Mumbai is often referred to as the city of dreams. If one has the will to fulfill his or her aspirations then this city is theirs. It is said that Mumbai never sleeps. People work round the clock to accomplish their dreams. Almost every nook and corner of the city is dotted with fascinating rags to riches stories. The chic look of the city often makes visitors forget the fact that they are standing on a metropolis that was formed by merging 7 islands. Formerly this capital city of Maharashtra was known as Bombay but today its name has been changed to Mumbai. It, probably, has its origin in the deity, Mumba Devi, who is worshipped by the fishing community here. Besides being the commercial capital of India Mumbai is home to the wealthy and the glamorous. It has long been India`s favorite filmdom that produces more films each year than any other city in the world. Nowadays it is also the home to India`s satellite and television industries.
How to Reach Mumbai: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, is India`s busiest airport and one of the main international gateways to the country. This airport has both domestic and international terminals. It is located at a distance of 28 kilometers from downtown. Prepaid taxis are available for the tourists. One can also avail bus services to Vile Parle Station and then travel by the local trains. Railways are also a favorable way of traveling to and from the city to the rest of the country. Mumbai has one of the finest natural harbors. Hence people can also reach this city by cruises from Dubai, Malaysia, Singapore and others. There are 3 railway lines that serve the city. The Central line, the Western line and the Konkan Railway are the three railway lines. The railway stations are Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus, Dadar Terminus, Kurla Terminus, Mumbai Central and Bandra.
Mumbai is also accessible by car through National Highways No. 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 and Mumbai-Pune expressway. Besides these the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation runs several buses that make reaching Mumbai easier.
Places of Tourism Interest
Pilgrimage Tourism in Mumbai: The Afghan Memorial Church of St. John the Evangelist is located in the Colaba area. The church was established in 1847 and was consecrated 11 years later as a memorial to those who died in the First Afghan War. This is an interesting piece of architecture with Gothic arches and stained-glass windows.
Mumbai is a city that reflects the amalgamation of several ethnic groups. Hence apart fro churches there are temples and mosques too. Though this is the city of gold but people do not forget the "temples of their gods." An important shrine is located near the racecourse is dedicated to Mahalakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity. The cosmopolitan Mumbai-ite firmly believes in all kinds of religion. That is probably the reason why people of all faiths queue up patiently in their thousands on fixed days of the week to make their offerings. So whether it is the tomb of the Muslim saint, Haji Ali, the Temple of Mahalakshmi, or the Siddhivinayak Temple at Prabhadevi people throng these places to seek blessings of the Lord.
Fairs also take place on a large scale in Mumbai to commemorate religious festivals. One such event is the Bandra Fair that is celebrated to mark the feast of St Mary. It is centered on an image of St Mary at the Mount Mary Shrine and attracts thousands of seekers of succor and favors - with no particular distinction of caste or creed.
Nature Tourism in Mumbai: One of the most amazing sites in Mumbai is presented by its gardens and parks. It is dotted with parks and gardens. It is wonderful to notice that alongside skyscrapers and elevated edifices there are a number of lush green parks and gardens that provide breathing spaces to this capital city of Maharashtra.
The parks and gardens in Mumbai are as follows:-
Sanjay Gandhi National Park: this is considered to be the largest park in the world that is located here. Formerly it was called the Borivali National Park.
Besides there are Victoria Gardens, Kamala Nehru Park, Horniman Circle Gardens and Hanging Gardens which are worth a visit. There is also the Flora Fountain that is situated in Hutatma Chowk. It was erected in the honor of the Governor, Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, who built new Bombay in the 1860s.
Leisure Tourism in Mumbai: The tourists will have a lot of places of interest to check out. One can start with the Fort area in South Bombay. It derives its name from the fact that the area fell within the former walled city. Today, however it is a beautiful heap of ruins and a small fragment of it survives as part of the eastern boundary wall of St. George`s Hospital. Memories of this walled area were preserved in such names as Churchgate, Bazaar gate and Rampart Row.
The Gateway of India is located on the waterfront at Apollo Bunder. It was conceived as a triumphal arch to commemorate the visit of George V and Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. The honey-colored basalt of the arch faces the sea and as the light of the rising and setting sun falls on it the color changes from shades of gold to orange and pink.
One of the most amazing tourist attractions in Mumbai is the island of Gharapuri or Elephanta. An hour`s drive by the motor launch will lead the tourists to the site of a magnificent series of rock-cut cave temples with large sculptured interiors. The main attraction here is the massive 18 feet three-headed bust of Lord Shiva, representing his manifestations as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. The Portuguese called the island Elephanta after a massive elephant sculpture that once found in one of the excavated courtyards there. Today the statue has been shifted to the garden of Mumbai zoo.
The National Park consists of the 2nd-century Buddhist hill caves of Kanheri. This place is also famous for its sculptures.
The charm and beauty of the city is largely dependent on the beaches. Beyond the city center there are the beaches of Juhu, Versova, Madh Island, Marve, Manori and Gorai.
Marine Drive is one of the landmarks of Mumbai. It links Malabar Hill, the Fort and Colaba. This long curving road along the buttressed sea-coast provides wonderful panorama of Bombay`s skyline at daytime and the glittering city at night. Along Marine Drive runs a wide sidewalk that is ideal for the early morning jogger, evening walker and late night stroller.
Chowpatti: a great place to hangout for, it is located at the north end of Marine Drive. It is a stretch of the sandy beach. In the evenings, it is crowded with people enjoying the cool sea breeze and the delicious Bombay bhelpuri and other snacks. Chowpatti is famous also for its kulfi and ice creams. During the Ganesha Chaturthi festival, the idols of the lord are immersed in the sea here.
Besides this there is the Crawford Market that was designed by William Emerson. It has bass relief by J.L. Kipling.
The finest example of Victorian Gothic structure in Bombay is Victoria Terminus. It is designed by Frederick William Stevens. The structure is made of yellow sandstone and granite. Both these materials are combined with polychromatic stones and blue-gray basalt for decorating the interiors.
Besides these there is the Prince of Wales Museum. It contains some excellent examples of Indian miniature painting of the Mughal and Rajasthan Schools and artifacts of jade and chinaware.
Shopping in Mumbai: Mumbai is a shopper`s paradise. From trendy apparels to fashion jewelry to antique pieces of art--- almost everything is available in the markets of Mumbai. The city has always been famous for its textiles. Whether a person is looking for cotton, chiffon or silk Mumbai is the best place to shop for these materials. Apart from being priced reasonably the tourists will find an awesome collection of clothes. Latest cars, gizmos, leather items and trendy furniture are also available here. The Chor Bazaar is the perfect place to shop for antiques. For fashionable people there is the Fashion Street. Besides these market areas there are sprawling malls that adorn the heart of the city. Another place that the tourists cannot miss is the Zaveri Bazaar. In case the travelers are interested in golden jewelry then this will be just the right place for them to drop in.
Visiting Information on Mumbai: Mumbai summers are hot and humid while the winters cool. The sea breeze brings relief throughout the year. The monsoon that hits the coast between June and September brings heavy rain. The best time to visit Mumbai is from October to February. Local transports are also available easily to tour the city.
It would not be wrong at all to term Mumbai as the melting pot of India. It is home to all Indian creeds and cultures. An amalgamation of culture is quite apparent in this city. It is probably for this factor that the trip to Mumbai becomes all the more arresting.
