Aapravasi Ghat
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Aapravasi Ghat is a World Heritage Site located on the Bay of Trou Fanfaron in Port
Louis. This historical site served as an immigration depot by the colonial British government in
1849. It has played a pivotal role in the Mauritian history, as it is from this very instance that the
Mauritian population became more diverse than ever.
It was here that indentured laborers transited before starting a new life on the island or set off to other distant lands. Between 1834 and 1920, about half a million immigrants, mainly from India, some from China, Madagascar or Africa, began working on the various sugar plantations across the island.
As part of the Tour, you will visit:
The Interpretation Centre
The Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site
This historical site is a symbol of Mauritian identity since the ancestors of more than 70% of today’s local population arrived on the island through this immigration depot. The depot was created to receive indentured laborers coming to work in the sugar plantations during the early post-slavery years of 1834-1920.
The Indentureship involved a mass migration of workers from India, China, Africa and South East Asia to work in colonies. Mauritius was the first country which had successfully recoursed indentured labour. Other British, French and Dutch colonies then adopted the system. Consequently, there was a massive worldwide migration of more than 2 million indentured labourers, of which Mauritius received almost half a million. Other colonies such as Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, Cuba, Peru and Reunion Island proceeded with indentureship.
In April 1987, the Aapravasi Ghat was declared a national monument by the Government of Mauritius and in 2006, the Aapravasi Ghat became the first indenture site in the world to be inscribed on UNESCO’s famous list of World Heritage Sites.
The buildings of Aapravasi Ghat are among the earliest explicit manifestations of what would become a global economic system. It represents not only the development of the modern system of contractual labour, but also the memories, traditions and values that these men, women and children carried with them when they left their countries of origin, to work in foreign lands. However only the partial remains of three stone buildings from the entire complex has survived- only about 15% of the building still authentically exists today. While visiting the Aapravasi Ghat, you will get the chance learn more about the historical events through the Beekrumsing Ramlallah Interpretation Centre (BRIC).
There are displays of artifacts such as pipes, phials and medicine bottles (from the hospital on the site), leftover gin & rum bottles (probably drank by British officers) and other remains found during archaeological excavations at the Aapravasi Ghat. You may also view a replica of the ship, similar to the one that the contracted workers had to endure. Comments
The duration of the entire visit is about 1 hour, where 45 minutes are spent in the Interpretation Centre and 15-20 minutes at the World Heritage Site.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 09:00 – 16:00
Saturday: 09:00 – 12:00
The site is closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
Children below the age of 12 get free entry to the site.
It was here that indentured laborers transited before starting a new life on the island or set off to other distant lands. Between 1834 and 1920, about half a million immigrants, mainly from India, some from China, Madagascar or Africa, began working on the various sugar plantations across the island.
As part of the Tour, you will visit:
The Interpretation Centre
The Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site
- Entrance Gateway
- Hospital Block consisting of: Gate Keeper’s Room; Stable, Cart House, Kitchen, Surgery and Ward Room, Staff Privies.
- Immigrants’ Sheds
- Immigrants’ Kitchen
- Sirdars’ Quarters
- Immigrants’ Privies
- Bathing Area
- Steps
- Outer wall at wharf level
This historical site is a symbol of Mauritian identity since the ancestors of more than 70% of today’s local population arrived on the island through this immigration depot. The depot was created to receive indentured laborers coming to work in the sugar plantations during the early post-slavery years of 1834-1920.
The Indentureship involved a mass migration of workers from India, China, Africa and South East Asia to work in colonies. Mauritius was the first country which had successfully recoursed indentured labour. Other British, French and Dutch colonies then adopted the system. Consequently, there was a massive worldwide migration of more than 2 million indentured labourers, of which Mauritius received almost half a million. Other colonies such as Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, Cuba, Peru and Reunion Island proceeded with indentureship.
In April 1987, the Aapravasi Ghat was declared a national monument by the Government of Mauritius and in 2006, the Aapravasi Ghat became the first indenture site in the world to be inscribed on UNESCO’s famous list of World Heritage Sites.
The buildings of Aapravasi Ghat are among the earliest explicit manifestations of what would become a global economic system. It represents not only the development of the modern system of contractual labour, but also the memories, traditions and values that these men, women and children carried with them when they left their countries of origin, to work in foreign lands. However only the partial remains of three stone buildings from the entire complex has survived- only about 15% of the building still authentically exists today. While visiting the Aapravasi Ghat, you will get the chance learn more about the historical events through the Beekrumsing Ramlallah Interpretation Centre (BRIC).
There are displays of artifacts such as pipes, phials and medicine bottles (from the hospital on the site), leftover gin & rum bottles (probably drank by British officers) and other remains found during archaeological excavations at the Aapravasi Ghat. You may also view a replica of the ship, similar to the one that the contracted workers had to endure. Comments
The duration of the entire visit is about 1 hour, where 45 minutes are spent in the Interpretation Centre and 15-20 minutes at the World Heritage Site.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 09:00 – 16:00
Saturday: 09:00 – 12:00
The site is closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
Children below the age of 12 get free entry to the site.