Aapravasi Ghat | Mauritius

Postcard
In 1834, the British Government selected the island of Mauritius to be the first site for what it called ‘the great experiment’ in the use of ‘free’ labour to replace slaves.

From 1849 to 1923, half a million Indian indentured labourers passed through the Aapravasi Ghat (meaning Immigration Depot), to be transported to plantations throughout the British Empire. In Mauritius, 68 percent of the current total population is of Indian ancestry.

Read More

Port Louis, capital of Mauritius

Postcard
Port Louis is the capital city of Mauritius, located on the island's north-west coast. The Caudan Waterfront  is a commercial development in Port Louis. It includes shops, banking facilities, casinos, cinemas, restaurants, a marina and a five star hotel.

"At Le Caudan Waterfront, one can meet friends for a drink, take a walk along the harbour, watch the latest movie, listen to music, enjoy a meal, try one’s luck at the casino and admire artists’ work while enjoying shopping. Its ability to offer such a dynamic and diverse environment confers a strong sociological dimension to Le Caudan.."

Read More

Île aux Cerfs | Deer Island

Postcard

Île aux Cerfs, also known as Deer Island, is an island near the east coast of the island of Mauritius.

The island is the property of a five star hotel. Every day Mauritians and tourists visit the island, they depart in boats from the village of Trou d'Eau Douce and spend the whole day on the island. This paradise island is about 100 hectares in size and is well known for its paradise beaches.

Stamp

Bicentenary of Mauritius Turf Club (1812 – 2012). The Mauritius Turf Club is a horse racing club that was founded in 2012.

Read More

A Postcard from Mauritius

Postcard

Prior to 1598 there was no human habitation on the island of Mauritius. The Dutch who were the first to colonise Mauritius, named it after their ruler, Prince Maurice Van Nassau. Ebony forests were destroyed by overexploitation and the dodo was exterminated. It later became the symbol of endangered animal species and conservation worldwide. In 1710 the Dutch left Mauritius. In 1715 The French took possession of the island and re-named it ‘Île de France’.

The Dodo

Credit goes to this bird that put Mauritius, for the first time, on the world map. Though extinct for more than 300 years now, the giant bird still continues to stir amazement in visitors at the country’s National History Museum, where one of the few remaining skeletons is on display.

Stamp

Le Morne Cultural Landscape, a rugged mountain that juts into the Indian Ocean in the southwest of Mauritius was used as a shelter by runaway slaves, maroons, through the 18th and early years of the 19th centuries. Protected by the mountain’s isolated, wooded and almost inaccessible cliffs, the escaped slaves formed small settlements in the caves and on the summit of Le Morne.

Read More

Couleurs de l'ile de Maurice | Mauritius

Postcard

Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometers (560 mi) east of Madagascar. Its capital city is Port Louis. Mauritius became independent from the UK in 1968.

In 1598 a Dutch squadron landed at Grand Port and named the island "Mauritius", in honour of Prince Maurits van Nassau, stadtholder of the Dutch Republic. However, it was not until 1638 that there was a first attempt of Dutch settlement. It was from here that Dutch navigator Abel Tasman set out to discover the western part of Australia. The Dutch abandoned Mauritius in 1710.

Stamps

A Tourloulou Crab and International year of chemistry (2011).

Read More