Grand Bassin as its name indicates is self-explanatory. It originates from a crater of an extinct volcano. It lies at the height of 2250 feet above sea level and the area is about 25 acres. It is some four miles from Mare-aux-Vacoas.

Grand Bassin has become a popular place of worship for hindu community. During Shivaratree Festival thousands of pilgrims dressed in white, wearing Gandhian caps come on foot to fetch holy water from the crater. The water is poured on the shivalinga in the temples.

A decade ago some holy men sanctified the lake by pouring holy water brought from the source of River Ganges, India. They renamed the lake ‘Ganga-Talao’.