Home / Gallery
Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao, is a crater lake from an extinct volcano located 560m above sea level.
It is said to date back to 1887 as a pilgrimage site when 'pujari' (or a Hindu priest) had a phenomenal dream. In this dream, the pujari saw the water of the Ganga Talao springing from the Jahnavi River (which is another name for the Hindu goddess, Ganga) and into a lake in Mauritius.
Mangal Mahadev is 33 m (108 ft)-tall statue of the Hindu god, Shiva, standing with his trident at the entrance of Ganga Talao. Inaugurated in 2007, it is the tallest statue in Mauritius and a faithful copy of the Shiva statue in Sursagar Lake in Vadodara, Gujarat in India.
People from all over Mauritius – and the world – make the pilgrimage on foot to Ganga Talao. This sacred lake is the heart of the festival, a place to worship, light incense, pray and make offerings to the gods.
Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao, is a crater lake from an extinct volcano located 560m above sea level. The weather in the region is most of the time rainy, foggy and cloudy.
The lake was then known as the ‘Pari Talao’. In 1998 it was declared a “sacred lake”. In 1972, some holy water from the Ganges River was mixed establishing a symbolic link with the sacred Indian River and the lake was renamed Ganga Talao.
Ganga Talao (also known as Grand Bassin), is a lake with a temple situated 6km South East of Mare aux Vacoas in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne, about 1800 feet (550m) above sea level.
Grand Bassin with its Hindu temples and a holy lake is one of the most popular among the hindu faith population of Mauritius.it is most sacred place in Mauritius. Drinking and eating non veg food is not allowed. Proper dress code is required here before you visit the temple.
