Pailles

Pailles is one of the nondescript villages in Mauritius. Situated in the western side of the country, and a very short distance away from Port Louis (a ten-minute taxi ride, to be precise), Pailles is rather densely populated for its size and abounds in lush greenery all around. Pailles is not one of those places in Mauritius that you visit for its beaches or its historical importance, because to be honest, there's not much to see in the village. However, if you want to get a feel of old-world Mauritius, and spend a while amidst untainted and perfect nature, Pailles is probably one of your best bets on the island.

Sugar Estate in Pailles 
The only important tourist attraction in Pailles is the Domaine Les Pailles, which is basically an amusement park-cum-heritage centre that previously used to be a sugar estate but has now been transformed into one of the few refurbished colonial buildings in the country that are now used as heritage and cultural centres.

Experiences in Domaine Les Pailles
One of the first things you can see as you enter the park is a traditional sugar mill (all sugar mills in the past were generally ox-driven) that was used to extract sugar back in the colonial days. Other fascinating attractions include horse-drawn carriage rides and mini railway rides, which are very popular with tourists because of their dual functionality of allowing you to have fun whilst learning more about how things used to be back in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Further up the park is a rum distillery, where you can actually see the production of the estate’s very own rum, as well as a spice garden, and a playground.  The Domaine Les Pailles is also home to a classy restaurant where you can sit down and have a hearty meal (the bill for the restaurant has to be paid separately from the admission fee for the park). You have the option of touring the entire park on foot, on a horse-drawn carriage, by a jeep, or by the train, and the admission fee will vary depending on what mode of transport you choose.