The old royal road, which crossed the island from east to west and was doubled by a railway line in the 19C, contributed to the development of the central plateau that became a place of refuge for islanders when malaria struck Port Louis and the coast in 1865. The towns of Rose Hill, Beau Bassin, Quatre Bornes and Curepipe form one continuous conurbation which accounts for a third of the island’s inhabitants and is a delight for shopping enthusiasts with its markets, malls and duty-free boutiques.