Grand Bassin Sacred Lake: A Sanctuary of Peace & Serenity
Have you been wondering about the spiritual marvel that is Grand Bassin, the sacred lake in Mauritius? Sabiduri got you covered!
Since we haven’t had the pleasure, at least not yet, to personally visit this spiritual place, we asked the help to Angie & Jeff from Thrifty Living Travel Freedom to weigh in on this one.
Picture yourself embarking on a journey of faith and tranquility at this revered Hindu pilgrimage site.
With insightful expertise and a touch of reverence, let’s delve into the mystical allure of Grand Bassin, offering you a glimpse of spiritual harmony amidst natural beauty.
Engage with us as we navigate the cultural significance and serene ambiance of this sacred sanctuary, tailored for seekers of divine connection looking to find solace in a bustling world.
History of the Grand Bassin Sacred Lake
Our visit to Grand Bassin Sacred Lake in Mauritius was one of peace and reverence for those who believe the water in the lake is sacred. Also called Ganga Talao, Grand Bassin Sacred Lake was the subject of a dream by a Hindu priest as a holy lake.
It has become a destination for Hindu pilgrims believing the lord Shiva filled the crater lake with water from the Ganges River in India.
Pilgrims visit to touch the sacred water, worship, light incense sticks, and make offerings to the gods.
Grand Bassin Map
Where is Grand Bassin located? Well, this Sacred Lake is located in the south-central region on the island of Mauritius. Mauritius is roughly 690 miles west of the much larger island of Madagascar.
Honestly, until we booked a cruise sailing the east coast of Africa, we had never heard of Grand Bassin Sacred Lake. We hadn’t even heard of the island country of Mauritius that Grand Bassin is located in.
This trip was our first to the continent of Africa and despite being well-traveled in North America, Europe, and even Asia – we were woefully under informed about African geography and beautiful destinations like Mauritius.
Now, we’re much more aware of many of the magical destinations to visit in Africa, such as Grand Bassin Sacred Lake.
How to Get to Grand Bassin?
There are several ways you can get to Grand Bassin Sacred Lake depending how you are planning to arrive on the island of Mauritius.
ARRIVING VIA AIRPLANE INTO SIR SEEWOOSAGUR RAMGOOLAM INTERANTIONAL AIRPORT (AIRPORT CODE:SSR)🛩️
SSR Airport is located on the southeast side of Mauritius. Plan to rent a car at the airport.
The drive from SSR airport to Grand Bassin Sacred Lake is pretty short, taking just over 30 minutes and covering a distance of 26 kilometers or about 16 miles.
ARRIVING VIA CRUISE SHIP INTO PORT LOUIS HARBOR⛴️
Cruise ships dock at Port Louis Harbor which is on the northwest side of Mauritius.
It is possible to also rent a car near Port Louis. There are several car rental shops within about 0.25 to 0.5 miles of the port but it will require a walk (free) or taking a taxi to get to them.
As another option, simply book an excursion with your cruise ship; you’ll get to see Grand Bassin Sacred Lake plus a whole bunch more places throughout your day.
TAKE THE BUS🚎
Using the Mauritius bus lines to get to Grand Bassin is an option but it will require more than one bus to get there and you will need to transfer buses.
Unless you are already familiar with the Mauritius bus line system, this option would be the most challenging option.
Grand Bassin Directions
From Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (Airport Code: SSR) to Grand Bassin Sacred Lake – Take Highway M2 to the west of SSR Airport and drive to Road B-88 (Grand Bassin Road).
Head west on Grand Bassin Road until you reach Grand Bassin Sacred Lake.
Travel Distance: about 26 kilometers or about 16 miles. Estimated Travel Time: about 33 minutes.
From Port Louis to Grand Bassin Sacred Lake – Head south out of Port Harbor on Highway M2 and drive to Road B-88 (Grand Bassin Road).
Head down Grand Bassin Road and you will arrive at Grand Bassin Sacred Lake.
