Ganga Talao and Hindu Temple on Mauritius

Besides its beautiful sandy beaches, luxurious resorts and stunning nature, you can find various religious sites in Mauritius. But the most sacred place is the Ganga Talao and the Hindu Temple.

Ganga Talao, or Grand Bassin is nestled in the south-central part of the island. In fact, it is a natural lake formed in a former volcanic crater, with the surrounding Hindu temple complex.

Even though it is a prominent pilgrimage site for Hindus, it is one of the most popular sites for all visitors on the island. And yes, it is a unique experience to get in touch with the Hindu religion and its gods and goddesses.

 

A few words about religions and Hinduism in Mauritius

Approximately, Mauritius has a population of about 1.2 million.
During the centuries, the population structure changed due to the migrations and labourers from Asian countries brought by the British in the 19th century to work on sugarcane plantations.

Today, Hindus, Christians, and Muslims live in peace. You can see many various religious sites on the island, such as Hindu temples, catholic churches and chapels, and mosques. Hindus constitute around 48% of the total population, Christianity 32.2%, and Islam 18%.

Certainly, Grand Bassin is the most sacred place on the island for Hindus.

 

How to get to Ganga Talao

Ganga Talao is located in the Savanna district of Mauritius, about 550 meters above sea level. It is close to the Black River Gorge and Bois Cheri Tea plantation, and it is about 45 kilometres far from Port Louis, the capital city.

If you are coming from the north, just follow the motorway south towards Curepipe town, and follow the signs for Grand Bassin.

Maybe the best way is to visit it on private or organized excursions with a guide and visit more attractions close to the lake.

 

 

What to know before visiting the Ganga Talao

First of all, Ganga Talao is a holy place for Hindus, and there are several things to keep in mind.

♦ Opening time: you can see the lake every day during the year, from early morning to nightfall.
Only the temple is open between 5 AM to 12 PM, and from 1 to 6 PM.
◊ There is no entrance fee, both for tourists and pilgrims. But it will be nice to donate some money.
♦  Before you enter the temple, take off your shoes.
◊ Dress modestly, which means no shorts, mini dress, or tops, and cover your shoulders and knees.
♦ Taking photos is allowed, but it is better to ask for permission, especially during prayers.
◊ Don’t feed and catch the fish in the lake.

“Uphold your dharma, and dharma will protect you”

 

The history of the Ganga Talao

By the way, Ganga Talao means ‘Lake of Ganga’ in the English language.

According to the legend, the priest Pandit Jhummon Giri Gossagne had a dream about the sacred lake connected to the river Ganges in India. It was in 1897 that he was searching for a place from his dream, and he found it in Grand Bassin.

The priest wanted to find a place for a pilgrimage for many Hindus who came to Mauritius to work in sugarcane plantations during British rule. So, religion and prayers were the way to survive bad conditions and hard work. Very soon, the people started to visit this lake as a place of pilgrimage.

Until 1972, this place had been known as Grand Bassin. But then, the priest brought the water from the Indian Ganges river and poured it into the lake. It was a symbolic connection to this sacred river, and from that moment, the lake has been known as “Ganga Talao”.

 

Huge statues of the Hindu God and Goddess

Going on the motorway to the Ganga Talao, you can see two huge statues from a long distance.
There are the statues of Lord Shiva and Durga Maa. Both statues are 33 metres (108 feet) high, designed by Indian sculptor Shri Matu Ram Verma.

 

Interestingly, 108 is a sacred number in Buddhism and Hinduism. It represents cosmic energy and divine connection.
There are many connections of the number 108 with mathematical calculations, astrology, chakras, yogic meditation, chakras, Ayurveda, sun salutations, mantra meditation, sacred texts, and asanas. You can read more about these interesting facts here.

Maybe the next time when you see the number 108, you should stop for a moment. Just think about what the cosmic wants to tell you. Are you on the right path of your life and do you still follow your dreams, or not… Think about it.

 

Durga Maa statue

First, we stopped at the foot of the impressive statue of Durga Maa, the major Hindu goddess. She is the goddess of power, strength, and protection. It was placed in 2017, and it is the largest statue of the Hindu Goddess Durga in the world.

 

Next to her, there is a lion, which symbolises her fearlessness. Well, it is a fantastic symbol of the divine feminine power.

 

Mangal Mahadev – Lord Shiva statue

Close to Durga Maa, there is the statue of Mangal Mahadev or the Hindu God Shiva.
This statue was installed in 2007, and it is one of the tallest statues of Lord Shiva in the world. It is a faithful copy of the Shiva statue of Sursagar Lake in Vadodara, Gujarat, in India.

 

The statue represents Lord Shiva standing with his trident in the left hand, and a drum in the right hand.
In front of it, you can see places for offerings and interesting statues in glass panels.

 

Also, there is a mounted platform to be closer to the statue and for taking photos, as well.

