The sacred hill in Madagascar

With your Madagascar vacation you have countless opportunities to take a look at different places on the eventful past of the island of Madagascar to be able to throw. Discover the exciting history of Madagascar and learn all about monarchies, kingdoms and dynasties on the island. A particularly good place for a kind of living history lesson is about 22 kilometers from the Malagasy capital Antananarivo. There lies the so-called blue hill with the name Ambohimanga. This place is generally considered cultural and spiritual center on Madagascar, which is why you will quickly notice that numerous rules in this place have a validity not to be violated. Ambohimanga Rova was the former seat of the kings on Madagascar and since the year 2001 this place is known as UNESCO World Heritage Site declared. What you will discover here is not only a true fascination in terms of the spiritual significance of this place (numerous animistic ceremonies with animal sacrifices are still performed today), but also the remnant of a fascinating architecture, which is very different from European standards of the time. Many of our tours, which start directly in Antananarivo or end there, offer you the possibility of a Excursion to Ambohimanga Rova to undertake. This includes for example our individual trip from Antananarivo to Tulear, but also our Travel for nature lovers can be designed so that you have the opportunity to visit Ambohimanga Rova at the beginning or end of the trip.

The seat of kings in Madagascar

Ambohimanga Rova is the name of the place as well as of the Palace of kings, which was built on this site. The largest construction works were carried out during the reign of the Merina king Andrianampoinimerina. The oldest parts of the complex date from the period between 1740 and 1745. The most impressive way to perceive the experience at this sacred place is to approach it on foot via the steep but paved road. Although you can also arrive directly by car, the parking situation on site is anything but favorable and since the King's Hill is also a popular destination for the locals, in the worst case it can lead to long waiting times.

You will be welcomed first under some wooden pavilions, which were a donation from Japan. To have a closer look at the Royal Palace, you will have to pay a moderate entrance fee. If you wish, you can also book a guide, who has to be paid separately, but this is not absolutely necessary, since the palace is also good to explore on your own. To enter the Rova, that is the palace, you will have to walk up an imposing staircase and past two sacred fig trees. To the left of the entrance, you will be able to glimpse a sacred stone, where remains of animal blood and wax can still be found. The interior of the Rova offers an impressive insight into the taste of the Merina kings and at the same time represents probably the most impressive building of madagascan architecture. A ten-meter high rosewood column supports the building inside, the typical steep gable roof is reminiscent of an Asian style, there exists a wrap-around balcony and a colorful border. The interior of the palace represents a A smorgasbord of the most diverse styles and epochs and for this very reason becomes a distinct characteristic. Discover Chinese silk wallpapers, French baroque furniture, Victorian silver and much more in this unique ambience. When you visit the former royal residence on your Journey through Madagascar we can organize an appropriate arrangement for you. For this, you can either orientate yourself on the various offers that you can discover in our catalog of individual trips or we can put together a very personal travel plan for you. Either way, we look forward to hearing from you.