Mauritius was one of the British Colony and in 1847 the British issued one penny and two penny stamps. The island of Mauritius is very famous for these two rare and special stamps. These stamps are also known as Penny Orange and Two pence Blue. These two stamps are also the first two official stamps of the Island of Mauritius. These stamps were not actually invented for postal services. These stamps were originally meant to be used for inviting guests to the inaugural ball bye the new governor’s wide of that time.

The popular blue penny stamp was designed by Joseph O. Barnard (1816 – 1865). Barnard who in fact was a jeweler by profession. On this wonderful blue penny stamp, the picture of the lady engraved is actually the British Queen. The initials of the designer “J.B” were also engraved on the neck of the queen on the blue penny stamp. As already mentioned, this beautiful stamp was not designed for the postal service, so it was obvious that even the intention of the designer was not to make the same and that depicts also. So, the jeweler was confronted with immense pressure to complete the design. As a result of this pressure, the designer made a huge mistake. Barnard was working very late at night and was not given his time space to work upon, so in hurry he engraved the words “Post Office” which should have been “Post Paid” on the blue penny stamp. And this mistake was unknown until more than 240 stamps were actually sold in the market.

The famous blue penny stamp depicts the picture of Queen Victoria, with the inscription of “Post Office” on the left side of the stamp. The dimensions of the stamp were 3.25 inches by 2.5 inches and the whole design was engraved on a copper plate. When the blunder committed by Joseph O. Barnard was discovered, Lady Gomm (the governor’s wife) did not even waste a single day. She instantly ordered the authorities to destruct all the stamps having the errors. Many of those stamps were successfully destroyed but due to the lack of the records about the invitees few were left at that time. But how many? No one ever knew the exact number. But it was estimated that about thirty more stamps still existed. In the year 1929, an official catalogue was issued according to which the unused one penny orange stamp was valued as $20,000 and the unused two penny blue was valued as $17,000. And the used copy of one penny orange stamp was valued as $12,500 and the used copy of two penny blue was valued as $15,000. And surprisingly, the value of unused blue penny stamp was $1,100,000 in the 2007 Scottish catalogue. This value shows the heritage value of these famous stamps. These beautiful stamps were put on to display at the Blue Penny Museum in Mauritius and the British Museum in London. All the unused copies of these are still in the museums. And one unused copy still lies in some private hands.

The island of Mauritius is an amazing and exotic destination for a perfect holiday. This paradise on earth will offer you with all the things that you expect from an ideal holiday destination. The island of Mauritius is one of the best and hot favorite choices for the travelers all around the world. The beautiful and astonishing beaches of Mauritius have already made their mark as the world’s best beaches. The local tourism industry generates the most income for the island. And some part of the success in making the island’s a world class holiday destination goes to the government. The government understands the situation and makes sure that they attract a great number of tourists to the island.

This involvement of the government brought the traveling expenses to Mauritius way to cheap. Once you get to know about the attracting schemes presented by many airlines, you will surely think of the planning your next holiday at Mauritius. You can easily

Aerial view of Le Morne

manage a cheap flight to Mauritius regardless, which part of the globe you belong to. No matter the reason of your visit, it could be holiday trip or a business trip; you can find a wide range of flights to Mauritius which are not very expensive. Seeing the market position of the island, all the leading airlines companies of the world are stepping into the arena. This is one of the main reasons of budget flights to the island of Mauritius. Providing you the fly to Mauritius for good price does not mean that the standard will be degraded, you will be spell bound by the warmth of the reception by the airlines. In fact, they make your journey faster and comfortable.

Looking for cheap flights to Mauritius will only do well for you, as it helps you to plan your dream holiday within your budget. The island’s very own Air Mauritius runs over 30 flights to and from Mauritius on daily basis, which is tremendous.

Just by spending some time on internet, you can get to know about the various airlines which offer you such low budgeting flying to Mauritius. Being a fabulous tourist spot, many airlines offer attractive bundle vacation plans, which include even your accommodation details. It is very necessary to plan your vacation way to ahead, because it is difficult to obtain tickets and accommodation before a span of week’s time. By doing so, you can plan your whole vacation in an appropriate manner.

