Wells and Springs

A Scouting Mission to the Ambohimanga Springs, Madagascar

Just spent some time prowling around the internet for pictures and information regarding #10 on the Wells and Springs list: Ambohimanga Springs, Madagascar. My virtual pilgrimage this morning introduced me to many things about the Republic of Madagascar of which I had no previous knowledge. I learned that this 4th largest island in the world is about 250 miles off the coast of East Africa and in the Indian Ocean. It’s a biodiversity hotspot and 90% of its wildlife is endemic, found no where else on the earth. In looking for information regarding the Ambohimanga Springs, I was introduced to the Merina family of nobles who ruled Madagascar in the 19th c. and their historic capital of Ambohimanga, located in the central highlands of Madagascar. This fortified royal settlement (orrova), just northeast of the current capital city of Antananarivo was the site of ancestor worship that included the ceremony of Fandroana, the yearly royal bath, that symbolically purified the king and queen and thus, the people as well.

I have to say that I couldn’t find too much on the Ambohimanga Springs specifically–you can find quite a bit about the importance of Ambohimanga as the launching point of King Andrianampoinimerina’s military campaign to reunion the kingdom of Imerina after 77 years of civil war.

According to Wikipedia, this site is one of the twelve sacred hills of Imerina and “is associated with strong feelings of national identity and has maintained its spiritual and sacred character both in ritual practice and the popular imagination for at least four hundred years. It remains a place of worship to which pilgrims come from Madagascar and elsewhere.” I was not successful in finding any photos of the actual springs –only photos of the two baths that were hollowed from limestone and used by the king and queen, being filled daily with water considered holy from the Lake Amparihy and springfed streams.

I'm not totally convinced from what I've seen that these springs deserve to be on the top ten list of Wells and Springs, but maybe you'll think otherwise. I’ve included a link to a travel video that I do believe gives a very nice overview of Madagascar including Ambohimanga and there a few other YouTube videos available that focus just on the Ambohimanga settlement that you can also check out if interested.