Mauritius Melting Pot

True to form Mark had our route for the day all mapped out.  We first went north from Port Louis to the SSR Botanic Garden and then headed south through the center of the island to check out the old volcano crater.  it was a beautiful drive past some of the unique mountains.

I had to put in a photo of our car for the day.  Mark had rented a 7-seater vehicle for the day and this was what he got.  It actually looks bigger in this picture than it really was but if you compare it to the size of the parking space maybe you can get an idea of its true size.  Thankfully there were only four of us that had to fit in there, not sure how you'd ever get seven adults in that car.  We laughed about it all day! Oh, and every time we stopped Mark had to open my door because it wouldn't open from the inside. 🤣

This spot is a hilltop crater in the middle of a town.  It's more like a park than a volcano, with a wide asphalt walkway all the way around the rim.  Funny story, there was a restroom here that you had to pay to use.  There was an older lady there who we decided must be the potty police.  Anyway, you were supposed to pay 10 rupees, or about 22 cents, to use it.  Since none of us had any Mauritian rupees Cathy tried to use a dollar to pay, but the woman would have none of it.  We asked about using Euros, no, those weren't allowed either, only rupees.  We weren't actually sure if she even knew what a dollar bill was.  Good thing it wasn't a bathroom emergency!

This was definitely the greenest and most verdant volcano crater I'd ever seen.  I guess that's what happens when there's only been one eruption and that it was over 700,000 years ago.

We did get nice views of some of the other mountains and countryside from this site.

Here's looking down in the caldera from another angle.  You can almost get a glimpse of the small lake, or pond, that's in the bottom.

Only a few flowers up on top but at least that way I could post some.

As we traversed the walkway we came across these tombs.  It was a piece of the island's history, a spot known as the Malagasy cemetery.  When the sugar industry first began in Mauritius, slaves were brought from Madagascar to work the fields.  These tombs are believed to be those of some of the slaves and/or their descendants who probably lived nearby.  It is no longer used as a burial site but according to the sign "rituals and ceremonies are still reportedly performed to honor ancestors" here.

Another view of the beautiful countryside.

After the abolition of slavery, the colonial British still wanted cheap labor so they brought in Indians to work the plantations and factories.  So after 1835 these immigrants were brought to the island as indentured servants to work.  With them arrived Hinduism, and Islam.  Hindu temples and shrines can be seen all over the island but none are as big as those found at Grand Bassin.  Here's Jane posing with the huge statue of Durga.

Durga is often worshipped at the mother goddess.  She is often associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars, as well as being the consort of Shiva, who had his own giant statue nearby.  That's him on the right.

Both statues stand over 108 feet tall.  Shiva is one of the most important of the Hindu gods with some sects believing that he is the Supreme Lord who creates, protects and transforms the universe.  This statue had marvelous detail and texture.

48% of the population on the island is Hindu, so it's no surprise that there were many people at both sites performing worship rituals. Every year during Maha-Shivarati, a great celebration of Shiva, up to 40,000 pilgrims from all over the island travel to this holy site.  Traditionally the pilgrimage is made on foot and can take up to three days.

This sign just made me smile.

Not far from Grand Bassin is the holy Hindu site of Ganga Talao, considered to be a representation of the holy River Ganges in India.

In 1897 a Hindu priest who lived in the north of the island had a dream about a holy lake which was connected to the sacred river in India.  He searched for the lake and eventually arrived at Grand Bassin and recognized this lake from his dream.  Then in 1972 a priest from India actually brought sacred water from the Ganges and poured it into the lake here.  

There are multiples statues of Hindu gods and goddesses here, as well as many temples and shrines that surround the lake.

Ganga Talao is considered one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites outside of India.

The statue on the right is Laxmi, goddess of wealth, on the right is an offering of fruit, flowers and incense that sat nearby.

There were many here worshipping near the lake, taking the opportunity to touch the holy waters.  Shoes weren't allowed in the temples and there was also a sign that prohibited any meat products on the site.  It was a peaceful place and another interesting aspect of Mauritius.  It almost felt like we were in India once again.