MUMBAI EK DAM SHAANDAAR PLACE

MUMBAIIIII.....

On the west coast of India, the teeming metropolis Mumbai formerly known as Bombay, the capital of the Maharashtra is the biggest business center deriving its name from the patron goddess of the Koli fisher folk “Mumbadevi”. Its natural port is the largest and busiest port handling a major chunk of Indian foreign trade. The Mumbai Stock Exchange situated on Dalal Street is considered to be the third largest in the world and its film city-Bollywood made this city world-renowned for many dreamers of the celluloid world. Being a major financial center, with people coming from all over the world has made Mumbai a major International city.

Afghan Church :- In Colaba Island situated at the southern end of the city, church of St. John the Evangelist is located. Work on this church began in 1847 commemorating the Afghan wars. East India Company had used this place as a military cantonment area due to the remoteness of this place.

Ajanta Caves :- At about 400 kms northeast of Mumbai near to the city of Aurangabad, is located one of the most beautiful Buddhist caves of Ajanta. Carvings depicting the life of Buddha fill these breathtaking caves, which originally, date back to around 200 BC.

Asiatic Library :- The town hall which houses the Asiatic Library with its old parquet floor, spiral staircases and wrought iron loggias is perhaps the most elegant heritage building in Mumbai. It has a collection of 800,000 antique volumes, and ancient coins.

Chor Bazaar :- This is the place where one can find curios and most of the wanted items at prices, which seem so unreal. Don’t be carried away with its name. It is a good place to see many unusual goods on sale.

Chowpatty Beach :- Chowpatty is a great place to witness the annual Ganesh Chaturthi Festival when large images of Lord Ganesha are immersed in the sea. A visit to this beach provides an interesting outing with many permanent little kiosks selling special typical mumbaish snacks. Snake charmers entertain the beach going public. The statues Lokamanya Tilak and Vallabhai Patel bring nostalgic memories of the freedom fighting.

Crawford Market :- Crawford Market was named after the city’s municipal commissioner Arthur Crawford. Built in Norman Gothic style, it provides an elegant covered shopping experience dominating the skyline with its clock tower and steeple, with cavernous spaces inside, where one can buy fruits, vegetables and meat under a single roof. It is now rechristened as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market.

David Sassoon Library :- This yellow stone building with a distinct architecture houses a library named after the philanthropist who funded its construction.

Elephanta Caves :- An interesting travel of about an hour by boat from the Gateway of India, passing the Mumbai harbour, and the Naval barges, takes you to Elephanta Caves where there are caves with carvings dedicated to Lord Siva. It is an UNESCO World Heritage site.

Ellora Caves :- Parts of World Heritage monuments are the Ellora Caves located at about 400 kms from Mumbai. These cave monuments were patronized by Chalukya kings during 17th Century. The creative dynamism of the artists can been seen from the sculptures where they drew themes from the Hindu mythology and transformed the rocks into a cavalcade of God and Goddesses.

Eros Cinema :- Shorabji Bhedwar designed this beautiful Art Deco building marking the beginning of Back Bay reclamation in early 1938. Interesting murals, housing shops and other businesses along with a cinema provides an interesting outing to this place. It is an excellent example of modern urban design.

Essel World :- Essel World, the first and foremost amusement park is located on Gorai Island on 64 acres of green lands. It offers thrilling & scintillating rides & games.

Fantasy Land :- Located at Jogeshwari, a fun park enveloped in 30 acres of lush green landscape Fantasy Land provides many entertainment rides for those with appetite for adventurous rides.

Flora Fountain :- Cursetjee Fardoonjee Parekh donated this landmark structure Flora Fountain. Built in 1864, it was made of imported Poland stone and is located close to the church gate of the old (now vanished) British fort.

Gateway Of India :- Gateway of India was built with yellow stone in Indo-Saracenic style to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay and since has become the Icon of Twentieth century Indian history. It is also remembered as the point from where the last British troops left the shores of independent India.

General Post Office :- The General Post Office is an example of the Indo-Sarcenic style of architecture located just behind the Victoria Terminus. Its dome is built on the lines of Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur. High vaulted ceilings, sweeping staircases, marble topped tables make this building as a showcase of wealth and pomp of the British rulers.

Haji Ali's Mosque :- Honoring the Muslim saint Haji Ali this mosque was built in the middle of the sea with only a narrow path leading to it giving it an ethereal look. As per the Muslim traditions separate praying rooms for ladies and gents are provided here to pay their respects.

Isckon :- International Society for Krishna Conscience ISCKON temple better known as Hare Rama Hare Krishna temple is located in Juhu advocating the principles of Bhagavad Gita.

Jehangir Art Gallery :- A prime art gallery in the city of Mumbai – Jehangir Art Gallery caters to the artistic tastes of people. This is situated behind the museum and has four exhibition halls.

Juhu :- Juhu is the place where most of the artists from tinsel town Bollywood reside. It also has some trendy hotels, restaurants, and beach hotels to add color to the beautiful beach.

Kalbadevi :- North of Crawford Market, are the narrow lanes of Kalbadevi a predominantly Muslim area hemmed in by laundry-draped chawls, which is home to a seething mass of people. It is a complete contrast to South Mumbai’s cleanliness and orderliness and is a different world in itself giving insight into the lives of people living in such chawls.

Mahalaxmi Temple :- Goddesses Mahalaxmi, Mahakali and Maha Saraswathi are the presiding deities in this famous temple, which is constructed on the seashores attracting large number of devotees everyday.

Malabar Hill :- Kamala Nehru Park, Hanging Gardens (also known as Pheroyeshah Mehta Gardens) and Parsi Tower of Silence are located in Malabar Hill an expensive residential area where Mumbai’s nouveau rich live. It lies on the northern promontory of Back Bay. The temple of Walkeshwar is located south of the promontory.

