- Address: Pamplemousses, Mauritius
- Phone: +230 243 9401
- Opening hours: 8.30 - 17.30
- Ticket price: adult - 100 rupees, children under 5 years - free of charge
The Pamplemus Botanical Garden is considered one of the main attractions of the island of Mauritius . It is a unique natural reserve and national treasure along with the Domain-les-Pays and Black River-Gorzhes parks.
History of the foundation of the garden
When Mauritius belonged to France, in the territory of the modern garden there were vegetable gardens and gardens that produced products for the governor's table. The French botanist Pierre Poivre laid the botanical garden of Pamplemuse by the order of the Governor Maede la Bourdon in the second half of the 18th century.
The name of the garden and village in which it is located is derived from the French word Pamplemousses, which in Russian means "pomelo", known today to all of us is a fruit. They were collected here for merchant ships, as they were perfectly preserved during the long voyage. Poivre's contribution to the development of the Pamplemus botanical garden is all the more invaluable that he illegally exported the first seedlings from Indonesia and the Philippines, at the risk of being caught and punished. His followers continued the business and imported all the new plants.
The brainchild of Poivre was only a reminder of the size of the garden in its present form: the area was about 60 acres. Today it is 37 hectares. Initially, the garden was conceived for breeding plants, from which spices and spices are extracted. For a long time after its creation the botanical garden of Pamplemus was abandoned, and only in the middle of the 19th century the British James Duncan became seriously involved in it.
This is the oldest garden in the southern hemisphere, and for a long time it was one of the three most grandiose botanical gardens on the planet. Today it is one of the five most beautiful gardens in the world. It was not for nothing that during the British colonization period the gardens were given the title of royal. Since the end of the 20th century, the garden is named after Sivosagur Ramgoolam, the first prime minister of Mauritius. He made a great contribution to the development of the country as an independent state, for which he received such a reward, as well as the title of the father of the nation.
The Royal Botanical Garden of Pamplemus is a favorite place for walks with local residents and a real magnet for tourists.
Wealth of the Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden has collected a unique collection of exotic flowers and trees. Here grows more than 5 hundred species of plants. The garden surprises with plants that are only in Mauritius, in Pamplemousse, as well as a rich selection of flora representatives from other corners of the planet.
The first point of interest is already at the entrance. This is a wrought-iron gate to the garden, which is decorated with coats of arms with lions and unicorns. But this is not just a gate, but a gift to the prize-winning garden of the 1862 exhibition in England.
Not far from the entrance is the grave of the first Prime Minister Sivosagur Ramgoolam - the number one person in Mauritius. Also at the entrance you can admire the giant baobab, which grows roots up.
The brightest impression of tourists Pamplemusa leaves the alley of giant water lilies, located at the lake of water lilies, filled with these unique plants. The diameter of some leaves is up to 1.8 m. The most famous and huge water lily is Victoria Amazon, her leaf can withstand a weight of 30 kg! Here bloom and lotuses.
Attracts and the national flower of Mauritius - Trochetia Boutoniana (Trochetia boutoniana). Also guests are not indifferent:
- ebonite trees;
- beautiful tropical Rosa de Venezuela, whose leaf size exceeds 3 m;
- the sacred lotus of Komarov is a very rare flower;
- More than 8 dozens of species of palm trees that have been brought here from different countries, including rare ones (Elephant, Cabbage and fan palm Talipot, whose bloom occurs every 30 to 100 years);
- sugarcane;
- a unique rubber tree;
- collection of poisonous trees;
- golden bamboo;
- a garden of spices and herbs, among which there is another attraction - the colonial estate of the Château de Mont-Plaisir.
It is noteworthy that many of the trees of this botanical garden of Pamplemus are planted by world celebrity leaders, for example, Indira Gandhi, Princess Margaret and others.
In addition to plants, you can look at animals: it is inhabited by very old turtles with Fr. Aldabra and Fr. Seychelles, as well as deer.
Particular attention deserves a corner of the garden, as the Winter Garden, which grows tropical plants, as well as a collection of irises - more than 150 species from different corners of the planet.
At the garden there is a research center, as well as a specialized school, where they study the habitats of plants and their classification. Inspired by the botanical garden is not only ordinary tourists, but also artists who created many paintings after visiting this heavenly place. Many of them are on display in the garden picture gallery.
In the garden spend a two-hour excursion, during which you can see the main pearls of the collection. Also in the garden you can get lost for the whole day among the beautiful nature, because even with the influx of tourists, given the huge area of the botanical garden, it is not very crowded.
Those who have already visited Pamplemousa are advised to take provisions with them, since the tent with food is not rich in assortment, and the smells of the garden arouse the appetite. This is not surprising, because the spices are fragrant: camphor and clove tree, cinnamon, magnolia, nutmeg. Even if you think that you are well versed in plants, discoveries in this botanical garden are waiting for you at every step!
How to get there?
The Botanical Garden is located in the north of the island near the homonymous village of Pamplemous, located 11 km from the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis . You can get to the garden from the capital by buses 22, 227 and 85 for 17 rupees. You can also take a taxi.
Entrance to the garden for children under 5 years old is free, for older children and adults the ticket will cost 100 rupees. The garden is open daily from 8-30 to 17-30.
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