About Mauritius

"Mauritius was made first and the paradise was copied after it" Mark Twain the famous American wrote in his book "Following the Equator".

This tiny paradise is located on the 20th parallel just north of the tropic of Capricorn, 1265 miles from the east coast of Africa, and about 6500 miles in the south west of the Indian coast. Passing through myriad vicissitudes, it was finally occupied by the British in 1810 after the Napoleonic wars. Mauritius achieved independence on 12th March, 1968 with Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam as its first Prime Minister and was proclaimed a republic on 12th March 1992. Mauritius today is universally acknowledged as being one of the most democratic and stable countries in the developing world.From basically a mono-crop agricultural economy at the time of independence in 1968, today, Mauritius has achieved the status of a Newly Industrialized Country with a fairly stable population, almost zero unemployment, and per capita income of US $ 4000. The economy is based on sugar, manufacturing and tourism. It also belongs to the category of high Human Development Index countries. Mauritius today is picture of a thriving economy with proven democratic traditions.

History:
Mauritius was formed as a result of the eruption of a huge volcano on the floor of Indian Ocean. Of volcanic origin and generally sheltered by barriers of coral reefs forming natural, safe, crystal clear lagoons, Mauritius has long been a dream destination. Known to the Arabs as early as the 10th century, but officially discovered in 1505 by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas, the island was occupied successively by the Dutch (1598 -1712) and the French (1715 -1810), and was ceded to Great Britain in 1814 through the Treaty of Paris. On 12 March 1968, Mauritius became Independent. Republic Day was proclaimed on 12 March 1992.

Geography:
Mauritius is located approximately 2000 kilometers to the south eastern coast of Africa and lies east of Madagascar on 20°5, 57.5E. The country covers an area of 1865 square km with 330 kilometers of coastline. Mauritius is 47 km in breadth and 71 km in length.

Climate:
The climate of Mauritius is influenced by its position and its relief. It lies within the tropics in the Indian Ocean and therefore has a tropical maritime climate. The temperature on the coastal areas varies between 22°C in winter and 34°C in summer. The sea temperature varies between 22°C and 27°C. In the central part of the island, the maximum daytime temperature varies from about 19°C in August to about 26°C in February. The western and northern regions are warmer and relatively drier than the East and the South.

Culture:
Mauritius is a blend of diverse cultures and religions. The population consists of Hindus, Creole, Chinese, Muslims and Europeans.

Currency:
The monetary unit is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs.) which is divided into 100 cents (cs). At the latest exchange rate, one Euro is worth around Rs. 30. Customs. Indian Rs. 1.6 equivalent to 1 Mauritian Rs.

Population:
1.2 million (Year 2003). The people comprise of 52% of Hindu Indians, 16% of Muslim Indians, 29% of Christians of European, African and Chinese descent and 1 % of Buddhists of Chinese descent. English is the official language though French is used extensively. Creole and Bhojpuri Hindi are other common mediums of communication. Living in perfect peace and harmony, Mauritius is true model of a global village and symbol of unity in diversity. With its ethnic diversity and rainbow culture, Mauritius makes one feel instantly at home.

Language:
Most of the people in Mauritius are bilingual and are equally fluent in English and French. Creole and French are the main languages in the everyday environment and several oriental languages are also spoken.

Tourism:
The tourism plays a very important role in the Mauritius economy. This industry contributes to the increase of employment and earnings of the people. Some areas like Grand Baie, Trou d’Eau Douce, Belle Mare, Flic en Flac and other coastal villages are famous tourist resorts. The main attractions are the long hours of sunshine and beautiful sandy beaches.