Condor Airbus

Some of the leading players of airlines industry which can serve you are:

Air Mauritius Emirates Airlines

South African Airways
Cathay Pacific Airways
British Airways
Air France

Condor

Make sure that the airlines you choose are trust worthy. There are many extra charges like tourist entry fee and some other kind of taxes; you need to make sure that all such charges are included in your ticket fare. These are small things that could lead to you a big problem, so you need to act smart, when you choose your airlines and the travel agency. This will enable you to make the most of your dream holiday on the beautiful island of Mauritius.

Mauritius is officially known as the Republic of Mauritius. This island of Mauritius generates a huge income from the sources like golf, tourism and export of sugar cane. The island comprises of a number of great and amazing golf courses. Some of its golf courses like the Anahita Golf course, the Ile Aux Cerfs course and the Tamarina Golf course which have made a tremendous mark on international level. People of Mauritius love this sport. And soon this love developed into passion. And this started an international golf tournament, The Mauritius Golf Open.

The Mauritius Golf Open was started in December, 1994. The Constance Belle Mare Plage golf course is also known as the womb of the Mauritius Golf Open. The Belle Mare Plage golf course hosted 60 amateurs and 30 professionals in the month of March in 1994, when this tournament was officially launched. Since then, the island has grown with respect of golf culture. The tournament became such a hit that it encouraged initiating a separate tournament for female golfers. Soon within a span of 5 years, the Mauritius Golf Open in 1999 witnessed over 140 armatures and 65 professional. The Mauritius Golf Open hosts the tournament for the golfers from about 25 countries; this is evident to its popularity. The Mauritius Golf Open provides a great platform to the amateur golfers, to get close with international golfing standards.

Aerial view of Mauritian Golf course

The MAURITIUS GOLF OPEN offers amateurs the opportunity to see some of the leading lights of European golf at close range while also enjoying first rate pro am competition. Couple this with 10 days on one of the most beautiful island in the world and you have the reason the MAURITIUS GOLF OPEN is one of the most popular end of year golf tournaments for pro’s and amateurs alike.

The Mauritius Golf Open is a 10 day long tournament. The tournament kicks off with the International Pro-Am. In this phase of the tour, golfers form different teams, each team consists of one Professional and three amateurs. Here, two best scores of the team are counted. Then the second leg of the tournament starts with The Air Mauritius Amateur Championship and the Ladies Championship. Then the last leg starts (the Mauritius Golf Open for male and female Professional golfers), which is one of the most celebrated golf tournaments in Europe. This whole competition is played on the Legend Course of the Constance Belle Mare Plage golf course.

Soon, this Mauritius Golf Open has been able to attract a great number reputed brands as their sponsors and the makes the prize money of the tournament very high. And this prize money is evident to its popularity and the respect enjoyed by this tournament. The Mauritius Golf open offers a wonderful environment for the professionals to relax and tremendous platform to amateurs to learn things. All these factors make the Mauritius Golf Open, as the most popular golf tournaments which begin at the year end among the professionals, amateurs and golf lovers.

This hotel is located in Mauritius and it is one of the best five star hotels in the region. If you are willing to spend your holidays in Mauritius then this is the best place to stay. Because this have all facilities which could make you feel happy and comfortable. This hotel is located in the middle of tropical gardens in the south side of Mauritius. This hotel also has three private beaches in the nearby area. It also has a Shandrani Sailing Club which is recognized internationally. The main specialty of the Shandrani hotel is the Shandrani Kitesurf School which is an IKO certified school. This suits best for beginners and provides all international facilities for Kitesurf.

The three beaches which are very vast in space accommodate many gaming facilities and also offer snorkeling for guests to have a great look at the sea life. This also has the glass bottom boat which provides you a marvelous under water trip. This trip is very special for all guests, if they experience this for the first time as the underwater creatures and their colors are eye capturing. This resort hotel also arranges Beachcomber Sport and Nature programme for guests. After signing up in this programme they could participate and enjoy the wild south of Mauritius. The sports includes mountain biking, kayaking, and abseiling. All these sports are supervised by experts and to provide safety the equipments are tested frequently. Other than these sports the hotel also arranges for different entertainment programs for guests ranging from live concerts to fashion parades.