Marine Drive :- Marine Drive – popularly known as the Queen’s Necklace is the most popular tourist spot giving an enchanting

view of the sun set over the Arabian Sea. It glitters in the night with its beautifully lighted promenade along the shore.

Metro Cinema :- Interesting are the anecdotes of some of the landmarks of Mumbai like the Metro Cinema which was opened in 1938 and was screening only English movies from the house of MGM for a long time. It is supposed to be on a lease for 999 years with a rent of Re 1 per year.

Mount Mary Church :- People of all faiths and religions flock this Mount Mary Church in Bandra where the week long fair takes place. One can watch the sun set and the sereneness of the Arabian Sea from this place.

Mumbadevi Temple :- Koli Goddess Mumbadevi after whom the city was named is the presiding deity of this temple re-built in Bhuleshwar after it was destroyed in the year 1737. Tourists can take the city buses from any point of the city to reach this temple.

Mumbai High Court :- High court of Mumbai is located in the erstwhile Fort of Mumbai. It is a hauntingly beautiful structure opposite the maidan which was formerly a bowling green during the British Raj where one can find many budding cricketers striking away at the ball and playing blissfully.

Municipal Corporation Building :- Mumbai Corporation building is a 255 feet tall Gothic architecture building, which was completed in 1893.

Nariman Point :- Nariman point is the place where one can find all the airlines offices and most of the consulates and high commissions of various countries. This place is dotted with many high-rise buildings giving it a Manhattan look housing corporate offices of many important industrial houses in India.

National Centre Of Performing Arts :- The National Center of Performing Arts was established in 1966 to preserve and promote India’s rich cultural heritage in classical and folk music, dance and drama.

Nehru Planetarium :- One of India’s finest architects J.M.Kadri designed this beautiful landmark building which houses Nehru Planetarium. Nehru Center of Science is also located here.

Nehru Science Centre :- Located in Worli the Nehru Science Museum with sound light gallery has an attractive children’s section. It is the only place, which recreates the image of sky as seen from anywhere on earth at any time. It also has a collection of warplanes, which served the Indian air force.

Prince Wales Museum :- George Wittet designed this Indo-Sarcenic style building, which houses the Prince of Wales Museum. It also houses a priceless collection of art, sculpture, a fine collection of miniature paintings and much more.

Rajabai Clock Tower :- Located in the gardens of Mumbai University, Rajabai Clock Tower consists of 5 elaborately decorated storeys. The tower is 280 ft. in height commanding a fine view of the city.

Regal Cinema :- Opened in 1933 designed by Charles Stevens with the interiors designed by Karl Schara, Regal Cinema lent its name to Regal Circle and was the only Art Deco cinema when it opened.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park :- Borivali National Park, now known as Sanjay Gandhi National Park is situated at about 42 kms north of Mumbai. Virgin forests spread over 104 sq kms. are the home for various varieties of birds and is a bird watcher’s paradise. It is also the place where the Kanhari caves carved by Buddhist monks exist.

Siddhivinayak Temple :- 200 years old historic temple of Siddhivinayak in Prabhadevi, Mumbai is the solace for thousands of devotees visiting this place daily. Lord Ganesha the presiding deity is carved in black stone and surprisingly the trunk of Lord Ganesha is turned rightwards as against the normal leftwards direction.

Taj Mahal Hotel :- Facing the Arabian Ocean Taj Mahal Hotel housed in a Victorian building is one of the famous hotels which itself is a landmark located besides the Gateway of India.

Taraporewala Aquarium :- Located on the Marine Drive facing the Arabian Sea, Taraporewala Aquarium has a good collection of sea and fresh water fish. Vasai Basin Fort :- These ruins of the fort built by Portuguese is a reminder of their occupation on the islands.

Victoria Terminus :- Opened on the New Year’s Day in 1882, this Gothic building housing the main railway station of Mumbai was designed by F.W.Stevens and was named after the then Queen Empress on Jubilee day in 1887. It is also declared as an urban heritage site. It was renamed as Chatrapathi Sivaji terminus in 1996 after addition of an underground suburban terminus.

Walkeshwar Temple :- Hindu Mythology states that Lord Rama built this temple and built a Shivalinga for performing pooja with sand when his brother Lakshmana failed to bring a Shivalinga from Varanasi on time. Since then this temple has been a popular destination for the believers. It also has an ancient tank Banganga dating back from 1715. ZooThe landscape grounds of a botanical garden Veermata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan houses Mumbai Zoo. This Zoo has selection of tigers, lions, elephants, bears, and monkeys. It is a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Getting in, Around & Away AIR : Mumbai is well served by an International Airport, which connects to all other parts of the world and is the busiest airport in India. Sahar International Airport now called "Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport" serves as one of India's major international airports. Santa Cruz is the domestic airport, which serves to the other destinations within India.

RAIL : Mumbai is the headquarters of both Central and Western Railways and is connected to all parts of India by rail. Victoria Terminus (now known as Chatrapathi Sivaji Terminus), Bombay Central, Dadar serve as the main stations for all long distance trains. Church Gate and Victoria Terminus bring in teeming populace of the Metropolis from the suburban areas.

Tourist Information Center

1 Tourist Information Centers(Govt)1) Government of India Tourist Office123, Maharshi Karve Road, Mumbai, Maharastra (India). Tel. - +(91)-022-2033144, 2032932, 206854.Fax: 2014496 2) Government Of India Tourist Information CenterSantacruz Airport, Mumbai, Maharastra (India). Tel. - +(91)-022-6149200 3) Government Of India Tourist Information CenterSahar Airport, Mumbai, Maharastra (India). Tel. - +(91)-022-8325331