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DESTINATION GUIDE INDIA - MUMBAI

ABOUT MUMBAI CITY

Mumbai-formerly known as Bombay - is known as the New York of India. Mumbai is famous for its great magnetism. The city attracts people from all parts of the country who come to the city with big dreams in their eyes and hopes of fulfilling them. There are innumerable stories of ordinary people making a fortune in the city. Dhirubhai Ambani, Amitabh Bachchan, and Shahrukh Khan are just a few of them. Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan and forward-looking city of India. The city is also known as the financial and commercial capital of India. 

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS - MUMBAI CITY

» Chowpaty Beach - Girgaun Chowpatty Beach is situated at the northern end of Marine Drive. This sandy beach is a popular picnic spot for the locals, especially on weekends and holidays. It is very famous among the tourists too for its spicy snacks such as Bhelpuri, fresh green tender coconuts, Chaat and its innumerable food stalls. One can see couples and children enjoying at the beach and is popular among all classes. It attracts a large number of devotees during Ganesh Chaturthi festival, when huge idols of Lord Ganesha are immersed here. Snake charmers at Chowpaty are a sight for tourists while children love the rides of merry-go-rounds and ferry wheels. Chaupati Beach has expanded itself to touch Malabar Hill, Girgaum, Gamdevi and Khetwadi and in the evening, it turns into a carnival that is a permanent feature of Mumbai. Along with pony rides, performances of contortionists, you will also find astrologers here along with eunuchs and drug peddlers. Recently, a new park has been created along Chowpatty Beach for the elderly, where they can walk, sit or laze around. It has been known as popular venue for political meetings during freedom struggle in pre-independence era. One can also see a small colony along the beach of Koli fishermen.

» Marine Drive- Marine Drive is a 3 km long avenue in South Mumbai, shaped like an inverted 'C'. It has six lanes and run along the coast and is a natural bay on Arabian Sea. It connects Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. The chief attraction of Marine Drive is the Promenade, officially known as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road. Sunset views here are just fabulous and palm trees line the Promenade. Chowpatty Beach at the northern end of Marine Drive is famous for its snacks and fast food though sea here is too polluted to swim.

It's shape has also earned Marine Drive the title of the Queen's Necklace, as the street lights lit in the night look like sparkling diamonds from a high point. It is also said to be the world's largest viewing gallery.

» Gateway of India  - The Gateway of India is undoubtedly the most outstanding monument in Mumbai. The Gateway has a striking gateway arch in the Indo-Saracenic style with Gujarati and Islamic elements like wooden carvings. This monument was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary of Britain, to Bombay before the Darbar in Delhi in December 1911. The Governor of Bombay laid the foundation stone on March 31, 1911. The final blue print of George Wittet's design was passed in August 1914. Between 1915 and 1919 work was done to reclaim land at Apllo Pier, where the gateway was to be built. The new sea wall was to be built. The foundation was completed in 1920. The Gateway is built with yellow Kharodi basalt and reinforced with concrete. The central dome has a diameter of 48 feet and it is 83 feet from the ground at its highest point.

» Haji Ali Mosque -- This mosque houses the tomb of Hazarath Haji Ali, a Muslim Sufi saint. The dargah was built in 1431. The tomb is on a small islet just off the coast of Worli in Mumbai. It is about 500 yards from the coast, in the middle in the sea. There is a walkway that connects the shrine to the shore. This walkway is accessible only in low tide. During high tide and in the monsoons the shrine is completely cut off from the shore. The structure of the dargah is like other Muslim mausoleums in India. The structure is white with domes and minarets like the Mughal architecture. The dargah is a renowned pilgrimage site among the Muslims. Non-Muslims are also allowed to visit the dargah. Inside the dargah the tomb is covered with a red and green brocade chaddar(sheet) and an exquisite silver frame supports it. The tomb has a courtyard that normally has a festive atmosphere. The main hall has pillars on which the ninety-nine names of Allah are written. The whitewashed structure attracts visitors in large numbers on Thursdays and Fridays. This shrine is thronged by Hindu and Muslim devotees alike.

» Kanheri Caves - The Kanheri Caves are located in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai. The Kanheri Caves consist of a number of rock-cut Buddhist caves. These caves were built in the 1st century BC when Mumbai was the territory of the Maurayan and Kushan empires. The caves are deep inside the National Park in Mumbai. The caves are approximately 450 meters above seal level and from here one can get a beautiful view of the surroundings. There are about 109 caves. These caves were used as rest houses for travelers.

HOW TO REACH - MUMBAI

Mumbai Bombay is a very well connected city, be it by air, road or rail.

» By Air - Mumbai has more flights connecting it than even the national capital New Delhi. All major airlines fly to and from Mumbai to most of the important cities of the world. The international terminal of Mumbai is known as Sahar and the domestic terminal is known as Santa Cruz. The Sahar terminal is 30 km from downtown Mumbai and Santa Cruz is at a distance of 25kms. Besides taxis, there are regular shuttle services plying between the two terminals.

» By Road - If you would like to travel by bus within India, most long distance buses leave from the State Transport Terminal located opposite Mumbai's Central Railway Station. However, this is not a good option if you do not speak Hindi or Marathi as no printed information is available in English. However most of the neighbouring states like Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have their state bus company offices located here.