Travel Guide To Port Louis

Indian Embassy in Port Louis

Embassy of India
Address: L.I.C., Pres. John Kennedy Street, Port Louis, Mauritius
Working Hours
9.30 AM to 5.00 PM (Monday to Saturday, Closed on Friday and Sunday)
Tel. Nos.: +230 208 3775

Visa Process for Indians

Indian passport holders can get on visa on arrival at the Mauritius Airport. Indian travellers need to carry the following documents at the time of travel for the immigration process.

• Original passport valid till 6 months
• 2 Photos
• Accommodation proof
• Return air ticket
• Foreign exchange currency
• Visa fee

About Port Louis

Being the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis is mainly situated in the Port Louis District, along with a tiny western part in the Black River District. It is Mauritius's political, economic as well as cultural centre, and also one of the most populous cities. Administered by the Municipal City Council of Port Louis, it is home to the largest harbour of Mauritius and is where large businesses and little trades co-exist together, all this forms the exclusive atmosphere of Port Louis.

Top Places to Visit in Port Louis

• Port Louis Harbour - Located in Port Louis, this harbour is an unique commercial harbour of Mauritius which is well sheltered and protected from the South East Trade Winds with the help of the Mountain ranges.

• The Blue Penny Museum - It plays an essential role in the island’s cultural platform. It is situated in the popular mall of the Capital, Le Caudan Waterfront. The Blue Penny Museum has been named after the iconic and rare 2 pence Blue Stamp. One of the two 'Post Office' were engraved back in 1847 by Joseph Osmond Barnard primarily for the Mauritian Posts.

• Caudan Waterfront – This stunning waterfront and its surroundings have an amazing collection of local souvenir shops as well as other foreign brand goods like clothes, and spirits. Apart from the harbour of Mauritius, you’ll also find local restaurants, cinema, and game arcades.

• Jummah Mosque – It is a rare proof of the skills of Indian, primarily, Tamil craftsmen, who also constructed churches and temples. It is an immensely peaceful spot in the middle of this enormously busy capital.

• The Le Caudan Waterfront – This tourist attraction has a fantastic space for tourists, shoppers, local artists, and even gastronomes. The breath-taking ambience that it provides will leave you truly jaw dropped. It is one of the most exhilarating places which you would never like to leave. Hence it is considered to be a must-visit place for every tourist who visits Mauritius.

How to Reach Port Louis

Direct flights to Mauritius operate from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Air India and Air Mauritius run everyday flights between the two destinations. Other than that, connecting flights are also available from all the major international airports situated in India. Air India, Air Seychelles, and Emirates run on most of these routes. Mauritius’s international airport is called the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. It is well connected to Asia, Europe, Africa, and the regional islands. Country's national airlines, Air Mauritius, along with the national airlines of India, Turkey, France, Malaysia, Britain, and Kenya and those from the middle east provide easy access to Mauritius.

Best Time to Visit Port Louis

The winter months of July to October are the ideal time to visit Mauritius. These months in Mauritius are considered to have the most pleasant as well as the most happening outdoor weather. There is less humidity and very minor rainfall that occurs. The beaches are sunny and beautiful, and the waters are clear. Outdoor activities such as hiking are perfect during this period.

Things to Pack

Packing the essentials products like clothes and footwears usually depends on what the weather conditions are like in Port Louis. Here is a list of some of the travel essentials one must never forget to pack:

• Sunscreen
• Earplugs
• First Aid Kit
• Important documents such as travel insurance policy

Top Delicacies of Port Louis

• Curry - Curry is an all-time favourite food, and there exist plenty of side dishes one can choose from, including rice, roti, mine-frit which are Chinese fried noodles, and niouk nien (dumplings). Cari poule, which is basically a chicken curry is available in most restaurants as well as from the street sellers.

• Gateau Piment Or Chilli Cakes – Even these are offered all around Port Louis in small paper bags from street sellers. This snack is immensely popular among many of the locals. They are delicious and usually served on bread and can sometimes be also offered as a side dish. They are mostly eaten red-hot but can also be eaten cold.

• Rougaille - Rougaille is also a famous traditional dish. Served fresh and hot, this Creole tomato dish also contains spices, garlic, onions, chillies, and garlic. It is often a significant food at weddings and other popular festivals and ceremonies. Mostly, it’s available as a side dish with curries. Once rougaille is cooked, a variety of ingredients can be added, such as fish, peas, meats, soya, or even gateau piment. It is also a very easy dish to prepare, only taking around ten minutes.

• Fruit Salad - Mauritius is home to many exotic fruits. Here, fruit salad is quite a popular dessert, which is often served with a side dish of unripened pickled fruits. A fruit salad consists of various fruits, such as pineapple, guava, lychee, pawpaw, apples, mangoes, oranges, pineapples, and many more. Furthermore, this favourite snack is also sliced pineapple with chilli salt.

• Millionaire’s Salad – This is a unique kind of dessert which consists of salad leaves and a palm tree heart, which is a vegetable extracted from the inner core of various palm trees.

Shopping List Essentials (Where to Shop)

• Caudan Waterfront - This stunning, open-air district offers some 170 amazing boutique shops, with a fantastic selection of everything from electronics to fashion. You'll come across various popular global designer brand names from the fashion industry. When you require a break from shopping all day, you can slip into one of the many fantastic restaurants along the waterfront.

• Port Louis Central Market - Open every day, this shopper’s hub is the ideal place to find good deals on t-shirts, fresh fruits, souvenirs, Mauritian handicrafts, DVDs, spices, basketry and also everything else. You can easily bargain for the prices here, and the best part is that the atmosphere here is always lively. You’ll also find beach hawkers coming around to offer sarongs, shell jewellery and various other trinkets.

Top Indian Restaurants in Port Louis

• Rozi Darbarr Restaurant
  Location: Léoville L'Homme St, Port Louis, Mauritius
  Contact: +230 210 4732

• Mystic Masala Snack Bar
  Location: Port Louis Water Front, Port Louis, Mauritius
  Contact: +230 210 2442

• Namaste Restaurant
  Location: L'Observatoire, Le Caudan Waterfront, Mauritius
  Contact: +230 211 6710

Healthcare Centres in Port Louis

When going on a trip to Port Louis, it becomes important to be aware of some of the health care centres to avoid any mishappenings caused due to an emergency. Below is the list of some healthcare centres you can contact when in need:

• Clinique Du Nord
  Location: 81 Route Royale Royal Road, Port Louis, Mauritius
  Contact: +230 247 2532

• AFM dental clinic & medical center
  Location: 29 Jardin Despeaux Street, Port-Louis, Mauritius
  Contact: 230 5786 9705

• Maritus Employers Federation Provident Association
  Location: 5eme etage, Labourdonnais Court, Rue Saint George, Port Louis, Mauritius
  Contact: +230 216 7000

Currency

The official currency of Port Louis is Mauritian Rupee

Basics of Local Communication

Being both an English-speaking and French-speaking nation, both English and French are spoken in Mauritius. It is always better to keep a few local phrases handy for a great trip.