Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tured labourers from India. Britain pioneered their indentured servant scheme in Mauritius
and from 1849 to 1923 over half a million immigrants were processed here before being
shipped to various plantations or other colonial islands. Today, almost 70% of Mauritius'
citizens can trace their roots back to Aapravasi Ghat. There isn't a whole lot to see besides
having a wander around and taking in the surroundings. Some of the original stone build-
ings remain and there are strategically placed life-sized models of the immigrants. The
ghat was listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2006 for its important role in the is-
land's social history.
MUSEUM
Mauritius Postal Museum
( 213 4812;
www.mauritiuspost.mu
;
Place du Quai; adult/child Rs 150/90; 9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, to 3.30pm
Sat)
This interesting museum beside the central post office houses a mishmash of com-
memorative stamps and other postal paraphernalia from around the world. A new exhibit
details the history of the Mauritius post using a rich assortment of photographs and arte-
facts. Of particular interest is the display about mail delivery to the remote dependencies
of Agaléga and St Bandon. The museum shop sells replica first-day covers of the famous
'Post Office' stamps of 1847.
Blue Penny Museum
MUSEUM
( 210 8176;
www.bluepennymuseum.com
;
Le Caudan Waterfront; adult/child Rs 245/120; 10am-5pm Mon-
Sat)
Whether or not you fully understand the philatelic obsession with the Mauritian one-
penny and two-pence stamps of 1847, the Blue Penny Museum is far more wide-ranging
than its name suggests, taking in the history of the island's exploration, settlement and co-
lonial period and even detouring into the Paul and Virginia legend (
Click here
)
. It's Port
Louis' best museum, with a fantastic selection of antique maps, engravings from different
periods in history, and photographs that show a then-and-now look at Port Louis.
The pride of the museum's collection is two of the world's rarest stamps: the red one-
penny and blue two-pence 'Post Office' stamps issued in 1847 (
Click here
)
. To preserve
the colours, they are only lit up for 10 minutes at a time: every hour, at 25 minutes past
the hour. The stamps are considered a national treasure and are probably the most valuable
objects on the entire island.
On the ground floor you'll see the country's most famous work of art: a superbly life-
like statue by the Mauritian sculptor Prosper d'Épinay, carved in 1884. Based on Bernar-
