Today is the final post about Mauritius. About the island, which left so many bright and unforgettable emotions. All my posts by the way you can easily find the tag Mauritius >>>.
And today I will tell you about the southern and southeastern part of the island. Here are the wildest and most beautiful landscapes: sandy beaches fringed by rocks: rugged waves; rocky shores, sugar cane fields and mountainous terrain with magnificent panoramas. And then there’s the Bel Ombre tourist area.
The last days of our stay on the island were rainy and overcast. It’s all about the cyclone. And it’s good that it had some effect on the weather – just a little. And our plane home was not delayed – and this happens here, and not infrequently )
We spent the last two days fully exploring this part of the island (south, but in fact the central part as well): La Roche Qui Pleure, Gris-Gris, La Plantation de Saint Aubin, Bois Cheri, Grand Bassin… And many more.
By the way, I already told you about Bois Cheri Tea Factory and Le Domaine de Saint Aubin >>>
Maconde Viewpoint
A very beautiful viewpoint called Maconde. It is very close to Le Morne Village and if you drive towards Gris-Gris beach, you can’t miss it! Especially good to launch a drone from here!
Gris-Gris и La Roche Qui Pleure
Two incredibly beautiful beaches. Amazing coves, huge waves – crashing on the rocks … This is the southernmost part of the island and in fact only Antarctica is ahead… By the way, there are waves up to 20 meters high… We unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) did not see them, but we liked the place so much that we came here twice…
If I were in California, I would tell for sure if this place looks like the famous Big Sur beaches or not. But from the photo, it looks very similar.)
On the way to the Hindu Temple we met another lake in the crater of the volcano.
Ganga Talao and the Hindu Temple
Ganga Talao is one of the rare natural lakes in Mauritius, formed inside the crater of an extinct volcano (549 meters above sea level). It is also known as a pilgrimage site for Mauritians of the Hindu faith. Every year in February, during the week of Maha Shivaratri, thousands of Hindus walk miles from every corner of the island to bring offerings to Lord Shiva and the Grand Bassin, as well as to draw sacred water from the “Second Ganges”.
The lake is also called Grand Basin Lake (“Great Basin”). According to legend, the lake was formed when the god Shiva, traveling around the world, poured water from the sacred river Ganges on the island of Mauritius, and in 1897, one Hindu priest Shiva appeared in a dream and said that the waters of Grand Bassin Lake begin with the river Ganges, sacred to Indians. The news of this spread among the faithful and on the festival of the god Shiva – Mahashivaratri. Therefore, every year, those who celebrate the holiday rush to the lake.
It is believed that anyone who gets his feet wet in the waters of the sacred lake will receive the blessing of Shiva himself. Around the lake the Hindu temple of the god Shiva and the sanctuary of the monkey god Hanuman have been erected, colorful statues of other gods and a statue of the sacred cow, revered by Hindus as a mother. Around the lake are sacrificial bollards for offerings to the gods, the established tradition being fruit, rice, candy, and flowers.
In the middle of the lake there is a small island of God, it is forbidden for a mortal to set his foot on it. In 2007, a 33-meter-high statue of Shiva was erected 2 km from the lake, with a trident in his hand.
It is believed that anyone who gets his feet wet in the waters of the sacred lake will receive the blessing of Shiva himself. Around the lake the Hindu temple of the god Shiva and the sanctuary of the monkey god Hanuman have been erected, colorful statues of other gods and a statue of the sacred cow, revered by Hindus as a mother. Around the lake are sacrificial bollards for offerings to the gods, the established tradition being fruit, rice, candy, and flowers.
In the middle of the lake there is a small island of God, it is forbidden for a mortal to set his foot on it. In 2007, a 33-meter-high statue of Shiva was erected 2 km from the lake, with a trident in his hand.
There are also hundreds of monkeys living here! They are quite calm and well-mannered here.)
I think I’ve told you everything I’ve seen, learnt and tasted! Be sure to read all the posts, if you’re going to Mauritius!
You know, very often I saw headlines that Mauritius is boring (including the famous Varlamov). But I do not agree with it categorically! I can not imagine how it can be boring! There are: beaches, bays, mountains, coral reefs, waterfalls, national parks with animals and birds. Entertainment for all tastes and costs. Bored, perhaps, will be only those who do not like nature. In the cities (except Port Louis) there really is nothing to do. But I do not know how you can go here for the architecture! Although the era of the colonizers was here as well and left its weighty mark …
