Friday, March 28, 2008

Pearl of Indian Ocean

Imagine yourself on an Island with spectacular scenic beauty, sun and sand; palm fringed beaches, luxurious hotels and crystal clear water. Tidy surroundings, smooth driveways, rare traffic signals minus the honks and the skyscrapers. Welcome to Mauritius. It is virtually a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean.

Your welcome starts at the airport itself as dancers belting out local songs set to local music warmly greet you. Mauritius has emerged as a major tourist delight attracting visitors from all over the globe.

A plethora of hotels, ranging from small to big five star hotels provide a multitude of recreational activities to explore the natural beauty of the island. Almost all hotels near the beach offer windsurfing, pedal boating, rowing, water skiing, speedboats and glass bottom boats. You have a wide array of activities to choose from like parasailing, sub-scooter ride, scuba diving, submarine, the blue safari, under-sea water walk and many more. It is a treat to see the clean beaches with crystal clear water.

The best months to visit Mauritius are from May to early December. Then comes the scorching summer that hangs on till April. Mauritius has a typically tropical climate with year round heat, although the southwest trade winds help it neutralize the mugginess. It would be wise to carry skin friendly cotton clothes, sunscreens, shades and caps.

The innate beauty and the extravagant natural make up of Mauritius have contributed to its International recognition as the pearl of the Indian Ocean. Primarily Mauritius is famous for its beaches, some being: Perybere, Grand Bay, Blue Bay, Belle Mare and many more. Apart from the beaches, the island nonetheless has a vast number of other breathtaking points of attraction. Some of them are Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, National History Museum, Alexandra Falls, Ile Aux Cerfs, Chamarel, Camp De Mars, Port Louis-Central Market, China Town and so on.

Drinking water in Mauritius is very expensive and the price of mineral water varies from place to place. Water in your hotel’s mini bar is always charged for. It is best to buy your own water. Enquire about the price first and it is economical to buy in bulk. If you cannot find a reasonable shop, head for the nearest petrol station.

Mauritius is worth a visit. Experience a mix of French, British and Dutch culture. Shop for local curios, laze on the beach, surf in the shimmering sea or go parasailing. And don’t forget to sample the different flavours of tea.

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