This resort is also famous for its PADI- National Geographic Diving Center which allows only expert divers to dive and enjoy. This is the first diving center in this region and attracts many divers from the world. This Shandrani Hotel also incorporates a 9-Hole Golf Course with lagoon at its side. The “tee-off” of this golf course is just at a distance of 100 meters from the reception and the beach.

As the name Shandrani Resort and Spa itself shows it has Spa, which allows the guests to relax. This hotel has La Source Spa which is affiliated to Decleor Paris and this contains 11 massage rooms in two wings. In the first wing you could see 2 saunas, 2 hammams, and 6 massage rooms incorporated with private gardens. In that 2 have a private gazebo other than that it also has 4 rooms to relax after the treatment. In the second wing this has 5 rooms each for special purpose such as Ayurvedic, Aqua treatments, Shiatsu, Traditional massages, and beauty treatments.

This also has La Source Wellness Center which was introduced recently to guests. This also comes under the Decleor affiliation. It includes 20 massage rooms, Sauna, hammam and a swimming pool with lush vegetation. This has high ceilings and private outdoor showers. Also the decoration in the wall with stones, and wood makes the look grandeur. As an offer this new wellness center offers free massage for 45 minutes for each adult staying in this hotel. This is a whole body massage from head to toe which makes the adult to relax and enjoy their holidays.

Mauritius is a paradise for the tourists and people come from all over the world for a happy vacation in Mauritius. Taking into consideration the comfort of the tourists, the Mauritian government has offered many transport facilities.

The Road transport has seen much development in recent years. Efforts are made to keep Mauritius more welcoming to the tourists. Traveling by road is the best way to enjoy the scenic beauty of Mauritius. Tourists can drive in the cities if they have international drive permit. Vehicles like limousines are also available for the tourists.

To have a spectacular view of the enchanting scenery, traveling by car seem to be the best. Cars are the easiest mode of transport in Mauritius but quiet expensive. Different cars ranging from mokes to limousines are available for rent. The government of Mauritius is taking the essential steps to improve the road transport. There are both paved as well as unpaved roads. Road transport has undergone many phases of improvements so far. Since the years of colonization serious steps have been taken to improve the road transport to make the island more hospitable to the tourists. Mauritius has no railway facilities but has well enhanced airline facility. Reaching Mauritius from any part of the world is achieved with the help of International airlines. There are five airports in Mauritius and flights serve as an easy and convenient mode of transport. There are many flights to and from Mauritius. Mauritius flights are operated from different parts of the world at affordable cost.

Taxis are the cheapest mode of transport for the tourists. Taxis are found in every corner of the cities. The drivers of the taxi can communicate in English also to guide the tourists. The taxi fares are set by the law and so it is fixed.

Mauritius has extensive bus service to all tourist locations. Local buses in Mauritius are also cheaper means of transport. The tourists can get along with local people of Mauritius while traveling by local buses. The road transport has improved to a great extent and many buses have come up to offer comfort, speed and with better carrying capacity.

The government of Mauritius has given special consideration to the French people. The government has offered them access to Mauritius without possessing a passport. To strengthen the historic and cultural tie up with France, the government of Mauritius has now acknowledged the French tourists.

Mauritius is prominent for being one of the best big fishing destinations and has won many fishing record over the years. With perfect climatic conditions prevailing throughout the year, the Island is suitable for anglers to have a fun filled fishing game. There are many hotels in Mauritius which can book deep sea fishing boat trips. Fishing boats can also be hired from the hotels and fishing clubs. LA PIROGUE BIG GAME FISHING situated in the west coast of the island offers world’s best fishing action.

