33-meter tall Shiva statue (Mangal Mahadev)
Dress modestly - cover shoulders and knees
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Grand Bassin Temple
Sacred Hindu pilgrimage site in the heart of Mauritius
SouthLandUnique
Book This ActivityComing soon
★ 4.8 / 5 Tripadvisor1,235 reviewsTravellers' Choice 2026Booking completed on partner site
Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeYear-round, especially during Maha Shivaratri
DifficultyEasy
Activity overview
Discover South Mauritius beyond the beach.
Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao, is a crater lake situated in a secluded mountain area. It is considered the most sacred Hindu place in Mauritius and one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites outside India.
The lake is surrounded by temples dedicated to various Hindu deities, with the most striking feature being the 33-meter tall statue of Lord Shiva - the Mangal Mahadev - which stands guard at the entrance and is visible from miles away.
During the Maha Shivaratri festival, over 400,000 Hindu devotees make the pilgrimage to Grand Bassin, many walking barefoot from their homes across the island in a display of devotion.
Sacred crater lake
Remove shoes before entering temples
Multiple Hindu temples
Visit early morning for fewer crowds
Peaceful spiritual atmosphere
Combine with a visit to Chamarel or Black River Gorges
Wild monkeys around the lake
Wild monkeys around the lake
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