Mauritius,officially the Republic of Mauritius, French: République de Maurice, is an island nation off the coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometres (560 mi) east of Madagascar. In addition to the island of Mauritius, the Republic includes the islands of St. Brandon, Rodrigues and the Agalega Islands. Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands, with the French island of Réunion 200 km (120 mi) to the southwest and the island of Rodrigues 570 km (350 mi) to the northeast.

The island of Mauritius is renowned for having been the only known home of the dodo. First sighted by Europeans around 1600 on Mauritius, the dodo became extinct less than eighty years later.

Geography

Together with Réunion and Rodrigues, Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands. This archipelago was formed in a series of undersea volcanic eruptions 8-10 million years ago, as the African plate drifted over the Réunion hotspot. They are no longer volcanically active, and the hotspot now rests under Réunion. The island of Mauritius itself is formed around a central plateau, with its highest peak in the southwest, Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire at 828 metres (2,717 ft). Around the plateau, the original crater can still be distinguished from several mountains.

Weather

The weather in Mauritius is perfect for holidays. All the year around the climate is enjoyable. You can choose your vacation at any time of the year you will be sure to always spend great holidays. On the coastal areas, mainly the west side of the island there is not so much variation in the temperature. The disadvantage in Mauritius is that the weather may change very quickly from sunny to rainy. If you are staying on the coastal regions as Flic en Flac the weather may get rainy but not for long.

The warmest months of the year are January and February. The only problem during the warm months is that a cyclone can occur. The weather during cyclones period are not so nice of course. During a tropical cyclone there can be very strong winds, very high waves in the sea and it bring lot of rain too. A tropical storm has different names depending of the regions the storm is located and also of its strength. In the area of Mauritius it is known mostly as tropical cyclone or tropical storm. In other region s it may be called a typhoon, a hurricane, a tropical depression or a cyclonic storm. There is in Mauritius a warning system for the weather during a tropical cyclone for the inhabitants; it goes from Class 1 to Class 4.

Travel

Air: The national airline of Mauritius is Air Mauritius (MK). Air Austral, Air Europe, Air France, Air Madagascar, Air Seychelles, Air Tanzania, Air Zimbabwe, British Airways, Condor, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways and Swissair also fly to Mauritius.

International Airport: Mauritius (MRU) (Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam) is 48km (30 miles) southeast of Port Louis. Taxis are available to the city (travel time - 45 minutes to 2 hours). Airport facilities include duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change, snack bar, post office, shops and car hire (Avis, Europcar and Hertz). A new terminal has recently been built.

Sea: Port Louis is the main port. It is primarily commercial but there is a limited passenger service to Réunion and Rodrigues Island.

Mauritius offers a unique opportunity of combining healthcare, wellness and leisure. It is the perfect tropical destination where you can find excellent medical treatment and wellness centres. From cosmetic surgery to dentistry, Mauritius is ideal when it comes to medical tourism .You can enjoy a relaxing vacation while improving your health.

Why Mauritius?

Technology

Fast and sustained development has positively increased thanks to newest technology equipments. Health centres, clinics and patients are a supported by modern medical, diagnostic centres and laboratories.

Training and education

Mauritius medical education and training have considerably increased offering better and more advanced knowledge. The medical staffs are bilingual, trained and qualified in healthcare.

Specialisation

Mauritius has a large network of professional private clinics that have a high standard of care.

Savings

A medical operation in Mauritius is cheaper than in many parts of the world. Special packages including flight, medical service and accommodation are all organised to facilitate your trip and allow you to make considerable savings.

Popular

Rejuvenating wellness treatments are very popular in Mauritius. The peaceful, calm and beautiful environment that is found on our island is ideal for well being therapies, massages, spas and soothing exercises.

History

After a brief Dutch settlement, French immigrants who came in 1715 named the island Île de France and established the first road and harbor infrastructure, as well as the sugar industry, under the leadership of Gov. Mahe de Labourdonnais. Blacks from Africa and Madagascar came as slaves to work in the sugarcane fields. In 1810, the British captured the island and in 1814, by the Treaty of Paris, it was ceded to Great Britain along with its dependencies.

