Step inside Kwan Tee Pagoda and leave an offering at the alters or stroll through the gardens and admire the view. In keeping with the principles of spirituality, the pagoda faces the sea and is backed by mountains. It’s painted bright red with elements of yellow and green. Coconut trees sway gently in the breeze at the front while seasonal fruit trees add cool shade among the grounds at the back.

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There are over 100 murals in the city, with talented artists commissioned to make their mark. One of the best places to see street art in Port Louis is Chinatown. On Royal Road, the main road heading through Chinatown, there is a huge piece of art depicting three Mauritian women by Frau Isa, celebrating the island’s beauty and diversity.

Walk down Emmanuel Anquetil Street and you’ll find a giant kung fu panda bursting through the walls, plus the delicate painting of a girl playing her flute by Armand Gachet, her blue dress floating across the walls and down the street.

Venpin Street is the place to go for Manga street art. The cartoon figures emblazon the walls with their big eyes, action poses and cool backdrops. While here, you can have your photo taken in front of some giant wings.

Our government has embraced the art scene and, in December, Port Louis hosts the Porlwi by Light Festival / Port Louis by Light Festival. This is a celebration of our island’s contemporary culture, so expect music, dancing, light installations and critically-acclaimed artists making their mark on walls and buildings across the city.

You can discover camera-worthy street art around every corner in Port Louis, so come and explore!

Find out more…

Meet a Street Artist

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As well as butterfly, insect and seashell collections, replicas of marine life and geology exhibitions, the museum is most famously home to a dodo skeleton, discovered in 1904 by barber Louis Etienne Thirioux.

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You can discover our island’s tea history when you follow The Tea Route, also known as La Route du Thé. It passes through three estates: Domaine des Aubineaux, Bois Chéri and Saint Aubin and is a fantastic way to see tea plantations, visit a tea museum and stroll through spice gardens.

Bois Cheri is home to the island’s oldest tea plantation. During a guided walk in this beautiful lush green region, you can learn about the age-old processes of tea production and its heritage on the island. You could also have lunch here and a tea-tasting session at one of the old houses en-route. One of the most popular flavours in Mauritius is vanilla tea, so give it a try!

You can experience The Tea Route on an organised coach trip or opt for a private driver-guide for a more personalised experience.

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The museum is housed in Gheude Castle, a grand colonial mansion which was built at the end of the 18th century. Now a national heritage building, it has a 12-acre garden which is home to a colourful reconstruction of a colonial village.

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Make sure you explore each section of the market. If you’re feeling peckish, head to the street food kiosks for snacks such as samosas and dholl puri. You’ll also be rewarded with tasty sweet pastries and a thirst-quenching glass of the island’s creamy alouda drink.

Just outside the market, you’ll find stalls selling clothes and bags, while the first floor is where you can pick up some locally-made crafts. The market is a short walk from Caudan Waterfront and next to Chinatown, so take the time to explore the area’s architecture and cool street art during your time in the city.

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Le Caudan Waterfront is recognised as a cultural destination in Port Louis. The Caudan Arts Centre regularly hosts Mauritian artists and international theatre productions. Another must-visit is L’Allée des Artistes (The Artists Corner), where artists showcase their talent alongside performers and musicians. Moviegoers can catch the latest screenings at the cinema complex, while the Blue Penny Museum is a great place to learn about the history of Mauritius and its rare blue penny stamps. Keep an eye out for the remains of the Indian Ocean’s first meteorological and astronomical observatory, too!

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Sino-Mauritians, Mauritians of Chinese origin, make up about three per cent of our island’s ethnically-diverse population and it is well-worth exploring Chinatown to see the beautiful architecture here.

You’ll find Chinatown close to the waterfront and Central Market in Port Louis, and it is a sensory feast of sights, smells and sounds. Explore the narrow streets and discover shops and restaurants that have been passed down from generation to generation. Biscuit shops, Chinese cakes and steaming dim sums – the food here will tempt you through doorways to see what’s on offer.

Chinatown is also known for its street art. You might stumble across a panda bursting through the wall on Emmanuel Anquetil Street or amazing Manga street art on Venpin Street. If you’re lucky enough to be in Port Louis in May, the annual Chinatown Food & Culture Festival is a must-visit.

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Wednesdays and Sundays are the best days to visit, as all the stalls are open and you can make the most of the street food scene.

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Inside, you’ll find a Shiva Linga, idols of goddess Parvati (the wife of Lord Shiva) and Nandi, the sacred cow. Within this tranquil complex, you’ll also find a few smaller temples. It is well worth a visit if you are in the north of the island and want to learn more about Hindu culture.

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You’ll be greeted by a 33-metre-high statue of Shiva at the gateway to the crater lake. Take your time to walk around the shoreline – soak up the peace and quiet, watch mischievous monkeys play and admire the colourful shrines dotted around the lake’s edge.

To see celebrations in full swing, visit Ganga Talao during the festival of Maha Shivaratri. This is one of the most popular and important festivals in the Hindu calendar and Mauritius is believed to have one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world.

People from all over Mauritius – and the world – make the pilgrimage on foot to Ganga Talao. This sacred lake is the heart of the festival, a place to worship, light incense, pray and make offerings to the gods.

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Home-cooked, street food or gourmet, you can taste your way around the island.

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Three artists came together to write a song that captures what it means to be Mauritian: singer, songwriter and performer Annega, composer and performer Manu Desroches and songwriter and performer Jason Heerah.

We spoke to Annega and Manu about how they were inspired to write ‘Nou ti Zil’.

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