The summer season starting from November and ending up in April is the best time for big fishing. The deep water currents attract

a variety of small and big fishes. The common fishes are blue Marlin, Sail fish, Bonito, Barracuda, Wahoo, tuna and shark. The best fishing spots are located in north, south west and west coast of the Island. The notable locations are Riviera Noire and Morne Brabant. The deep sea fishing in Mauritius is sure to thrill the anglers. Mauritius Island is suitable for fishing throughout the year but the best season is summer. Blue and Black marlin are the most common species found in Mauritius. Wahoo, the fastest swimming fish in the sea is seen in the month of September. The varieties of Tuna fish move in to the Mauritius waters in March and April. Sail fish is a challenge to the anglers because it flies through the air when hooked to express its anger.
There are some categories of the fishing boats and they vary from 60 foot to 45 foot. All fishing boats are well equipped with international reels, Fenwick rods and life jackets, high frequency radios, radar, skipper, crew, basic first aid box, fresh water showers and toilets, sun deck with gallery. Soft drinks, bottled water and beers are available free of cost. The boat has no facility to offer food and other beverages. The boats can be organized for full day or half day trips. Fishing boats can accommodate five anglers. Even the tourists who are not anglers can enjoy the fishing boat trip. The Paradis resort offers a unique type of fishing boats known as the challenger boats. These boats are considered to be the best in the Island. The boats are professionally manned and equipped and are well suitable for catching very large blue Marlins.

With innumerable species of fishes in different varieties, shapes and colors, Mauritius Island is a charming place for big game fishing.

The Mauritius Island is a paradise floating in the Indian Ocean. The splendid beauty of the island invites tourists from all parts of the world. Enjoying a vacation in Mauritius is a gift and the memories of the vacation will be cherished for ever.

There are many hotels, villas, resorts and bungalows in Mauritius that can provide accommodation to the tourists who come to explore this island. There are many agencies in Mauritius that can make hotel bookings for the tourists at reasonable rate. They also ensure the safety of the tourists. There are many private bungalows situated near the beaches. After relaxing in the white sand and having a dip in the azure water, the bungalows near the beach are sure to offer you recreation and tranquility.

The hotels in Mauritius are exceptional and tantalizing. The hotels are constructed with stunning beauty and most of them are situated in splendid surroundings. The lagoons margin the hotels on all sides. The hotel settings are marvelous and extravagant. Many star hotels offer new rooms, new cuisines, new spa relaxations and new golf tours.

Though there are many hotels and holiday resorts, the bungalows in Mauritius have attracted the tourists to a great extent. This is because the bungalows are set in a luxurious manner and most of them are self catering. Located among the tropical garden, the bungalows are perfect for holiday stays. The hotels provide accommodations depending on the family size and take care of food from the restaurants near by. The bungalows on the other hand offer kitchenette where the tourists can do their own cooking. The bungalows create a homely environment. Also the bungalows have recreation facilities, including swimming pools. The bungalows in the island reflect a blend of Asian and tropical sensibility. The bungalows offer perfect harmony along with exotic views. Most of the bungalows face the ocean .The bungalows are air conditioned and are equipped with private bed rooms, living room and a dining room, kitchenette, microwave oven, private bathrooms, telephone with international dialing and also multi system TV, private parking etc.. The restaurants in the bungalows offer delicious cuisines. There are also special play zone for kids. The bungalows also provide water sports and land sports and musical entertainment. Bungalows are very convenient for the tourists in terms of privacy. Also they are more suitable for disabled people. Bungalows guarantee you a happy relaxed family atmosphere and well suited for tourists who come with their family.

Mauritius is the most sought tourist destination in the world. Apart from this, Mauritius is also becoming a popular and favorite golf destination for most of the people. The island invites golfers to experience golf in challenging golf courses. Golf tours in Mauritius will cover extraneous locations. Golfing in Mauritius is gaining popularity and acknowledgement in recent years. The island offers many world class courses to tourists amidst palatial surroundings. The hotels also offer golf facilities with comfortable services.

The famous resort BELLE MARE PLAGE was the first to open a splendid golf course. The resort also has yet another golf course and both these courses test the skills of the golfers. The first course is the Legend and the second one is the Link. The legend golf course is carved out of a volcanic rock. It has plenty of lagoons to capture the eyes of the wayward golfers. The golf courses are well known for the Mauritius open tournaments. The legend and the link offer championships. Both the courses are maintained beautifully. The tournament has recognized the talents of the world’s top golfers. The golf courses demand extreme concentration and accuracy. They offer exciting experience in natural setting. There are also professional trainers to teach golf.

