The Geography of Mauritius is its biggest asset. Mauritius is located in the southwest Indian Ocean at a distance of 900 km east of Madagascar and about 3,943 kilometers southwest of India. Mauritius is a part of the Mascarene Islands and was formed due to a series of undersea volcanic eruptions. The island of Mauritius itself is formed around a central plateau, which is about 600 metres above sea level. Around the plateau, the original crater can still be distinguished from several other mountains. All these have led to a creation of a beautiful landscape.

The Geography of Mauritius is such that it is located at 20 17 S, 57. 33 E. Spread over 2040 sq km, it also includes the the Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals, and Rodrigues Island. It is almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC. The highest point in Mauritius is the mountain of Piton de la Rivière Noire at 828m while the lowest point is the Indian Ocean. The capital city of Mauritius and also its largest is Port Louis. Other main cities are Curepipe, Vacoas, Phoenix, Quatre Bornes, Rose-Hill and Beau-Bassin.

The climate of Mauritius is tropical. The summers, from November to May, are hot, humid and wet. Some relief is provided by the way of southeast trade winds. The winter months between May and November are warm and dry. Mauritius is prone to cyclones during November-April.

Culture of Mauritius
European, Indian, Chinese and African cultures converge together to make up the colorful, vibrant culture of Mauritius that is replete with some of the most fascinating and years-old customs and traditions. Each aspect of Mauritian culture-its cuisine, religions, festivals, language and literature is a living proof of the myriad Asia, African and Western influences.

The Mauritian culture's rich diversity is evident in Mauritius' landscape where churches, temples and mosques jostle each other for space. Chinese pagodas and Buddhist temples are also a common sight in Mauritius. The people of Mauritius celebrate various festivals belonging to different religions with equal gusto and fervor such as Mahashivratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chathurti, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Christmas, Easter and Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) among others. The Tamil festival of Cavadee that celebrates Lord Muruga is a penitence ritual that involves spectacular feats like the fire-walking ceremony.

The multi-ethnic characteristics of Mauritius make it a multi-lingual country with ethnic languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Urdu, Mandarin and Cantonese being commonly used. But the real lingua franca of the island is Creole. The Creole language emerged as a result of interaction between French settlers and African slaves. The use of the Creole language transcends all ethnic, religious and class barriers. Creole does not have a definite written form, as mostly English or French are the languages of choice for education, media, government, law and business.

The Creole language is the medium of the indigenous music and dance form of Mauritius- the Sega. Sega is the music, songs and dances of choice played to tourists as a taste of the local culture. Its origins are said to be that of African. The Sega is based on three basic instruments: the ravanne, the maravanne and the triangle. The dancers wear colorful blouses and skirts with flower motifs and swaying their hips to the rhythmic music. Bhojpuri songs of Indian origin are also quite popular, especially in the interiors.

Mauritius is also well known for its handicrafts. The handicraft tradition of Mauritius dates back to the colonial period of the East India Company and the local handicraft is a fusion of French and Afro-Asian cultures.

Cuisine of Mauritius
Mauritius is a paradise for the palate where the ethnic diversity of the local people is reflected in its cuisine. The cuisine of Mauritius is a testament to the influence of the culinary traditions of France, India, China and Africa that the people of Mauritius have incorporated with their local fruits, vegetables and other ingredients. The cuisine of Mauritius, with its with its variety of flavors and aromas is indeed a gastronomic delight.

Tourism in Mauritius
Mark Twain is quoted as having said that "Mauritius was made first, then heaven was copied from it", and anyone who has experienced the island would no doubt agree with him. When you travel to Mauritius, with Tourism in Mauritius, you will find that these prophetic words are indeed true.

Situated 1200 miles off the coast of Africa in the middle of the Indian Ocean, this dream island seems like a tropical garden arising out from the horizon. The beauty of Mauritius is beyond words. Replete with lush forest, wild waterfalls, unique wildlife, moonscaped mountains and palm-fringed beaches, Mauritius is the archetypical dream destination for tourists and perfect for an idyllic holiday. The friendliness of Mauritius's multi-cultural population is also a valuable tourist resource. These are the reasons because of which tourism in Mauritius thrives so much.

This beautiful island also offers a wide variety of leisure pursuits for the more active, based around the stunning coastline and crystal-clear waters, including deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and water skiing. The holiday experience in Mauritius is perfectly complemented by its delicious cuisine and the traditional music and dance form- Sega whose rhythmic beats sets the mood for the evening. Mauritius also has a throbbing nightlife in the form of casinos and discotheques.

Tourist Attractions in Mauritius
¤ Port Louis City :Port Louis is the vibrant capital of Mauritius and a very important port city of the Indian Ocean. The city was founded by the French in 1735 as a supply halt for their ships travelling around the Cape of Good Hope. Named after King Louis XV, Port Louis is one of the busiest city of the country and also its financial capital.

The city is dominated by the Citadelle that is situated atop Port-Louis mountain range. Tourists can never get enough of Port Louis. Discovering the city can be an enriching cultural experience. The Chinatown has a fascinating atmosphere and where the Chinese culture had been kept alive. Spicy aromas waft out through the small restaurants, engulfing the whole area, thus lending it a mystic aura. Chinatown is also home to the Jummah Mosque that was built in 1853 and has intricate fabulous teak doors and decorations. Tourists also visit Chinatown to pay their respects to the Père Laval's shrine that is supposed to have healing powers.

¤ Beaches of Mauritius :The beautiful island nation of Mauritius is home to some of the most fascinating beaches in the world. These beaches, framed by the coconut palms and casuarinas trees, more commonly known as Filao trees are perfect for an idyllic vacation. Most of the beaches, except the ones in south of Mauritius are protected by the fringing coral reefs. Hence most of the beaches are in the form of sparkling lagoons and are sheltered, calm and peaceful all through the year.

¤ Coral Reefs of Mauritius :The emerald island of Mauritius, glistening like a speck of diamond of diamond in the swirling waters of Indian Ocean is encircled by one of the world's largest unbroken coral reef systems. The coral reefs of Mauritius are spectacular to behold and no words are sufficient enough to describe its unparalleled beauty.

¤ Water Sports in Mauritius :Mauritius, a beautiful island in the midst of Indian Ocean, is prime tourist attraction with tourists from all over the world converging in this paradise island. Mauritius-the land of surf and sun has plenty to offer to tourists. Primarily a beach escape destination, Mauritius is also pretty well known for its wide range of water sport activities that keep the tourists busy and entertained during their vacation in Mauritius. Discover the wonderful tropical underwater scenery and the multicolored marine flora and fauna of Mauritius by indulging in the various water sport activities of Mauritius. The water sports of Mauritius are extremely thrilling and adventurous.

¤ Deep Sea Fishing in Mauritius :Deep-sea fishing, as the name suggests is hunting for the game fishes that are generally found deep out in the sea. And the waters of Mauritius are absolutely perfect for deep-sea fishing. It can be said that Mauritius is indeed an angler's paradise with such an exotic variety of game fishes on offer.

The waters of Mauritius are home to a huge variety of marine fauna, such as the marlins, sharks, tuna and the sailfish. Anglers are spoilt for choice between blue and black marlins, all types of sharks like hammerhead, mako, tiger and black fin, yellow Tunas, the Bonitos and the Barracuda.