Pamplemousses lies 11 km north of St Louis.
Pamplemousses is mostly famous for its Botanical Gardens, begun in 1735 when Maha de La
Bourdonnais bought the property. These modest but well kept gardens are a highlight of a visit to
Mauritius. The French Intendant Pierre Poivre
was responsible for planting trees and flowers on the land. Today the gardens
are reduced to a quarter their original size but their loveliness has only
increased with time.
Pamplemousses stretches for four hectares and features plants from all over the world - wild
bananas, camphor trees, clover and nutmeg trees from Manila and huge water
lilies, known locally as 'flan tins' as well as a number of palms. There is also
an art gallery and a cemetery.
The Pamplemouses Gardens gardens are world famous for their large collection
of indigenous and exotic plants, including the giant Victoria regia water lilies
and many species of palm trees. Of particular interest is the talipot palm,
which is said to flower once every sixty years and thereafter die. The gardens
are redolent with the perfume of fruit and spice trees, and the 24 hectares also
sport a collection of stately palms, ebony, mahogany, latania and pandanus. A
great attraction is a pond full of the Giant Amazon water lily.
Though there are few flowers inside, one key attraction is the park's giant
Victoria regia water lilies, native to the Amazon. From the centre of a huge
pad, the lily's flower opens white one day and closes red the next.
Other attractions include golden bamboo, chewing gum trees, fish poison trees, a
200-year-old Buddha tree and a cross tree with leaves shaped
like crucifixes. The fragrant flora of the garden - ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg,
camphor and sandalwood - is another high point, as are glimpses of Mauritian
wildlife that are all but unavailable elsewhere on the island. Look for
enclosures of Java deer and giant tortoises.
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