of real Mauritian food, have a dholl puri with a large glass of Alouda or tamarind juice. It can be said for the dishes of Mauritius that just by savoring it one can travel to all corners of the globe without leaving the table. Indeed tourists in Mauritius can begin their day with a continental breakfast, followed by a Chinese lunch and finish with an Indian dinner along with some French wine.

Culture of Mauritius

European, Indian, Chinese and African cultures converge together to make up the colorful, vibrant culture of Mauritius that is replete with some of the most fascinating and years-old customs and traditions. Each aspect of Mauritian culture-its cuisine, religions, festivals, language and literature is a living proof of the myriad Asia, African and Western influences.

The Mauritian culture's rich diversity is evident in Mauritius' landscape where churches, temples and mosques jostle each other for space. Chinese pagodas and Buddhist temples are also a common sight in Mauritius. The people of Mauritius celebrate various festivals belonging to different religions with equal gusto and fervor such as Mahashivratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chathurti, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Christmas, Easter and Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) among others. The Tamil festival of Cavadee that celebrates Lord Muruga is a penitence ritual that involves spectacular feats like the fire-walking ceremony.

The multi-ethnic characteristics of Mauritius make it a multi-lingual country with ethnic languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Urdu, Mandarin and Cantonese being commonly used. But the real lingua franca of the island is Creole. The Creole language emerged as a result of interaction between French settlers and African slaves. The use of the Creole language transcends all ethnic, religious and class barriers. Creole does not have a definite written form, as mostly English or French are the languages of choice for education, media, government, law and business.

The Creole language is the medium of the indigenous music and dance form of Mauritius- the Sega. Sega is the music, songs and dances of choice played to tourists as a taste of the local culture. Its origins are said to be that of African. The Sega is based on three basic instruments: the ravanne, the maravanne and the triangle. The dancers wear colorful blouses and skirts with flower motifs and swaying their hips to the rhythmic music. Bhojpuri songs of Indian origin are also quite popular, especially in the interiors.

Mauritius is also well known for its handicrafts. The handicraft tradition of Mauritius dates back to the colonial period of the East India Company and the local handicraft is a fusion of French and Afro-Asian cultures.

When it comes to food, Mauritian cuisine is an exotic synthesis of myriad continental and oriental influences where Indian-style curries go hand in hand with French gateaux and Creole rougailles. The variety of spices used in Mauritian dishes lend a subtle and a aromatic flavor that goes a long way in making Mauritian cuisine an unique culinary experience.

Geography of Mauritius

The Geography of Mauritius is its biggest asset. Mauritius is located in the southwest Indian Ocean at a distance of 900 km east of Madagascar and about 3,943 kilometers southwest of India. Mauritius is a part of the Mascarene Islands and was formed due to a series of undersea volcanic eruptions. The island of Mauritius itself is formed around a central plateau, which is about 600 metres above sea level. Around the plateau, the original crater can still be distinguished from several other mountains. All these have led to a creation of a beautiful landscape.

The Geography of Mauritius is such that it is located at 20 17 S, 57. 33 E. Spread over 2040 sq km, it also includes the the Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals, and Rodrigues Island. It is almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC. The highest point in Mauritius is the mountain of Piton de la Rivière Noire at 828m while the lowest point is the Indian Ocean. The capital city of Mauritius and also its largest is Port Louis. Other main cities are Curepipe, Vacoas, Phoenix, Quatre Bornes, Rose-Hill and Beau-Bassin.

Tourism in Mauritius

Mauritius, Situated 1200 miles off the coast of Africa in the middle of the Indian Ocean, this dream island seems like a tropical garden arising out from the horizon. The beauty of Mauritius is beyond words. Replete with lush forest, wild waterfalls, unique wildlife, moonscaped mountains and palm-fringed beaches, Mauritius is the archetypical dream destination for tourists and perfect for an idyllic holiday. The friendliness of Mauritius's multi-cultural population is also a valuable tourist resource. These are the reasons because of which tourism in Mauritius thrives so much.

This beautiful island also offers a wide variety of leisure pursuits for the more active, based around the stunning coastline and crystal-clear waters, including deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and water skiing.

The holiday experience in Mauritius is perfectly complemented by its delicious cuisine and the traditional music and dance form- Sega whose rhythmic beats sets the mood for the evening. Mauritius also has a throbbing nightlife in the form of casinos and discotheques.