The most spectacular golf course of Mauritius is “Le Touessrok”. It is situated in the tropical island margined by white sands and out skirted by green mountains. It has coastline bays and many inlets. There are 18 holes and all 18 holes have ocean view. It is really one of the world’s perfect golf course settings. Most of the golf courses are attached to the resorts. There are also golf clubs like the Gymkhana club which offer a game of golf for certain amount of money to all visitors. The golf course is a mix of adventure with plenty of trees and sand traps. The paradis golf club offers a choice of three international golf courses. The three courses offer different challenges. The golf course lies between the Le Morne Mountain and it is the island’s most beautiful lagoon. The golf courses are closed to visitors and are opened for only hotel guests.

Being a tropical region, Mauritius has a rainy season. As the rain tends to last for an hour, golf can be played almost everyday. A golfing holiday in Mauritius is sure to captivate the spirit of the golfers. For intense golfers, Mauritius golfing is an awesome experience.

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Mauritius which is also known as the “star of the Indian ocean” is the most sought tourist destination. It is an island of in comparable beauty. The island is known for the safe beaches with mild tropical climate.

Mauritius Island is the home to coral reefs and a variety of marine life. The underwater world of Mauritius is teemed with plenty of colorful fishes. Mauritius is a natural wonder on earth. To watch the underwater world tourists should take up the scuba diving. It is indeed an enjoyable experience. Scuba diving has always been a favorite past time for the Mauritian tourists. Admiring the beauty of the vibrant coral reefs and swimming along with lovely fishes is a great experience.

Mauritius Island has attracted many scuba divers because it is quite safe with perfect climatic conditions. Divers from all over the world gather here because of the charming coral reefs and the warm and crystal clear water. It is place of elegance to the divers. There are sites meant for diving and they are very secure and have warm weather. Even the new divers are fascinated and excited to dive into the blue water of the island.

Although Mauritius is the ever loving, all time favourite spot for scuba divers, months of summer are considered to be the apt time for this thrilling water sport. This is because the warm water in summer attracts several fishes and the divers can have a wonderful sight of them. The tourists can make their own choice of the dive site. Beginners can choose shallow water whereas the experienced can head into the deep waters for adventurous dives that include pinnacles, cliffs and reefs.

The most popular scuba diving site in Mauritius is the cathedral and it is on the western coast of Mauritius. All hotels and resorts provides with the facility of scuba diving. Even if the tourists do not know to dive, there are professional divers to instruct and guide them. Most of the tourists enjoy scuba diving in Mauritius owing to the colorful reefs and sea life. The aquatic life under the turquoise water of the Indian Ocean is a feast to the divers. The divers are enthralled with fun and amusement. The coral reef that surrounds the island invites the scuba divers to grapple with the sharks, turtles and eagle rays.

There are many diving spots along the north coast, south east coast and the east coast. Scuba diving is an interesting and cheerful way to explore the mysteries of the underwater world of Mauritius.

One of the “attraction” the Paradise island of Mauritius has to offer its visitors is shopping for clothes.
In the early 80s, in order to boost the local industries, the government offered many benefits and tax cuts to the textile industries, which with the years have become one of the pillars of the local economy.
As such, most of the local production is exported, but there are various factory shops and designer ones spread around the island, offering the latest designs in excellent quality as well as outlets of many world renowned brands.

Most of the shops concentrate around the city of Curepipe, in the center of the island.
Once there be sure to visit the Floreal Knitwear museum. While at the museum you can check out the neighboring stores where you might even find great bargains which you’d usually pay for several $$, for less then 10$.
In order to get Floreal you should take the bus from Vacoas or Curepipe central bus stations (not recommended for families or those afraid of getting a bit dirty – price = around 10 Rupees) or get a taxi which shouldn’t take you more then 5-8 minutes from any of those cities (the price for such a ride should be around 50 to 100 Rupees).

While in Curepipe, be sure to visit the Garden Village, which is a very nice and cozy commercial center with various tourist shops (souvenirs, clothing, ship models, café…).
If you prefer searching for bargains, we would suggest you get inside the city center and those local shopping centers where the price difference might be very significant. In Curepipe one should visit the Arcades Currimjee, Arcades Sallafa as well as the city’s main street ; the Royal Road.