Port Louis – Capital of Mauritius

Extending over an area of 6.3km2, Port Louis is the main city and capital of Mauritius. Nestled at the foot of the Moka Ranges with a fore view of the sea, Port Louis is the heart of the island which remains busy all year long. Back in the 1600s, Port Louis was already in use by the French and Dutch as a port; in 1735, under the governor Mahe de Labourdonnais, developmental works started in the area for the people of the French colony (Port Louis so named after Louis XV) and thereon became one of the most important cities of the Indian Ocean mainly because of its strategic location. The climate in Port Louis can be very dry and hot (more than 30˚C in summer and in the 20's in winter) and this makes it a bit uncomfortable to people not used to high temperatures when visiting. Many sky scrapers can be seen in the city such as the Bank of Mauritius, the State Bank of Mauritius etc which is quite amazing for such a small developing island. Most of the main businesses have a branch in Port Louis and as the island develops more, more buildings are built. This also means that more people are getting in and out of the city resulting in a major problem of traffic jam since there is only one motor way leading in and out of the city. Port Louis is indeed a beautiful place because along with the everyday busy life of the island, it has also a number of historical places. The Citadel (Fort Adelaide) was built by the British to protect the island from enemy attack; it is found atop the Petite Montagne and from there a panoramic view of the whole city (from mountain ranges to the sea via all the buildings) can be seen. Moreover, the Champ de Mars where race courses, a typical Mauritian activity are held every Saturday, can be seen wholly from the Citadel. The Mary Queen of Peace Park, found at the base of the Signal Mountain, offers a breathtaking view of the city also. Other interesting areas include the numerous worship places, the bulk sugar terminal, Les Moulin de la Concorde, a number of museums and an ancient theatre. One of the biggest shopping malls of the island is the Caudan Waterfront and it is found in the capital. It attracts a lot of people because of the numerous shops, businesses and restaurants found there. Many other shopping malls can be found in the city and many of them are duty free shops. One of the best experiences of the city however is a visit to the central Market of Port Louis where just about anything can be bought; typical Mauritian food can also be tasted in the food court. Another way to catch a glimpse of the Mauritian trade is the busiest road on the island, the Jummah Mosque Street (ex Rue Desforges); going straight along this road you will end up in the Muslim quarter of Plaine Verte and going south to it you will meet up with the China Town! Port Louis is mainly a business area and so few hotels are found such as the Saint Georges Hotel, Le Suffren Hotel and Le Labourdonnais hotel which are also mainly for business people. A number of embassies is also found in the capital such as the French, British, Chinese and South African embassies. A visit to the city of Port Louis is indeed an unforgettable one and sunscreen and plenty of water are musts!