Pamplemousses botanical garden

What it is

The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, usually just called Pamplemousses, is in the north of Mauritius. It grew from an eighteenth-century estate garden developed by Pierre Poivre, who brought spice plants to the island, and it is among the oldest botanical gardens in the southern hemisphere. Its best known sight is a rectangular pond filled with giant Amazon water lilies, whose round leaves grow wide enough to look like floating trays. The flowers open white and turn pink on their second day. There is also a pond of sacred lotus, a large palm collection including the talipot palm, which flowers once and dies, and spice trees.

Before you go

• The water lilies are at their fullest in the warm, wet months from about December to April.
• Hire one of the garden's guides. Labels are sparse.
• Go in the morning and allow about ninety minutes.

The flowers you will see

Amazon water-lilyThe enormous floating lily of the Amazon, with leaves up to 3 metres wideSacred lotusThe pink aquatic flower sacred in Asia and grown for food, worship and beautyWaterlilyFloating aquatic flowers found in ponds and lakes worldwidePlumeriaFragrant tropical tree with waxy, five-petaled flowers in many colours

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Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical GardenA historic garden in Mauritius known for giant water lilies and rare palms