Ganga Talao: A Sacred Place in Mauritius
Exploring Grand Basin
Its always exciting to discovering special sacred sites when travelling. The earth is full of places of power that you can tangibly feel. Walking on these sites, you can feel the vibration, within and without. One such place is Ganga Talao, also known as Grand Bassin in Mauritius.
After 10 days of full-on fun activities, cocktails, beaches and restaurants with my extended family of siblings, nieces and nephews, aunts and cousins, celebrating my Dad’s milestone birthday, visiting this place felt like stepping into another dimension. This was a whole different side of Mauritius, where time slows down, where you become aware of the richness and depth of our human experience.
Grand Bassin is a sacred crater lake located about 550 metres above sea level in the mountainous Savanne District of Mauritius. It is believed to be spiritually linked to the Ganges River in India and, as such, is an important place of pilgrimage for the Hindu population of Mauritius.
The entrance to Grand Bassin is marked by the giant statue of Lord Shiva, Mangal Mahadev. As we drove toward the site we could see it from far - Standing 33 metres tall, it is the tallest statue in Mauritius.
For Yogis, Shiva is an important figure. Ancient traditions teach that Shiva first transmitted the spiritual science of yoga to the seven great sages on the banks of Lake Manasarovar in the Himalayas. Shiva is viewed as the originator and grandmaster who handed down the methods of meditation, breath control and self-realisation to humanity.
There was a Hindu priest offering blessings below the giant statue, and we stopped to receive one. The priest marked our foreheads with three lines of white ash and a red dot. The three horizontal lines of ash, known as Tripundra, are traditionally associated with Shiva and can represent the burning away of the three impurities or the three fundamental limitations of human existence. The red dot, or bindi, represents spiritual insight and the inner eye. He also placed a Raksha Sutra around our wrists. This sacred thread is traditionally worn as a symbol of protection and blessing.
We then made our way to the main lake complex, which features vibrant and colourful shrines dedicated to Shiva, Durga, Ganesha, Kali and other deities. Walking around the lake was a surreal experience. I took my time to feel the energy of the place and acknowledge each deity as an aspect of ourselves. There was something very peaceful about being there, surrounded by the lake, the temples and the mountains. I made an offering before the stature of Saraswati - the principal Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom, and learning and also the yoga lineage I am part of.
A short walk and 118 steps took us up to a large statue of Lord Hanuman. We paused here to take in the wide views over the sacred crater lake.
Maybe it was the stark contrast to the Mauritius holiday vibe, but the stillness and energy of Ganga Talao felt indescribable. In moments like these we connect to our true/higher selves and forget the material world.
.
It was truly a highlight of my trip to Mauritius.