Indian immigration, which followed the abolition of slavery in 1835, rapidly changed the fabric of Mauritian society, and the country flourished with the increased cultivation of sugarcane. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 heralded the decline of Mauritius as a port of call for ships rounding the southern tip of Africa, bound for South and East Asia. The economic instability of the price of sugar, the main crop, in the first half of the 20th century brought civil unrest, then economic, administrative, and political reforms. Mauritius became independent on March 12, 1968.

Culture

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.

Beaches:

The beaches of Mauritius are some of the best you will ever come across. White sands and blue waters make a striking contrast that is a treat for the eyes of any traveler. The beaches are well cared and offer a host of water sports and activities including water skiing, boating, swimming, sailing, wind surfing, and fishing. The beaches are also the ideal spot to go for a sunbath, and relax with family or friends. The marine life of the region can also be observed from the beaches. The famous beaches of Mauritius are - Grand Bay, Blue Bay, Pereybere, Belle Mare, Flic en Flac, Le Morne and Tamarin.

Port Louis :

On the west coast towards the north is Mauritius' capital, Port Louis, which remains a hive of business and government activity. A kaleidoscope of color and activity, sight, smell and sounds. The city has plenty of character, activities, and in some quarters, signs of its past elegance are still evident. However, it retains much of its diversity of character with both a Chinatown and a Muslim area. There are few entertainment facilities in town to attract visitors by night and also a major new development on the waterfront. There are the market for bargains; a drive to the top of La Citadelle for the marvellous view; admire the grand 19th-century buildings; see the reconstructed dodo and rare artifacts at the fascinating Natural History Museum.

Grand Baie :

Once a small fishing village, it is now the main tourist town for visitors and resident alike, with many hotels and restaurants. Grand Baie is nestled in a picturesque bay at the northern tip of the island. Its coastline is the main centre for yachting, water-skiing, windsurfing and many other sports. Intimate art galleries and a wide variety of boutique clothing and fasinating souvenir shops also fill the town.

Eureka House :

Eureka House, a magnificent and beautifully restored Creole-style house is reputed to be one of the largest house on the island, with 109 doors and windows. Built in the 1830s, it was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1986. The museum has areas dedicated to music, art, antique maps, Chinese and Indian housewares and quirky contraptions like a colonial-era shower.

Historic:

The historic sites of Mauritius include the ruins of the European settlements and some other monuments of that period. The Balaclava ruins and the Dutch ruins at Vieux Grand Port offer a glimpse of the medieval history of the island. Remains of the first fortifications and settlements can be seen here.

Wildlife:

Mauritius has quite a few wildlife destinations which are home to a wide range of wildlife found in the region, including a large number of rare species. The major wildlife parks in this island are – Black River Gorges National Park, La Vanille Crocodiles Park, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Domaine du Chasseur. The marine life of the region can be witnessed by going underwater in the submersibles available for the purpose.

Religious and Others:

Triolet Shivala, the biggest Hindu temple of the islands was built in Triolet in 1819. The temple is dedicated to the Gods Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma and Ganesha. This place is also the longest village on the island. Other noted pilgrimage sites include the Pere Laval shrine and Lake Bassin.

There are many tourist spots which are known for their recreational value. These include the Ile Anx Cerfs on the east coast, which attracts a lot of tourists for its water sports, dining and shopping options. The Pamplemonsses Garden was created in the 18th century in the estate of the French Governor Mahe de Labourdonnais. The beautiful garden has a rich collection of plants including the Victoria Amazonica lilies.

Port Louis is the capital and one of the major tourist attractions in Mauritius. The city, apart from being the headquarters of administration, is home to a large number of interesting tourist spots. These include 18th century structures like the Government house and the Municipal Theater. The Supreme Court and the Natural History Museum are the other important sites in the city. Besides, there are two cathedrals, and a mosque that demand a visit. The mask museum is an interesting museum displaying a large number of masks collected from all over the world.