Distance: about 46 kilometers or about 28 miles. Estimated Travel Time: about 48 min.
Hindu Gods at Gran Bassin Sacred Lake (Giant Statues)
There is a path along the lake that has many statues of different Hindu gods.
In addition to these statues, there are two extremely large statues, one of the god Shiva and another of the goddess Durga with a lion, just next to the parking area. Each of these statues are over 100 feet tall and remarkable to see in person.
Our Experience at the Gran Bassin Sacred Lake
The lake was hidden from view as we stood in the parking lot on the overcast day with on and off again rain.
We had no idea the surprise that was in store for us as we walked away from the already awe-inspiring, massive statues in the parking lot and started down the path along the lake.
One of the first things we remember after walking along the lake path was it becoming wider and opening onto a stone paver courtyard.
On the edge of this courtyard was an offering table full of fruit – fruit piled high.
All different kinds of fruit. And displayed beautifully. Already our minds were churning. What was all this fruit doing here? What was the meaning of all this fruit?
We also remember seeing a Macaque monkey stop over to the offerings of fruit table and begin making a feast of it. So much fruit AND a Macaque monkey? This was 2 wow moments in one!
Walking a bit further into the courtyard, we started to notice the many statues of Hindu gods that were placed in the courtyard in front of the lake. We recognized one of the gods as Ganesha; so recognizable because of the elephant head and blue body.
You may know that Ganesha is the Hindu god who is known for being a remover of obstacles and bringing good luck. (Note: We didn’t know any of this while we were here; we found out via research later. We only knew the image of Ganesha at the time.)
Each of the statues in the courtyard had dull colored paint. Maybe the paint was bright colors at one time, but the elements of the world over time have worn the paint colors into muted tones.
This only seems to add to the timeline of the place. It lets you know this place has been special for a long, long time.
Two of the many smaller statues of Hindu gods placed along the edge of the Grand Bassin Sacred Lake.
We remember the sweet smell of incense wafting through the air. It was sweet and welcoming. The place has vibes of a great amount of happiness and peace and we felt the hairs on our arms stand up as we experienced this peace.
We are not very religious people, but we can say we felt happy in this place. And we felt happiness for others too. And maybe that’s enough.
Looking across to the other side of the lake we could see a family using cups or some other vessels to dip into the lake water.
From looking at the way they were moving their hands and arms, it was very obvious to us that there was a ritual involved with taking this water. Clearly from the way they were moving, there was a very certain way to go about collecting the water.
Again, we felt even more happiness. Happy for them. They were in a place of peace. And clearly this was an extremely meaningful moment to them.
As we made our way across the courtyard we had a chance to just wave hi and acknowledge each other, us and this family. We didn’t speak any words. None were needed. A smile conveyed everything that needed to be said.
Tips For Visiting the Grand Bassin
Grand Bassin Sacred Lake is in the interior southern part of the island of Mauritius.
At just under 800 square miles, it would be possible to drive around much of the island over the course of a long day, but to really see the highlights and have time to experience them fully, it is typically recommended that a visit be several days to a week long.
With beautiful coastal areas and interior mountainous areas, visitors will find plenty to enjoy during a longer visit.
During our visit, we traversed the island with a group excursion in a coach bus.
This was an ideal choice for us because we wanted a local guide to assist us in experiencing as much as possible on our short visit without blowing the budget for our trip.
However, if you are staying on the island longer, renting your own car is encouraged to allow you the freedom to explore the island at your own pace during your trip.
Even on a longer trip with our own car rental, we like to add in at least one day with an organized tour to connect with a local and understand from the local perspective the culture and can’t miss spots!
The island also offers some public transport in the form of local buses that will give you a true immersion experience, if you’re up for the adventure.
And, there are taxis available at the airport, area hotels, and in towns and these can also be pre-arranged for other destinations.
What is the Best Time to Visit Mauritius?
