🙏 Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao)
Mauritius
About This Sacred Site
Grand Bassin, known as Ganga Talao, is a crater lake in the mountains of Mauritius that is the most sacred Hindu site outside of India. According to legend, when Lord Shiva was carrying the Ganges on his head while traveling the world, a few drops fell at this spot, creating the lake. During the annual Maha Shivaratri festival, over 500,000 pilgrims walk from across the island to the lake to make offerings and perform puja. A 33-meter statue of Lord Shiva, the Mangal Mahadev, stands at the entrance. The site embodies the devotion of Mauritius's large Hindu community.
Key Facts
- •Most sacred Hindu site outside of India
- •Over 500,000 pilgrims visit during Maha Shivaratri annually
- •The 33-meter Mangal Mahadev statue of Lord Shiva stands at the entrance
- •The lake fills a volcanic crater in the mountains
- •Legend says the lake formed from drops of the Ganges carried by Shiva
Location
Coordinates: -20.4167, 57.4917
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