Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is one of the oldest and most beautiful tropical gardens in the entire world, and is known for its rare trees and spice plants. It has an area of approximately 25 hectares and is home to more than 500 different species of plants. The Pamplemousses Garden was once a vegetable garden, and the vegetables grown here were supplied to the table of the island’s governor himself. The history of the Botanical Garden dates back to 1770, when the island belonged to France. The French botanist Pierre Poivre, who served as the Intendant of Mauritius, planted the garden in order to grow plants from which spices could be obtained. Poivre’s followers grew araucaria, bougainvillea, laurel trees and even the famous breadfruit tree in the garden.
Video: Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens
What to see
The area of the botanical garden is 37 hectares and here you can see not only plants, trees and flowers, but also animals. It is a haven for a large number of old tortoises from the islands of Aldabra and Seychelles. Mauritanian tortoises have long been extinct, and tortoises from Aldabra were first brought in around 1875.
.Visitors to the garden are greeted by a magnificent wrought iron gate decorated with coats of arms with lion and unicorn figures. Travelers are enveloped by extraordinary smells, as there are such fragrant plants as nutmeg, tea tree, clove tree, cinnamon, magnolia, camphor tree. Palm trees, of which there are 80 species, are also considered the pride of Pamplemousse. The most unusual of them are the elephant’s foot, cabbage palm, fan palm. Aquatic plants such as lotuses, lilies and lily pads are also represented in the park.
.The main attractions of the botanical garden Pamplemus: a lake with giant water lilies, the national flower of Mauritius, the amazing tropical Rosa de Venezuela, whose leaves reach three meters in diameter, bright vine Sand Piper, rare and sacred lotus Komarova, fan palm Talipot, which blooms once every 30-100 years and colorful lilies. It is also very pleasant to stroll through the huge palm grove, spice and herb garden. The main attraction of the garden is considered to be the luxurious colonial estate of Chateau Des-Mont-Pleziers.
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In addition, an exact replica of the first sugar cane factory is built on the territory of the botanical garden. By visiting it, you can get a closer look at the sugar production process in Mauritius.
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How to get there
Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens is located 11 km from the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis. You can reach the garden by cab or by bus numbers 22, 227 and 85. The fare is 17 rupees.
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