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Mumbai,
the Commercial Capital of India
located on beautiful west coast, derives its name from Mumbadevi, the patron
goddess of the Koli fisher folk, Mumbai’s natural harbour handles 40 per cent of
the country’s maritime trade. Stretching 35 km into the
Arabian Sea
, the metropolis is a collection of seven islands that have been interconnected by
land reclamation.
A truly
cosmopolitan city, Mumbai is the home of people from all over
India
, many of who come to this tinsel city in the hope of stardom. As
India
’s
Hollywood
, Mumbai produces more films in a year then any other city in the world.
Much of
Mumbai’s construction was inspired by the
School
of
Art
set up by Rudyard Kipling’s father to promote the skills of the local artisans.
Places of
Interest
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Gateway of
India
,
The principal landmark of Mumbai, was the
principal port when the visitors came to
India
by ship. The gateway was conceived, following the visit of King George V to
India
in 1911, and was officially opened in 1924.
Its architecture is akin to the conventional
Arch of Triumph, with elements derived from Muslim styles of 16th century
Gujarat
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Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus Victoria Terminus
A major landmark of this vibrant
city is the VT or Victoria Terminus (Chhatrapati
Shivaji ) is a beautifull
Station
Building
built as the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway and opened in
1887, on the occasion of Queen
Victoria
’s Golden Jubilee, it was, surprisingly, not built by a great and renowned
architect of Victorian England but by a local man- F.W. Stevens.The
first train to steam out of Mumbai was from here to Thane in 1853.
Elephanta
Caves
10 km northeast of Mumbai, lies
the
Elephanta
Island
that can be approachable by lanches, A flight of 100 steps takes you to the top of
the hill ,have many rock temples carved out of the living rock, set on a small
island which date back to early seventeenth century. The main hall of the
Elephanta cave temple contains the images of Shankar in many postures.
Flora
Fountain
The Flora Fountain, a crowded landmark in the city, was built in honour
of Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, governor of Mumbai who was responsible for
building the new Mumbai of the 1860s. It
s the business centre of
India
, housing many of the major banks and offices.
Close to the fountain is the Cathedral
of St. Thomas begun by Gerald Aungier in 1672, but formally opened in 1718
.
Prince of Wales Museum
It was , built to commemorate King George's V visit to
India
, was opened in 1923. It is modelled on the Indo - Saracenic design, and has
sections for art and paintings, archaeology, and natural history, within the compound of the
Museum there is a Jehangir
Art Gallery.
Chowpatty beach
It is
one of Mumbai's famous beaches on Marine drive, and is a popular spot for people seeking evening
outs..
The biggest public culmination of Ganesh Chaturthi happens on
Chowpatty
Beach
, , in a large – scale immersion. The city comes to a standstill as hundreds of
thousands of worshipers crowed the beach.
Taraporewala Aquarium is
also on Marine drive
Mani Bhavan.
Near the August Kranti Maidan is
Mani Bhavan. This is the house where Mahatama Gandhi lived during his visits to
Mumbai. The place has been turned into a small museum. There's a photo-exhibition
of major incidents in Gandhi's life. There is also an impressive collection of
books by or about Gandhi.
Haji Ali Dargah
Situated in midst of the ocean,
this dargah has its origins shrouded in mystery. Believed by some to be the tomb
of a wealthy saint and built by his devout followers, the second version states
that the revered saint died on pilgrimage and his body floated in the sea and was
found here. Whether a follower or not, this place is a must for all visitors.
Hanging
Gardens
On top of the
Malabar hills are the Hangin
g
Gardens
and
Kamala
Nehru
Park
, which offer superb views over Mumbai. Some distance away from Malabar
Hills is
Mahalaxmi
Temple , the oldest temple in Mumbai, dedicated
to the Goddess of Wealth.
Excursion
Kanheri
Caves
About 32 kms. from Bombay Central, lie these caves, built in
I century AD or before. They reflect the deep. Buddhist influence. These caves
were used as Viharas for the traveling Buddhist monks.
National Park
About thirty five kms. north of the city lies the Krishnagiri
Upavan, now known as
Sanjay
Gandhi
National Park
. It is a popular picnic
spot with a toy train, a lion safari and Gandhi Smriti Mandir amidst sylvan
surroundings on Pavilion Hill.
Bassein
Once a fortifies Portuguese city, lies 77
kms. from
Bombay
. The old fort and the ruins of the churches here are only silent witness to the
pomp and glory that once Bassein possessed.
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The best time to visit ; Mumbai
can be visited any time of the year, though the hot and humid months of
June, July and August are best avoided.
How To Get
There
| By Air |
Mumbai is linked to all parts of the
country and to most parts of the world by air. |
| By Rail |
It is connected by road and rail to all
the major towns. |
| Road |
It is connected by road . |
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Maharashtra
