Grand Bassin – Centre of Pilgrimage and Tourism

From Our Archives – A Glimpse into 1961

The Minister of Agriculture and Forests nominated recently a committee composed of Mr E. Edgerley, Conservator of Forests, Mr J. Jefferies, Director of the Mauritius Government Tourist Office, Mr Rottoo, Manager, Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund Committee, Hon. R. Balgobin, ex-President of the Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation, and Hon. B. Ramlallah, President of the Hindu Maha Sabha, in order to advise the Government as to the best practical means to be adopted to preserve Grand Bassin as a pilgrimage centre and beauty spot.

A committee comprising E. Edgerley (Conservator of Forests), J. Jefferies (Mauritius Government Tourist Office), Mr. Rottoo (Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund), and Hon. R. Balgobin and Hon. B. Ramlallah (representing the Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation and Hindu Maha Sabha, respectively) was appointed in 1961 to advise the Government on preserving Grand Bassin as a pilgrimage site and tourist destination.

Mr Edgerley acted as Chairman of the Committee. Mr Yudhisteer Ruhee, President of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, greatly helped the Committee by using his vast experience of cultural and religious knowledge of the Hindus. We understand that the Government has accepted in principle the recommendations of the Committee.

The Grand Bassin, also called Pari Talav (Angel’s Lake), has been the pilgrimage centre of the Hindus for almost a century. Every year during the Shivratri Festival, it attracts thousands of pilgrims and devotees. It also attracts hundreds of non-Hindus who go there to attend the celebrations as onlookers. By practice and by tradition, Grand Bassin has now become the uncontested place of pilgrimage for the Hindus. It is a good thing the Government has given recognition to this fact.

Apart from that, since the opening of the roads to the lake, picnickers, sightseers, and tourists flock to the place. Grand Bassin and the neighbouring places (Mare aux Vacoas, Mare Longue) are ideal tourist attraction centres. The lake in particular should be made tourist-worthy. The recommendations made by the Committee that the lands surrounding the lake be treated to develop their natural beauties is quite an interesting suggestion.

Government should start with the improvement work as soon as funds become available. Tourists have started visiting Mauritius. No doubt many more will come in future. In order to make their visits pleasant to Grand Bassin, the road should be improved and the site made attractive.

All along the boundary of the 140 arpents, a road 10 feet wide should be opened so as to demarcate clearly where the “no-shooting area” starts. That road would be useful for patrolling the area. If strict vigilance is kept, it will not take long for that part to become the refuge of wild animals — a Deer Park for instance.

The Government should also consider the fencing of the 140 arpents with barbed wire in which it can let loose some harmless animals and birds imported from abroad.

The land could be made an ideal wildlife sanctuary. If an appeal is made in foreign countries, we are sure that most of them would gladly send us a few animals.

The third recommendation made by the Committee that an adequate area of the land be leased to a representative Hindu religious body having adequate private funds for building temples and shrines is a very laudable one.

The land should of course be leased to a really representative body which can command the confidence of the Hindu community. The architecture of the temple should be of a high standard. One should not lose sight of the fact that Grand Bassin is the only centre where all Hindus meet. There they forget their petty internal quarrels. And so, the temple should be the property of all Hindus.

We are sure that the Arya Samajists, Tamils, Telugus, and Marathis too will generously contribute to the erection of the temple. Besides the temple, a rest house, a meditation hall, and an assembly hall should be built. The help of the Indian Government could be sought in order to secure the services of an architect well-versed in temple architecture. An all-Mauritius Hindu body should be formed in order to undertake that great work.

The Hindu community should be grateful to the Minister of Agriculture and Forests for having conceived the idea of appointing a committee with such wide terms of reference. The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Edgerley, who has spent a lifetime in India, Malaya, and Burma and whose knowledge of Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries is vast, has done a laudable service to the Hindus by enunciating the plan.

As for Mr Jefferies, his plans and suggestions to make the place attractive are of great value. More than the other members of the Committee, these two gentlemen should be congratulated.

We hope that it will not take long for the Hindu community to start thinking of doing something along the lines recommended by the Committee.

8th Year – No 338
Friday 24th February 1961

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 12 June 2026