Port Louis

When slavery was abolished in 1834, slaves that had been working on the island's sugar plantations were replaced by "free" indentured labourers from India. The complex whose present name translates to "immigration depot" in Hindi was first a French building but it was expanded over the years. From 1849 until 1923 more than half a million Indians arrived here, some to be shipped onwards to other parts of the British Empire, others to be settled on Mauritius. As ancestors of about 70% of the island's population has passed through here, it's a very important site for the history and identity of Mauritius. As the practice of systematically shipping Indians to the island ended, the complex was left to decay, used for other purposes and even partially demolished in the 1970s. In 1987 it was listed as a national monument and got its present name, and in 2006 it became a .

The Caudan Waterfront and its surroundings has a great collection of local souvenir shops and other foreign brand materials such as clothes, and spirits. In addition to the harbour of Mauritius, you will also find the cinema, game arcades, and local restaurants.

A modern museum dedicated to the history and culture of Mauritius and the famous legend of Paul and Virginia. The museum is also the owner of the two most famous stamps of the world: The Post Office Blue Two Pence and the Post Office Red One Penny. Both stamps are in display in the museum but they are lit only on the half hour for 10 minutes, first scheduled at 10:30 and last at 16:30.

Built in basalt by the United Kingdom in 1840 and named after Queen Adelaide, it is the only remaining fort from this period of the island. Once Port Louis had four forts, and its only thanks to conservation efforts this one didn't end up ruined. The fort is on the top of a hill at the foot of the Moka Range and its purpose was to both to spot oncoming enemy ships on the sea and fires in the city. A 30-minute walk from downtown, it gives a wonderful view of the whole city. The place can be unsafe to visit on your own.

The Catholic Saint Louis Cathedral is one of the oldest churches on the island, it was finished in 1933 but there has been a church on the place since 1752. Designed by de Cossigny in Gothic style, it was built under Sir Robert Farquar as a place of worship for the people in Port Louis. Today, the cathedral finds itself in the middle of a busy city centre, and it's said that people pass through for a few prayers among their shopping sprees. In front of the church is a KFC, on the left side there is the State Bank of Mauritius, Western Union and the Supreme Court. On the right side is the Intermediary court and the Pope Henessy Police Station while at the back of the church is the Citadel Mall. Numerous food stalls and offices lie near the Cathedral.

The main mosque of the city was built in 1853, and enlarged during the following decades. It's a rare proof of the skills of Indian, mainly, Tamil craftsmen, who also built temples and churches. It has a madrasa (Islamic school), and in the middle of the courtyard stands an Indian almond tree, that was there already when construction began. The mosque a haven of peace in the middle of this busy capital.

With travellers' texts ranging from Marco Polo, Duarte Barbosa to Ahmad bin Majid, as devised by poet and semiologist Khal Torabully, a travel writer born in Port-Louis.

A part of the old town is the Chinatown, where Chinese culture is alive. Here you can find shops selling products from traditional Chinese paintings, clothing and medicine to trinkets and second-hand goods as well as restaurants. Nevertheless the district gets surprisingly silent at night.