10th century – Phoenicians, Malays, Swahili and Arab seamen visit island but do not settle. Island named Dina Robin by Arab mariners. 1498 – Portuguese explorers stumble upon Mauritius in the wake of Vasco da Gama’s voyage around the Cape of Good Hope. 1510 – Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas visits the island and names it …
A video documentary about the Trains Era in Mauritius by Wassim Sookia. It is true that not many of us, of the current generation, have known the railways era in Mauritius, but most of us have certainly heard about it from tales of parents and grandparents. The last passenger train was on 31 March 1956 and the overall railways ended in 1964 with its dismantling thereon. This video documentary will certainly let us live through this golden time once again!
First published: 13/07/2013
Le 7 juillet 1810, ce fut l’arrivée d’une vingtaine de navires anglais venant de l’ile Rodrigue sur les côtes nord et ouest de l’Ile Bonaparte (Ile de la Réunion). Celle-ci fut prise le 8 juillet et un acte de capitulation signé le jour même. Quelques semaines plus tard le gouverneur anglais de l’ile Bourbon, Robert …
This Saturday and Sunday (5th & 6th) of November took place the 10th edition of the Vintage and Classic Car Owners Association, the Classic Tour de Maurice. On the first day the venue was at the Royal College of Curepipe where a good 25 vintage cars were present, to the delight of the public. On …
Regattas have been of event practically each year and even though the venue varies from place to place, the one of Pointe des Régates still remains the icon. This year the event occurred on the 26th of April (2015) at Mahebourg, Pointe des Régates more precisely, and this occasion was also followed by a little …
Pope Hennessy Street is named after one of the most appreciated Governors of the island during the British occupation period, and Sir Pope Hennessy reigned as governor between 1883 and 1889. If taken at full straight length, this street comprises of 3 sections; Pope Hennessy Street, Jules Koenig Street and Intendance Street, for a total …
The decision to construct the motorway was taken based on the report of the British railway engineers concluding that the mauritian railway lines would have cost Rs 35 millions to be modernised in addition to a yearly loss of Rs 4 millions for its maintenance. In 1955, after certain discussions with the Colonial Office, the …
The Mauritian Ocean Territory floor counts as much as over 600 ships remains comprising of wreckage, retirement, and war victims. The story of the Dalblair is another unfortunate shipwreck that occured in 1902. The “Dalblair” was a steel ship of 1474 tons built in 1895 in Scotland (town of Troon) by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company. …
Converting the primitive harbour that the first French settlers knew into a civilized port, was no mean achievement for Mahé de La Bourdonnais. That metamorphosis was the result of the joint efforts of European sailors, Lascar seamen from India and African slaves. A navigable channel was marked out to facilitate the entrance of ships in …
Mauritius island, being of volcanic origin, offers quite some natural wonders that many may have had the occasion to contemplate. Found in the district of Savanne, and forming part of the Old Terracine Sugar Estate (now Pepiniere), Rochester Falls is one of those famous attractions flowing from the Savanne River. This waterfall certainly must be …
The Village of Mahebourg, by definition, is named after the most successful governor of the island during the early french occupation period. Mahebourg (Mahé-Bourg), Mahe from Mahé de La Bourdonnais, and Bourg, the french definition to a town, was once chosen to be the main Port of the island known as ‘Port Sud-Est’, but later …
The very first postal service in Mauritius dates back to 1772, when the island was under French rule. At that time slaves were used to deliver letters to their respective recipients. There were no physical building to serve that purpose but just the service of delivering letters to other recipients. However, it fell into disuse …
During the early french settlement on the island in 1721 (even though the first claim of possession of the island was in 1715), there wasn’t any interior roads. All communications were done only by sea round the island in either directions. The first settlements were established at these two places only; Port Louis (North-West) and …
Mauritius having been heavily dependent on the agricultural economy since its discovery till the late 1990s has known many ups and downs in this sector. The Sugar Industry which was once the backbone of the economy has currently been replaced by the Service sector as of 2014. During the French occupation period, Mahé de La …
Mauritius having been a British Colony between 1810 and 1968 (until Indepedence) has received quite some Royal Visits all along: 1870, 1901, 1927, 1956, 1972, and 1976, and each of these different personalities brought their own royal touch to the country. The Royal Visits to Mauritius are listed as follows: 1870: The Duke of Edimbourg …
Bicycle racing in Mauritius dates back since the early 20th century. These events are very popular back in those days and participants during such occasions are quite a lot too. Bicycle racing are organized every year now and the categories vary depending on the bicycle types also. In the beginning mostly road bicycles were involved …
Found opposite the Curepipe Municipal Garden, the history behind the old Curepipe market dates back since 1878. At that time Curepipe was still a developping town. In the beginning, the market place of Curepipe was just a hall of teck wood covered with ‘bardeaux’, and to be more precise, it was erected on the 2nd …
Mauritius might be a very small island in the Indian Ocean but it was among the early countries in the world to benefit from the advantage of photography since the mid/late 19th Century, according to the Photography Museum in Port Louis. Of course, the process wasn’t as simple as it is today but still we should …
What follows is an old old tale that grandma’s used to tell children in Mauritius very long time ago, but unfortunately the story is in the native language of ‘creole’: The story of ‘Tizan Gato Canette’. For those who can understand will rejoice in their souvenirs (if ever you formed part of that old generation …
The Remains of Old Port Louis have till today been a subject of fascination to many, especially photographers, who find a way or another to reveal the extra-ordinary out of the ordinary. Old Churches, Colonial Houses, Maisons Creoles, Old Chinese Shops, Ruins of British-occupation… From a different point of view, Port Louis viewed from an …
The Mauritian Sea and territories counts the unfortunate events of over 600 ship wrecks in its naval history and this one is among the many that didn’t manage to reach safe port, the ship wreck of the SS Tayeb Cargo ship. The dramatic event occured on the 12th of February 1972 after the passage of …
Ene peuple ki pa kone so passé li couma ene puit sans delo L’histoire de Maurice ne se réduit pas à des piles de livres sur une étagère. Elle correspond aussi au sang qui coule dans nos veines, c’est la vie qui est transmise dans nos familles, c’est la façon dont les gens vivent dans …
Another iconic venue of Mauritius apart from the other famous buildings in the city of Port Louis is certainly the OLD Plaza Theatre in Rose Hill. Found on the Royal Road near the town centre, the Plaza Theatre is considered as the Municipal Town Hall, a Theatre, a Cinema, a Wedding Hall, and a very good …