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Mauritius has a lot more to offer than just crystal clear lagoons, tropical cocktails, and beach side resorts. It’s also an amazing destination rich in its history, culture and ethnical diversity.

There has been a rapid influx of Indians in Mauritius island since 1835, leading to the Hindu community growing majority in numbers. The Hindu community stands united and celebrates all the festivals and customs with great interest.

With almost 45% of Mauritius’ population being Hindu, it is bound to be some striking temples on this island paradise.

Today, there are numerous religious sites scattered all over the island, and even those who are not religious, can’t help but admire the beauty and architecture of these monuments, temples and places of worship.

If you are interested in religious tourism or just keen to have a better understanding of the hindu culture in Mauritius and its role in the history of Mauritius, then here are a few must-visit temples in Mauritius.

The Best & Must-See Temples in Mauritius

1. Ganga Talao Temple

Ganga Talao (also known as Grand Bassin), is a lake with a temple situated 6km South East of Mare aux Vacoas in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne, about 1800 feet (550m) above sea level.

Grand Bassin with its Hindu temples and a holy lake is one of the most popular among the hindu faith population of Mauritius.

Ganga Talao Temple - Mauritius

The lake rests in the crater of an extinct volcano. It is said that the water inside the lake communicates with the waters of the holy Ganges river in India. The Hindu community performs a pilgrimage every year on the Maha Sivaratri (Shiva’s Great Night), on this day they honor the Lord Shiva.

Beside the lake there is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Gods including Hanuman, Lakshmi, and others.

While at Ganga Talao, you will also have the opportunity to see Mangal Mahadev, a Shiva statue of 108 feet (33 meters) and is the highest known statue in Mauritius (and one of the 50 highest statues in the world). The sight of the Mangal Mahadev statue is quite impressive as it is a beautifully crafted very big statue.

There are few private tours that will allow you to explore this extraordinary site.

Book your tour to Ganga Talao (Grand Bassin):

2. Sagar Shiv Mandir Temple

Sagar Shiv Mandir Temple is one of the most popular temples in Mauritius, it was recently constructed in 2007, following monetary aid by the Ghunowa family, who have invested a huge amount of money to construct this religious site. The temple is built on a small islet off the coast of Poste de Flacq, on the east coast of Mauritius and it’s united to land by a thin land-bridge. What makes this temple unique is the water surroundings which give the temple a composed atmosphere which is definitely worth experiencing especially during sunrise.

Sagar Shiv Mandir Temple - Mauritius

Unique to this temple is the water surroundings offering a composed atmosphere which is definitely worth experiencing especially during sunrise.

Sagar Shiv Mandir Temple boasts a bronze colored statue of Shiva, 30m in length and it guards the temple resembling the statue of the Ganga Talao.

This is both a place of worship and a popular tourist attraction and therefore visiting this temple of Shiva on your next trip will surely be a good idea if you’re looking forward to having some peaceful time.

3. Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Temple

Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Temple, is one of Mauritius' rare hidden gems, this stunning temple pays tribute to Lord Venkateswara (A form of Lord Vishnu) and is found in the village of La Laura-Malenga in the centre of the island.

The Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Temple, is a famous Hindu Temple, that was constructed in the year 1921 and is dedicated to the Creator of the Universe.

Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Temple - Mauritius

The temple went through a lot of renovation and the most recent one was in 2010 with the help of skilled artisans from South India.

This temple attracts a lot of devotees and tourists alike. The highlight of this temple is the large statue of Lord Venkatesh, covered in gold, and other precious gems like rubies, pearls, and more. If you want to see Indian temples in Mauritius, you must visit this one.

4. Maheswarnath Shiv Mandir Temple

The Maheswarnath Shiv Mandir is locally known as the “Grand Shivala Triolet” is one of the well-known temples located in the northern part of Mauritius. This is another magnificent Shiva temple in Mauritius for which the construction started in 1891 near a sugar factory, and later there were more buildings and structures added later to it.

Built-in the Bengal style of temple architecture, the grand edifice is a variation of the Pancha-Ratna or a five-flowered temple built on a platform. Another avatar of Lord Shiva - Lord Bhairava also resides in this complex.

Maheswarnath Shiv Mandir Temple - Mauritius

Apart from the main temple structure, there are many additional temples in the complex devoted to Goddess Laxmi, Lord Nataraja, Lakshmi-Narayana, Lord Hanuman, Lord Jagannath, Goddess Kali, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Durga.

The famous Maha Shivratri festival is celebrated here every year during the months of February and March. The Maheswarnath Shiv Mandir is one of the most important Tamil temples in Mauritius.

5. Pandurang Kshetra Mandir Temple

Pandurang Kshetra Mandir is another hindu temple, this one is relatively smaller in size as compared to the other temples mentioned in this article, and is located in Cascavelle at the West part of the island.

Constructed in 1902 by labourers coming from Maharashtra in India, this temple is devoted to Lord Ganesha, god with the divine power of intelligence and information.

Pandurang Kshetra Mandir Temple - Mauritius

Pandurang Kshetra Mandir Temple was built with traditional Indian design elements in mind. The temple is unique in its utilisation of carved volcanic rock sourced from the vicinity for its construction. The Marathi community in Mauritius maintains this place and visits it often. When you are here at this little temple you will notice three domes on its rooftop.

