Chamarel Mauritius – Top Things To Do in Chamarel

Is this a dream? That was the question that echoed through the mind. Turquoise waters gently kissed the soft velvety sand, shining boats bobbed rhythmically in the distance. A cool gust of air caressed the face and confirmed that this was not a dream. It was actually Mauritius! a country whose borders stretch beyond the frontiers of imagination. We were near the picturesque village of Chamarel Mauritius and gazing down at what must be one of the most spectacular panoramas that enveloped us from all sides. Our eyes danced with joy with visual ecstasy and the kaleidoscopic colors that nature presented before us. Mauritius was our second foray into Africa after an incredible visit to Rwanda and the island promised to blow our minds away!

If you have not experienced heaven, you must come to Mauritius. It is said that Mauritius was made before heaven and heaven is actually a copy of Mauritius. This quote is associated with Mark Twain and it illustrates the enchanting rapture in which the island nation binds those who blessed to set foot on its shores.

Chamarel Mauritius – Top Things To Do in Chamarel

The kaleidoscopic landscapes of Mauritius serenaded us on both sides as we drove across the island. Our smiling guide and driver welcomed us with a broad smile. “My name is Shyam Janaki”, he said with welcoming warmth in his eyes. As we drove towards our destination, Shyam told us that his family had come to Mauritius many years ago from the eastern state of Bihar in India and he was the fourth generation in the country. It was so heartening to learn that they still kept the culture of India alive which was seamlessly integrated with that of the local culture. The beauty of Mauritius is this beautiful blend of different cultures. “We are driving now to Chamarel Mauritius, a beautiful village in the hills”, said Shyam with a smile. We sat back in our seats to enjoy the drive through paradise to Chamarel Mauritius which promised something special, something beyond the ordinary.

Chamarel Mauritius – A Fascinating Village

The effervescent Shyam explained to us a little about the history of Chamarel and how it got its name. A Frenchman named Charles Antoine de Chazal de Chamarel who is believed to have lived sometime around 1800 owned most of the land in the region. The village is named Chamarel after him. The enchanting village is nestled amidst hills on the west coast of Mauritius in the Riviere Noire District. It is also believed that the famous navigator and cartographer Matthew Flinders who led the second circumnavigation of New Holland stayed in Chamarel Mauritius during the early 19th century. It is believed that he was taken prisoner when his ship was forced to dock for urgent repairs at the Isle De France (Present-day Mauritius).

Witness The Magic of Nature At Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth

Mauritius is a land where the seven colors of the spectrum seem to dance in gay abandon. The Chamarel Coloured Earth seems to epitomize this very spirit of Mauritius. A unique and natural phenomenon has painted a beautiful picture with colors not found in the palettes of even the greatest of artists.

If you are wondering what the Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth is, then it is a strip of land that measures about 7,500 square meters and is an enduring testimony to the volcanic activity of the region, a few million years ago. A magical combination of chemistry and the passage of time has left a legacy, so colorful that it has your attention riveted. The Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth is a patch of sand dunes with 7 distinct colors that leave you mesmerized. It is believed that because of climatic conditions Basaltic rocks of the region were eroded and what remained were rocks known as Saprolite on the surface of the land. This erosion of the Basaltic rock ensured that the land was bereft of nutrients required for vegetation.

The result was the barren but colorful undulating landscape one sees today. The red, blue, green, violet, brown, purple, and yellow colors that can be spotted are because of the presence of iron and aluminum oxide. It is interesting to note that aluminum and iron repel each other and this reverse chemistry has led to the colorful stripes that embellish the Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth. Shades of red to brown are a consequence of the presence of Ferric Oxide, while the blue to violet shades is the handiwork of Aluminium.

Is this not fascinating? Don’t get bogged down by the chemistry, lose yourself in the myriad colors of the Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth and experience paradise in Chamarel Mauritius.

Experience The Magic Of The Chamarel Water Falls

Waterfalls are one of the best gifts that mother nature has bestowed upon mankind. The sight and sound of a waterfall is a sensory experience nonpareil. Mauritius is synonymous with its beaches but as spectacular if not more is the magnificent waterfalls that cascade down in grand style. One of the highest waterfalls is Chamarel falls Mauritius. The silvery waters cascade down a rocky embankment surrounded by lush greenery on all sides. The Chamarel waterfalls are also a legacy of the volcanic past of the island of Mauritius. The bedrock of the waterfalls is made up of twin lava flows from different periods, the earlier one dating back to over 8 million years while the later one dates back between 3.5 to 1.9 million years. One can keep watching the Chamarel waterfalls forever, but we had to move on as the next attraction of Chamarel Mauritius beckoned.

Lose yourself In Nature At Ebony Forest

The Ebony Forest takes you right into the lap of nature. As you walk through the forest in the shade of hundreds of Ebony trees, you will feel a strange sense of security and warmth, probably the same feeling that a mother’s womb gives to a baby. The Ebony Forest is a commendable endeavor that strives to sustain the endemic biodiversity of the region and reverse the negative impact of species that are invasive. The Ebony Forest offers many experiences of communing with nature and having an immersive experience of the biodiversity of Mauritius. One can take a jeep through the forests or hike through the enchanting environs. We hiked through the Flycatcher forest, one of the last intact Ebony forests in Mauritius. The forest is named after the bird Flycatcher which is endemic to Mauritius. Our knowledgable guide who leads the way through the Flycatcher forest explains that only 2% of the Ebony trees are left in Mauritius now. Cutting of Ebony trees is banned now and the forest now has trees that are as old as about 200 years, which is not really old considering that their life span is around 1,000 years.

We enjoyed spotting the elusive geckos of Mauritius, we even spotted a beautiful blue colored one! Out of the 4 different species of Mauritian Phelsuma Geckos, three inhabit the Ebony forest and live in the screw pines or Vacoas trees of the forest.

Can you spot the Gecko in the picture?

Discover Bliss At Sublime Point

The name promised an experience beyond the realms of the ordinary. We walked on a small path that led to a viewing platform. A gasp of awe escaped from all of us as we saw paradise stretching out in front of us. Spectacular is an understatement for the view that we beheld in front of us. Suddenly, all sense of time and place faded away and we reveled in the blissful moment. The western, southwestern, and the central plateau regions of Mauritius stretched out below us.

The turquoise colors waters of the Indian Ocean, the green of the forests, and the blue of the skies painted a picture that could only be called divine. The peaks of the Mauritian mountains infused an element of contrast with their brown color. A hush fell as we meditated on the beauty that enveloped us from all sides and in those few moments we understood the meaning of sublime.

Other Attractions of Chamarel Mauritius

Rhumeri De Chamarel

This is a nice and quaint looking distillery, one of the few that produce rum from sugar cane in a natural way through double distillation. It is set in very scenic environs and also houses a nice restaurant where we had a nice 3-course lunch. This is one of the best Chamarel restaurants and most hungry and thirsty travelers seemed headed here. The region is known for its Chamarel rum and there were sessions of rum tasting too which of course we did not participate in being teetotallers.

The pristine beauty of Chamarel and its scenic attraction take your senses to an intoxicating high. But time and tide move on, and so we too had to turn away from the lures of Chamarel Mauritius. We left the picturesque region of Chamarel, happy to have stolen some blissful moments in paradise and looked forward to experiencing more of the Mauritian magic.

Steal some glimpses of the magic of Mauritius in our 2-minute video:

Have you experienced the magic of Mauritius? Do let us know your thoughts about this lovely destination through our comments section. Au Revoir!

We were hosted by Mauritius Tourism. However, the views and opinions expressed here are our own.

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