Hidden secret of Mauritius
The tiny island of Mauritius is situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean is a Tourism Hotspot. This island typically acquired many local nicknames over the years for its mesmerizing beaches, breathtaking scenic beauty and turquoise water. Mauritius is, moreover, one of the happening honeymoon destinations as this island makes anyone fall in love. It would not be incorrect to nickname Mauritius as Lover’s Paradise. The endless beaches, idyllic lagoons, azure water and spectacular sunsets give the most romantic feeling anyone would ever have. It would not be wrong either to compare the beauty of Mauritius with “The Heaven.” Among all these scenic beauties, turquoise waters and endless sandy beaches there lies a hidden wander beside the historic village of Chamarel. Known precisely as the Seven Coloured Earth, this unique attraction undoubtedly increased the popularity of Mauritius by many folds. The Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth definitely represents a hidden secret landscape inside the vastness of this beautiful Island. Tourists gather here with full enthusiasm and get utterly surprised seeing the earth producing seven colours. This is not an optical illusion phenomenon, and it’s real. A unique natural occurrence never is seen and exists anywhere else in this world. There are precisely many interesting things about Mauritius and the Seven Coloured Earth at Chamarel. I read about this unique natural attraction and got extremely interested to travel to Mauritius.
My experience
When I landed at Mauritius and went to Explore Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths, I was absolutely fascinated. The beauty described in the articles I read and the pictures I saw were nothing in comparison with the reality. I was getting a feeling like it’s a painting done on a vast canvas. Some painter must have taken a fine painting brush and painted the entire soil with seven distinctive colours. Once I thought the rainbow must have fallen down on this land by mistake! Beaches were calling me, but I decided to spend most of my time viewing this spectacular beauty and the surrounding Natural Park. Other than the Seven Coloured Earth, there are two more spectacular attractions – The Tortoise Park and The Chamarel Waterfall. I spend endless hours seeing all these natural attractions and the breathtaking green landscape all around. In this guide I am sharing striking facts about Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths and why this is one of Mauritius main tourist attractions.
Striking facts about Mauritius, Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth
- Arab sailors represent the first to discover the Island of Mauritius during the 9th Century.
- Mauritius has got a turbulent history from the sixteenth century about the Dutch, French and the British colonization.
- This tiny island enjoys enormous multicultural and multiethnic diversity.
- Top Honeymoon destination
- Ranks among the world’s top beach destinations
- You can find UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites in this Island.
- Tourism is a top five industry attracting over 1.3 million tourists each year.
- Over eighty different varieties of Palm Trees are found here.
- The small village Chamarel was named after its French owner, Chazal de Chamarel.
- Seven Colored layering soil found at Chamarel remain a unique tourist attraction.
- The Seven Coloured Earth is examined to be 600 million years old.
- The only place in Mauritius for biking, Zip lines and ropeways is Chamarel.
Why Chamarel is a unique village in Mauritius?
I studied a lot about Chamarel which is a small village. When I reached there, I found the place more interesting and exciting than I thought. The village is with less than 1,000 local people and administered by the Chamarel Village Council. Other than tourism, the local person depends on agriculture. Coffee and sugarcane are the principal agricultural products. The entire village is typically surrounded by lush green mountains and an ideal place for adventure activities like biking, zip lines and ropeways.
Where is the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth located in Mauritius?
In south-western Mauritius besides the small village of Chamarel, you can find this unique land with colouring soil. The soil found here reflects seven different colours like red, blue, green, brown, violet, yellow and purple. The mysterious thing is even Rain, thunderstorm or any other natural calamities did not change the colour of these soils for ages. They remain permanent as it is personifying its beauty and legacy. This village is in the hilly region of Mauritius. Therefore, the climate becomes extremely pleasant as you travel up through the hilly roads. I was just speechless when I drove along the roads from my Mauritius Hotel towards this village. It was nearly an hour drive and I enjoyed the extreme greenery all around the place. The striking contrast is on one side there are watery beaches with its pristine beauty, on the other side stands gigantically these lush green landscapes. On reaching, I came to know about an amazing waterfall and tortoise park. Both of these were two added attractions to my Chamarel nature tour from Mauritius.
Do you think the Seven Coloured Earth at Chamarel is an optical illusion?