The most worshipped God here is Lord Ganesha, the elephant God, however, there are a lot of idols of other gods as well placed in this temple. This is surely one of those temples to visit in Mauritius where you can soak in the blessed vibes of the place.

6. Sockalingum Meenatchee Ammen Kovil Temple

Sockalingum Meenatchee Ammen Kovil (also known as Kayalasson Temple) is yet another Tamil temple in Mauritius which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Destroyer. It was built in 1854, in Sainte Croix, near Port Louis and it stands as the oldest Tamil temple of Mauritius and is also listed as a heritage site.

Sockalingum Meenatchee Ammen Kovil Temple - Mauritius

The temple’s building has an impressive architecture which showcases the impeccable Dravidian culture. It is still an important place of worship for the Tamil community of Mauritius. This fascinating temple was actually built to symbolise the human body, with different organs being represented by six stations and the lotus representing the head. The overarching meaning of the architecture is that devotees should respect the temple as much as they do their own bodies.

This temple is particularly animated during the tamil festival of Thaipoosam Cavadee which takes place every year around the month of January and February. The beauty of this temple can be visited while taking a tour of the capital, Port Louis.

7. Sri Shiv Subramanya Temple

Located on the Corps de Garde Mountain, in Port Louis, Sri Shiv Subramanya Temple (also known as Mountain Temple), is a Dravidian wonder constructed in the year 1907 by an Indian labourer who wanted to build a temple on the flanks of the Corps de Garde Mountain.

Nowadays, the temple is a prime place of worship for followers of Murugan, the God of War and several hindu celebrations are hosted at this location.

Sri Shiv Subramanya Temple - Mauritius

The most important and grandest is the Thaipoosam Cavadee festival, which is celebrated usually in the month of January and it originated from South of India.

During this festival, devotees climb hundreds of steps to reach this impressive temple on the mountains to the worship of Lord Murugan, making it a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus.

8. Shiv Shakti Mandir Temple

Shiv Shakti Mandir, is one of the most prominent temples located in the centre of the island along Vacoas-Phoenix border.

It was constructed in 1922 and is dedicated to the Destroyer, Lord Shiva, even though several other Gods are also worshipped in this temple.

Shiv Shakti Mandir Temple - Mauritius

Shiv Shakti Mandir is the first Hindu temple in the Indian Ocean region to acquire internationally-recognised ISO 9001 certification (since 2014). The Shiv Shakti Mandir Temple follows several efficient techniques focused towards customer satisfaction, crowd management, preservation of the environment through minimisation of pollution, amongst others.

The white colour of the temple provides a peaceful and soothing atmosphere, which makes it ideal for prayers and meditation, surrounded by the quietness and calmness of the temple.

So, if you are looking for some inner peace and to indulge into pure positive vibes, then head straight to this temple. In addition you will have the chance to witness a glorious Shiva statue.

9. Hare Krsna Iskcon Temple

Hare Krsna Iskcon Temple, is located in the village of Bon Accueil, in the Northeast side of the island. Iskon has countless followers across the world. The temple can be described as a magnificent piece of art, resonating with the spirit of the Lord Krishna.

Hare Krsna Iskcon Temple - Mauritius

The whole temple is adorned with paintings portraying the life of the famous God, and narratives say that each of these frames took around 6 months to complete.

There are several trees bearing fruits around the temple, and with the great number of tourists and devotees visiting this temple, there are few guest houses that provide accommodation for visitors. There is also a restaurant onsite that serves a variety of delicious vegetarian dishes.

10. Amma Tookay Kovil Temple

The Amma Tookay Kovil, located at Riche Bois in the South part of the island is a fascinating and sacred Tamil temple. The temple is dedicated to Amma Tookay, who is worshipped for prosperity and good health.

The history of this place goes back to when the indentured labourers coming mainly from India were working in sugarcane fields. They built this place of worship in the middle of a sugarcane field in order to relieve themselves after an exhausting day.

Amma Tookay Kovil Temple - Mauritius

The initial structure of the place was made up of bamboo and straws but unfortunately it got damaged during a cyclone that hit the island in 1945. Surprisingly, the main statue remained intact. The temple was then remodeled in wood and iron sheets, but this structure too was damaged in a cyclone and so eventually a concrete building was built for Amma Tookay. In the 1960s the management of the temple was conveyed to the Savanne Tamil Benevolent Society.

The latter built a new temple of Dravidian nature and this charming and colourful temple is now one of the must-see religious places in Mauritius. Furthermore, the sugar cane fields around add to the beauty of the place. There are a number of other hindu gods that one can witness there, such as Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Lord Muruga, The Nava Grahas, Sri Durga and Sri Hanuman.


Mauritius Temples - The Conclusion

Even though there is a diversity of places to visit while on this paradise island, a visit to one of these temples should certainly be on your itinerary. The surroundings and the calmness of these temples is worth experiencing. Furthermore, it’s a great way of learning more about the hindu culture and traditions in Mauritius.

Tailor Made - Mauritius Temples Tour :

Create your own Tailor Made Tour and visit any of the temples of your choice here.

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