Pamplemousse botanical gardens has had many different names since its creation – Mon Plaisir Garden, Jardin Royal and Jardin des Plants but on the 18th September 1988, it was officially named the Sir Seewoosagur Botanical Gardens. This 25 hectare garden was classed the third botanical garden in the world and was created by Mahe de Labourdonnais. He bought Mon Plaisir in 1735 and created a vegetable garden for his family, for the residents of Port Louis and for people who arrived at the port and who were in transit. The garden really took off in 1768 under Pierre Poivre, quartermaster to the King in Mauritius between 1697 and 1772. He was a naturalist and a very brave soldier who lost his right arm very early in his career in a battle against pirates. He met Mahe Labourdonnais during the siege of Madras is 1740 and was captured many times by the English before becoming quartermaster after many visits to the colony. He imported many species of plants including clove and nutmeg trees from Dutch East India and the Philippines. He also took the time to plant indigenous plants and plants imported by other botanists (notably tea plants, camphor trees from China). Unfortunately the development of the nutmeg and cloves was not successful in Mauritius and these were later transported to Zanzibar and the Seychelles where fortunes were made for these colonies. When Jean Nicolas Cere succeeded Pierre Poivre he continued in the same spirit as his predecessor and introduced new species- ornamental flowers, the jack fruit whose wood is still used to build Mauritian pirogues today. When the English took the island in 1810, they did not abandon the gardens. Among them, James Duncan from 1849 – 1866 was employed to develop the gardens and introduced orchids, bourganvillea, mahogony and laurels. His name is listed on the obelisk 100metres from the entrance together in memory of those who helped develop the gardens. This is how the gardens became known internationally and is a pride to Mauritians. There are many walks around the gardens which are open all week and the main attractions include:

 The Water Lily Ponds contain more than three varieties of water lilies with white, pink and blue flowers, and also Amazon (Victoria Amazonia) water lilies which have giant leaves which can reach 1m80 in diameter. The flowers are white one afternoon and pink the next morning before dying.

 The Lotus Ponds: in development

 The large Pond: has many islands surrounded with a large belt of aquatic plants. Some little ravanale kiosks allow a perfect shady shelter.

 The Palm trees: There is a large number and a large variety of palm trees in the gardens. Four of the species are indigenous to Mauritius: The bottle palm (with a bottle shaped trunk), the bell bottom palm, the latanier palm, and the palmist (small palm where the heart of the plant is eaten as a delicacy – delicious in salads). Also found are Rodrigues palms, Seychelles or Madagascar palms, (such as the fabulous travellers’ palms which holds water in between its fan like branches. Not to be missed are the Talipot palms: this palm has leaves of around 3m50 in diameter and flower only once in their lifetime just before they die (when they are between 40 -60 years old). The flowers are stunning with more than 50million small flowers that can reach 6 metres above the tree...a true wander! Avenue Poivre is also stunning and not to be missed with its Royal Palm borders.

 The large variety of spices: These grow in different areas around the gardens and some are protected in enclosures.

 The colonial past: The Chateau Mon Plaisir located close to the entrance near the parking is a beautiful house built in the 19th century by the English. The Wrought iron gates at the entrance won first prize at the colonial exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1862. Each section shows the coat of arms representing a lion and a unicorn topped by a crown.

 The deer and tortoise park.