The seven coloured Earth was first discovered in the 1960s and it is not an optical illusion. It is precisely a natural Geological formation from molten volcanic rocks and a spectacular view to see and enjoy. You can find colourful rolling sand dunes of seven different colours – red, yellow, green, blue, violet, purple, and brown. A scientific theory explains that oxides of various metals including iron and aluminium decomposed and formed this colour soil. Whatever science says, I was looking at the spectacular rainbow-coloured soil. There was no illusion in this natural wonder, it very much real and in front of my open eyes. On reaching there I found the area protected by a fence. Earlier tourists used to walk over the colouring sands, but to protect this unique natural beauty now walking is strictly prohibited. There was a souvenir shop selling a small part of this coloured sand which you can buy and bring along. I spend a lot of time inside the park and tried to see each colour of the sands. I was really surprised that they were clear and distinct. There was no more doubt why this is the most photographed and visited sights on the island. The distinct coloured soil was naturally arranged in layers in a way that it formed a spectacular 3D effect. There were two viewpoints to see this mesmerizing picturesque natural beauty, take unlimited photographs and lock them inside your travel memories. This romantic island of Mauritius gives a more passionate feeling when you visit such a place with your partner or beloved. You should feel like silently looking at those colourful sand dunes resting there for millions of years at amidst of a lush green forest. It would not be wrong either to add the name of “seven coloured Earth” as the eight wonders. Let us learn the scientific theory behind its formation.
What scientists have to say about the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth?
In 1879, a member of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Mauritius was the first to draw attention to the existence of this unique natural landscape. This curious unusual phenomenon later became a major tourist attraction. The landscape of Mauritius faced various drifts and changes over the years. There has been a various volcanic eruption, continental drifts and collisions. All of these resulted in the formation of oceans, lagoons, mountain ranges and basalt cliffs. Due to the hot and humid climatic conditions, the molten lava cooled down at different temperature level and turned into basalt. It remained there for over 600 million years. This long decomposition resulted in the formation of iron and aluminium. These two minerals are responsible for producing the multicoloured effect in the soil. The iron when came in contact with adequate moisture formed the ferric oxide. This ferric oxide gives the reddish brown colour, and the aluminium which turned into aluminium oxide gives the Violet – blue colour. The mysterious thing is even after millions of years of rain and storms these colouring soils remained as they were and never eroded. When during the 17th century all lands were used for farming, why this piece of land was left untouched? No one can give a probable explanation for this. The rains and winds only changed the shape of these sand dunes that enhanced its beauty. From all over the world Geologists tried to understand more about this unique unusual land formation but it remained an unexplained mystery!
What is the best time to visit the Seven Coloured Earth of Chamarel?
You must travel to this amazing site either during the early morning or during evening time. You can also make a visit plan to the Seven Coloured Earth at Chamarel on a clear day. Every single colour – red, yellow, green, blue, violet, purple, and brown are distinctly seen during these times. The Geopark opens every day at 8:30 AM and closes at 5:30 PM throughout the year. Therefore, clean your camera lenses to take stunning photography of this hidden secret of Mauritius, the seven coloured earth at Chamarel.
What are the other attractions at the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth geopark?
Tortoise Park
This nature park has few interesting sites to spot and Tortoise Park is one of them. Here you find the giant Aldabra tortoises originally from Seychelles. They are really big and in case you have visited there with children, they are definitely going to love them the most. Take photographs with them at your leisure and enjoy watching them moving slowly with their heavy body.
Chamarel Waterfall
There was an amazing waterfall site where the single fall is from a height of 83 meters. That was one of the most famous waterfalls in Mauritius and formed by the river St-Denis. The entire area was covered by lush green forests, gorges and the cliff wall. The viewpoint was amazing for photography. I spotted this waterfall and enjoyed its roaring sound and the surrounding lush greenery. The photographs that I took during my visit were a few among my treasure collections. I kept all these locked inside my travel memories.
Amazing lunch experience
Our tour guide further took us to an amazing restaurant, Restaurant MOKA’Z Chamarel where we enjoyed a delicious lunch. The restaurant has its own style of serving seven coloured earth themed food and beverages. We also enjoyed a hot brewing cup of authentic Café de Chamarel which is the only local coffee grown and roasted at Chamarel.
What is the best way to reach the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth?
The best way to reach exploring Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth is by booking a full day tour package. This is easy, safe and most convenient for all tourists visiting to see this natural wonder. The tour package comes with a round trip transfer, park entrance fees and Lunch. Tour guides are also available during the trip telling the story about Mauritius rich history and culture.
Final verdict
Mauritius undoubtedly has many exciting things to see and do. Exploring Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths always remains on the top-priority lists of tourists visiting this Paradise Island. Spotting this unique natural phenomenon of soil generating seven colours is a wonder in itself. Visiting the Chamarel to see the Seven Coloured Earths is an activity guided by nature. Away from the warm beaches, this hidden secret of Mauritius has naturally wondered likely millions of tourists visiting here with full curiosity. You might have seen nice pictures of the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth. Everything falls flat when you see this natural wonder with your own eyes. It might take some time for you to believe, but it’s the truth. Earth really has Seven Colours like the magnificent rainbow and Chamarel is the place to spot it in Mauritius. Visit here with your loved ones and get the spectacular gift of nature like never before. It again raises the fundamental question in my mind. Is Mauritius created and came into existence before the heaven? I still wonder and yet to find the possible answer to this. What do you believe, which came first? Comment after you visit Mauritius and Explore Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths, one of Mauritius main Tourist attractions.
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