Description of the attraction
One of the most magnificent attractions of the island of Mauritius is the Sivosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden or Pamplemousse.
During French rule, the site of the botanical garden was home to flower beds and orchard plantations that supplied food for the governor's kitchen. In 1735, by order of the governor of the island, the botanist Pierre Poivre was invited, who laid the botanical garden. The name of the garden comes from the French pronunciation of "pomelo", the fruit that grew in it. The planting area was about 25 hectares, most of the plants were bred to obtain spices and exotic fruits.
As a result of the naval blockade by the British, Mauritius had no permanent connection with France, gardening faded into the background. For many years there was no proper care for the garden, only after the island came under the jurisdiction of England, James Duncan took up the plants. Laurel and clove trees, cinnamon, nutmeg, tobacco, araucaria, breadfruit, bougainvillea were grown here.
The name of Sivosagur Ramgoolam, the first prime minister of the state of Marvikiy, was given to the garden at the end of the 20th century. Now the Botanical Garden is a collection of trees and flowers collected from all over the world, and growing only in these latitudes.
Of interest is the main gate with unicorns and lions - a gift to the garden, which became one of the winners of a specialized exhibition in 1862. A giant baobab grows right at the entrance, in the depths there is a lake of water lilies and lotuses. Amazing ebony trees, Victoria water lily, Venezuelan rose, rare species of palms - elephant and talipop, which blooms once every 30 years, rubber tree, golden bamboo, sugar cane plantation - this is an incomplete list of what you can see in the garden.
A separate exhibit is a colonial-style manor house surrounded by medicinal herbs and spices. Deer and Seychelles turtles live in the Botanical Garden.
Excursions in the garden will allow you to get acquainted with the brightest representatives of the flora, visit the Winter Garden, and see a unique collection of irises.
