Aapravasi Ghat
Location: Port Louis, Mauritius
Year of Inscription: 2006
Criteria: (vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
Overview: The Aapravasi Ghat is a cultural heritage site located in the capital city of Port Louis, Mauritius. The site is a testimony to the more than 450,000 Indian indentured labourers who were brought to Mauritius between 1834 and 1920 to work on the sugar plantations. The Aapravasi Ghat was the first British colony to receive indentured labourers, and served as a crucial transit point for the labourers' arrival, classification, and distribution.
Prominent Features: The Aapravasi Ghat includes a number of significant features, including:
History: The Aapravasi Ghat played a pivotal role in the history of Mauritius and the Indian Ocean region. Between 1834 and 1920, more than 450,000 Indian indentured labourers were brought to Mauritius to work on the sugar plantations, making up more than 70% of the island's population. The Aapravasi Ghat was the first British colony to receive indentured labourers, and the site became a model for the indentured labour system that was later established in other British colonies.
Family-Friendly Activities: Families can visit the Aapravasi Ghat and take a guided tour to learn about the history of indentured labourers in Mauritius. The site also includes a museum that provides further information about the system of indentured labour and the cultural and social impact of Indian immigration on Mauritius.
Fun Fact: The word "ghat" refers to a set of steps leading down to a body of water, and the Aapravasi Ghat was so named because it was located on the Port Louis waterfront, where indentured labourers would disembark from ships.
Entry Fees: There is a small entrance fee of 100 Mauritian rupees (approximately 2.5 USD) per person for visitors to the Aapravasi Ghat.
How to Reach It: The Aapravasi Ghat is located in the heart of Port Louis and can be easily accessed by public transportation, including buses and taxis.
Where to Stay: There are a number of hotels and guesthouses located in Port Louis and the surrounding areas, including the Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel, the Le Suffren Hotel & Marina, and the St. Georges Hotel.
Next Stop: Le Morne Cultural Landscape
Year of Inscription: 2006
Criteria: (vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
Overview: The Aapravasi Ghat is a cultural heritage site located in the capital city of Port Louis, Mauritius. The site is a testimony to the more than 450,000 Indian indentured labourers who were brought to Mauritius between 1834 and 1920 to work on the sugar plantations. The Aapravasi Ghat was the first British colony to receive indentured labourers, and served as a crucial transit point for the labourers' arrival, classification, and distribution.
Prominent Features: The Aapravasi Ghat includes a number of significant features, including:
- The Immigration Depot, where indentured labourers were processed upon arrival to Mauritius
- The sick bay, where labourers were treated for illnesses and diseases
- The detention centre, where labourers were held before being distributed to different parts of the island
- The labourers' barracks, where the labourers lived before being sent to work on the plantations
History: The Aapravasi Ghat played a pivotal role in the history of Mauritius and the Indian Ocean region. Between 1834 and 1920, more than 450,000 Indian indentured labourers were brought to Mauritius to work on the sugar plantations, making up more than 70% of the island's population. The Aapravasi Ghat was the first British colony to receive indentured labourers, and the site became a model for the indentured labour system that was later established in other British colonies.
Family-Friendly Activities: Families can visit the Aapravasi Ghat and take a guided tour to learn about the history of indentured labourers in Mauritius. The site also includes a museum that provides further information about the system of indentured labour and the cultural and social impact of Indian immigration on Mauritius.
Fun Fact: The word "ghat" refers to a set of steps leading down to a body of water, and the Aapravasi Ghat was so named because it was located on the Port Louis waterfront, where indentured labourers would disembark from ships.
Entry Fees: There is a small entrance fee of 100 Mauritian rupees (approximately 2.5 USD) per person for visitors to the Aapravasi Ghat.
How to Reach It: The Aapravasi Ghat is located in the heart of Port Louis and can be easily accessed by public transportation, including buses and taxis.
Where to Stay: There are a number of hotels and guesthouses located in Port Louis and the surrounding areas, including the Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel, the Le Suffren Hotel & Marina, and the St. Georges Hotel.
Next Stop: Le Morne Cultural Landscape