The best time to visit Mauritius depends a bit on your preferences. Common advice is to visit between May and December which is when you will experience cooler, dryer weather.
The wet cyclone season is from January to March but cyclones rarely hit the island. Some may wish to avoid July and August when the island is the windiest, but if you are into any type of surfing or windsurfing, this could be the ideal time for your visit.
Things To Do Around Grand Bassin?
As Mauritius is situated in the beautiful Indian Ocean, the first, and maybe most obvious thing to do when visiting is explore their beaches.
The water in this part of the world is a stunning aqua blue. It’s the color that makes you question if your eyes are playing tricks on you.
And, from some of the more mountainous areas in the interior of the island, you can enjoy breathtaking view points of this beauty from places up high as well.
#1. Chamarel Waterfall
Another can’t miss stop on the island of Mauritius is the Chamarel Waterfall.
This falls with the drop of over 300 feet is fed by two rivers and a spectacular place to visit any time of the year. Although, it is important to note that the amount flowing over the falls nearly doubles during the rainy season.
If you’re up for a long hike, it is possible to get a closer view of the falls than we did and to even swim in the pool at the bottom.
Chamarel Waterfall during the dry season in December.
#2. The 7-Colored Earth in Chamarel
Another sacred place to visit during your time in Mauritius is the geological formation of the seven-colored earth.
This fascinating natural place was formed due to the cooling of lava that formed the island thousands of years ago in combination with the tropical climate.
These beautiful multicolored sand dunes are viewable from a series of elevated look out points.
Where to Stay in Mauritius ?
On an island with beautiful beaches like Mauritius, there is often not a shortage of luxurious beach resorts to stay. This is definitely the case in Mauritius as well.
If you wish to stay near the Grand Bassin Sacred Lake but still have the beachside resort experience, you could consider the 5-star boutique resort of So/Mauritius Sofitel.
Mauritius also boasts resorts from luxury brands that are familiar around the world like Four Seasons and JW Marriott.
If you’re looking for an excellent stay experience for a lesser price point, you could explore options like InterContinental Resort Mauritius, Preskil Island Resort Mauritius, or Canonnier Beachcomber.
If you prefer a budget accommodation, you might explore Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort or Bel Ombre Kaz’alala.
FAQs
What are the Hours for Grand Bassin Sacred Lake?
The lake is available to visit by the public at all times, there is not really a Grand Bassin Sacred Lake opening hours.
However, the temple does have set hours of 5 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
What Does It Cost to Visit Grand Bassin Sacred Lake?
There is no entry fee to visit Grand Bassin Sacred Lake.
What Should You Wear during Your Visit to Grand Bassin Sacred Lake?
As this is a place of worship, visitors are encouraged to dress as they would when visiting other places of religious and spiritual significance.
Visitors are encouraged to dress modestly, covering their knees and shoulders.
Wrap-Up: Is the Grand Bassin Sacred Lake Worth Visiting?
If you will enjoy Grand Bassin Sacred Lake is going to depend entirely on your attitude towards the place.
Are you open to seeing new places? Are you open minded enough to appreciate religions other than your own? Do you see things for more than just what they are on the surface? Or, perhaps you are Hindu and do not need any convincing of the magnitude of this place.
If yes, then this will be a place you will be amazed by.
If not, then you will probably be disappointed.
If you’ve seen a lake before, then this is just another lake. If you’ve seen a monkey eat a piece of fruit, then you’ve already done that too. If you are looking for a brightly-colored Disneyland experience; you’re not going to find it here.
If you can get beyond the surface and appreciate the vibe of the place, the peace and happiness that can be found here, then we’d say yes, you should definitely put Grand Bassin Sacred Lake on your list of places you should see and experience.
And, when you add in the beauty all around the island, visiting can be a part of a wonderful vacation in Mauritius.
Author: Angie & Jeff
Angie and Jeff have been passionate about travel their entire lives together.
They have been to all 50 United States and have been to over 40 countries and counting. They continue to visit more new places every year.
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