Port Louis is the capital city of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. It's known for its French colonial architecture and the 19th-century Champ de Mars horse-racing track. It lies between a well-sheltered, deepwater harbor, accessible to ships through a break in the coral reef, and a semicircle of mountains.
Although English is the official language, it is spoken by a very small percentage of the people. Creole, a French-based patois, is spoken by about four-fifths of the population and is the lingua franca of the country. MUR or the Mauritius Rupee is the widely accepted currency in Mauritius.
There are many historical places and buildings to visit. It is also one of the best places to learn and appreciate more about Mauritian cultures and traditions. Here are some of the sites you shouldn't miss when in Port Louis :
- Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden | The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden, commonly known as the Pamplemousses Botanic Garden, is a popular tourist attraction in Pamplemousses, near Port Louis, Mauritius, and the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere
- Le Pouce | Le Pouce is the third highest mountain in Mauritius, at 812 meters. Only Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire and Pieter Both are taller. It is named Le Pouce because of the thumb-shaped peak of the mountain. It can be viewed from the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, and is a popular hike for the view of the city
- Pieter Both | Pieter Both, sometimes referred to as Peter Botte Mountain, is the second-highest mountain of Mauritius, at 820 meters tall. The mountain is shorter than Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire by eight metres. It is named after Pieter Both, the first Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies.
- Jummah Masjid | The Jummah Mosque is a mosque in Port Louis, Mauritius dating from the 1850s. The building combines Indian, Creole, and Islamic architecture. The Jummah Mosque houses the remains of Jamal Shah in a marble tomb next to the mosque.
- Photographic Museum of Mauritius/Musée de la Photographie Ile Maurice| Compact museum specializing in historical photographic equipment & antique movie posters.
- Central Market | Traditional market for fruit, vegetables & souvenirs plus Chinese herbal medicines & aphrodisiacs. The colors and atmosphere make this market worth a trip even if you don’t want to buy anything.
- Government House | The Government House, the most important building of political life in Mauritius, was built by Mahé de Labourdonnais in 1740. In the court of honor, a statue of the British Queen Victoria reminds of the Mauritian history and some huge flamboyant trees offer some shadow.
- Natural History Museum | Founded in 1880, this museum features an exhibit of the popular Dodo, the flightless bird that has been extinct since the end of the 17th century, and a vast library collection of more than 50,000 books.
- Caudan Waterfront and Shopping Precinct | This is the most commonplace in the town. – it’s much more touristy around here, with lots of places to eat with almost every type of food you can think of, designer brand shops, and gift shops.
- Champ de Mars | The Champ de Mars Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse race track in Port Louis, Mauritius. The Racecourse was inaugurated on 25 June 1812, by The Mauritius Turf Club which was founded earlier in the same year. Today, the Champ de Mars attracts tens of thousands of people on each racing day during the racing season from late March to early December. It is the second-largest racecourse after Ascot.
Mauritius is popularly known for its white beaches mostly and when you are in Port Louis you should not miss visiting the beaches for activities such as skydiving, snorkeling, surfing ???? , or even fishing ???? for fun! We also offer tours around the city for a better experience and overview of the city, have your cameras ready. Port Louis is a cultural hub, the city behind those white sand beaches is such a delight! Book with us now @ALKHALEEJ_TOURS_TRAVEL for a lifetime experience.