Durga Maa Statue | Bois Cheri

Information

Landmark: Durga Maa Statue
City: Bois Cheri
Country: Mauritius
Continent: Africa

Durga Maa Statue, Bois Cheri, Mauritius, Africa

The Durga Maa Statue is a 33-meter (108 ft) tall representation of the Hindu goddess Durga, located at the entrance of the Ganga Talao (Grand Bassin) in the Savanne district of Mauritius. Standing directly adjacent to the Mangal Mahadev Statue, it is recognized as the tallest statue of a female deity in Mauritius.

Visual Characteristics

The monument is constructed from reinforced concrete and steel, finished in a bright bronze and gold weather-resistant coating. It depicts the goddess Durga standing in a triumphant pose with her vahana (lion), holding various symbolic weapons in her multiple arms. The statue is elevated on a stone and concrete pedestal within a wide, paved plaza that provides a clear line of sight to the surrounding volcanic crater hills.

Location & Access Logistics

The site is situated on the B88 road at Grand Bassin, approximately 35 kilometers south of Port Louis and 25 kilometers from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Access is via the Savanne highland roads, with clear signage from the villages of Bois Cheri and Mare aux Vacoas. Public bus transport involves taking a route to Curepipe or Bois Cheri followed by a taxi transfer. Extensive free asphalt parking is available at the statue base, suitable for private vehicles and large tour coaches.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The statue was inaugurated in October 2017 during the Navratri festival, following six years of construction led by Indian sculptors and local engineers. It was commissioned to complement the existing Mangal Mahadev statue, creating a symbolic gateway to the sacred lake. Geologically, the site sits on the central plateau’s volcanic landscape, characterized by high-altitude endemic forest and basaltic soil conditions.

Key Highlights & Activities

Religious activities include the performance of aarti (light offerings) and the placement of flower garlands at the base of the pedestal. During the festivals of Navratri and Maha Shivaratri, the statue serves as a central gathering point for large-scale devotional chanting and processions. Photography is permitted from the plaza, which offers a vantage point for capturing both the statue and the northern rim of the Grand Bassin crater.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The monument shares infrastructure with the Grand Bassin religious complex, including public restroom blocks, a visitor center, and paved pedestrian walkways. High-speed 5G cellular coverage is maintained across the site. The plaza is open and provides no direct shade, though the nearby Hanuman hill and forest edges offer natural cover. There are no commercial stalls at the immediate base, but basic food and drink vendors operate at the entrance to the park.

Best Time to Visit

The optimal time for photography is in the early morning (07:00–09:00) when the morning sun illuminates the golden finish of the statue from the east. The highland weather is often 5–7 degrees Celsius cooler than the coastal areas and is prone to sudden mist. Visiting during the Navratri festival offers the most culturally dense experience, though crowds are significantly higher.

Facts & Legends

The Durga Maa Statue is exactly the same height as the neighboring Mangal Mahadev statue (33 meters), a deliberate design choice to represent the balance of masculine and feminine divine energies in Hindu philosophy. Local visitors often note that the gold finish is designed to be visible from several kilometers away on the approach road from the north.