 

What to see in Ganga Talao Hindu Temple

I have to say that I felt a little bit strange and excited following the stairs leading to the Ganga Talao complex. Well, visiting religious sites completely different from the Orthodox or Catholic churches, which I used to do is not something usual.

 

Hindu Temple and Tika blessing

The lake is about 15-17 meters (50-55 feet) deep and it is surrounded by lush greenery and trees. Around the shoreline of the lake, you can see a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and several shrines dedicated to Hindu deities.

Everyone is very welcoming, even if you are not a Hindu pilgrim. Everything is so calm and serene. 

 

You can feel a specific spiritual atmosphere in the temple.
Local Hindu pilgrims come to visit the site to be blessed. They light incense sticks and make offerings, such as flowers, fruit, milk…   

 

Although we are not Hindus, the temple priest gave us a blessing and put “Tilaka” or “Tikka“. It is a red mark worn usually in the centre of the forehead between the eyebrows. It is the point of the Ajna chakra (third eye or spiritual eye).

 

Hm, I don t know what happened with my “Tikka mark”, but Tanja’s “Tikka mark” was perfect 🙂

 

There are several deity statues in the temple, but the statues of Vishnu and Lakshmi were the most interesting to me. They are one of the most iconic couples in Hindu mythology. Vishnu is one of the principal Hindu deities, and Lakshmi is the goddess of wisdom, fortune, wealth, courage, light, and fertility.

 

Hindu deities around the Sacred Lake

Next to the temple, you can see various colourful statues dedicated to the Hindu deities. They are situated on the floating platforms, and decorated with flowers and offerings.

So, there is a statue dedicated to Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, It is an elephant-headed Hindu god with four hands. He is the god of beginnings, a bringer of good luck, and a patron of arts, sciences and learning.

On his right side, there is a statue of Goddess Lakshmi. 

Then, you can see a statue of Sai Baba of Shirdi, the Indian guru and fakir. He was revered by Hindus, Muslims and Zoroastrians because he opposed all persecution based on religion or caste.

 Next to him, there is a blue statue of Lord Shiva, one of the most prominent Hinduism gods. This complex god is known as a destroyer, a creator and a preserver.

Close to the entrance, you can see also the statue of Hanuman, the monkey god. He is half-human and half-monkey. Hanuman represents loyalty, physical strength, and devotion, and he has extraordinary powers.

Next to him, there is an interesting statue of the Hindu goddess.

 

Saraswati is one of the three most important Hindu goddesses. She is the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, music, art, learning, wealth and abundance.

 

Going further, there is a statue of Three Gods Dattatreya Trimurti or Divine Trinity Statue. This god is considered to be an avatar and combined form of the three Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, known as the Trimurti. 
Around this statue, you can see many small fishes. Of course, it is forbidden to catch or feed them.

 

Then, you can see the statue of Muruga, the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Shiva and Parvati and the brother of Ganesha.

 

Surya, the god of the sun holds a sunflower in hand, and it is riding a chariot pulled by seven horses. He is the creator of the universe and he brings light to the world. Seven horses represent seven colours of light and seven days a week.

 

Hm, it looks a little bit complicated the Hindu world of gods and goddesses, doesn’t it 🙂

 

Hindu festival in Ganga Talao

The most important Hindu festival is Maha Shivaratri.
Besides India, it is celebrated in Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, as well as in Mauritius. Also, it is a public holiday because of the huge impact of the Hindu population on the island.

The festival is celebrated each year on the 13th night and 14th day of the 11th month of the Hindu Calendar. On the Gregorian Calendar, it is in February or March.

The festival is known as the “The Great Night of Lord Shiva”. According to the Hindu tradition, it was the night of the marriage of God Shiva to Goddess Parvati, which represents a divine union. Because of that, unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, while married women pray for a happy married life.

Every year, thousands of Hindu pilgrims come to the Ganga Talao, dressed in white, the symbol of purity. Some of them came on foot, following the tradition. They carry “kanwars” – shrines which represent Hindu gods, on their shoulders or wheels. It is a structure made of bamboo and colourful paper and decorations. When pilgrims come to the sacred lake, they perform their prayer ritual with offerings. Also, they gather water from the sacred lake into vessels and put it out over the Shiva statue in their homes.

 

 

What to see more close to the Ganga Talao

So, I hope that you like my story about the sacred lake Ganga Talao. By the way, it is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites outside of India!

There are several very interesting places to visit close to the lake. So, the best way is to make a plan or join organized tours. Check out some of the popular Mauritius attractions.

♦ Bois Chéri Tea plantation – about 5 km away. 👉 You can read more here.
◊ La Vallée des Couleurs Nature Park.
♦ Alexandra Falls and Black River Gorge National Park – about 10 minutes drive.
◊ Chamarel 7 Earth Coloured.

👉 You can read more about the stunning nature attractions in Mauritius here.