Mumbai is a city of chaos and hope, glamour and squalor, modernity and tradition. Famously known as the City of Dreams, Mumbai is a beautifully blended melting pot of cultures and lifestyles.
Mumbai is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra which is a city of chaos and hope, glamour and squalor, modernity and tradition. Famously known as the City of Dreams, Mumbai – formerly known as Bombay - Mumbai is a beautifully blended melting pot of cultures and lifestyles. The city welcomes everyone and serves well, making them very own. From upcoming actors struggling to make it big on the silver screen, from Bollywood superstars to big industrialists to fisherman and slum dwellers, Mumbai is a city that proudly hosts everyone.
Mumbai is one of the main centers in the country of art, culture, music, dance and theatre, Mumbai is a dynamic, cosmopolitan city that has been running for years solely on the indomitable spirit of the Mumbaikars.
Mumbai was formerly known as Bombay. Popular waterfront destinations are Marine Drive, where visitors go to watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea, and the carnival-like Juhu Beach. More sightseeing options are the Gandhi Museum, in the leader's former home, and the cave temples of Elephant Island.
Juhu beach is the longest beach in Mumbai and is the most popular among tourists as well. Renowned for its wide variety of street food that has a typical Mumbai flavour and is sweet and sour. Television shoots are often held here and a number of toy-sellers, roasted corn vendors and acrobats attract the eye.
While here, you may also visit the iconic ISKCON Temple which is meters away from the beach or watch a theatre performance at the famous Prithvi Cafe. Just taking walk across the beach sand can bring an infinite sense of calm. The beach is also criticized for being unclean, efforts by BMC have significantly improved the scenery in the past few years.
Elephanta Caves is a rock-cut art and architecture from the times of medieval India, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Natively known as Gharapurichi Leni, the Elephanta Caves that exist today are ruins of what were once elaborately painted artworks. This collection of cave temples dates back to 5th to 7th centuries and most of them are dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The caves contain the stone sculptures representing the Shaiva Hindu sect. In addition to being an important heritage site, the Elephanta Caves are also an unlikely trekking destination.
Marine Drive is the most beautiful landmark associated with Mumbai and is indicative of the glamour and glitter of the city. Marine Drive is a 3.6 km long, arc-shaped boulevard along the South Mumbai coast that starts at the southern end of Nariman Point and ends at Chowpatty Beach. The coast wraps the Arabian sea and is the best place in Mumbai to watch the sunset or even to just take a leisurely stroll by the sea any time of the day or night. The sound of the waves, a view of the Mumbai skyline and the starry sky easily make Marine Drive one of the most romantic spots in the city.
Colaba Causeway is famous for being a shopper's paradise. Apart from gorgeous clothes and accessories, especially earrings, you can also find great bargains on home decor stuff such as lampshades, curios and antiques. If you do feel like catching a bite and a beer, there are a number of restaurants that offer great food and booze at very affordable prices and Cafe Leopold and Cafe Mondegar are pretty much the best.
From roadside vendors to glamorous boutiques, the street sells everything you can think of buying – in different quality and prices. Here, the majestic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel dominates the city's skyline. Colaba Causeway is the heart of Mumbai and it's the liveliest you will ever see the city.
The Gateway of India is one of the most popular tourist hotspots of Mumbai. It is one of the defining monuments of the city of Mumbai and was built in the year 1924. The imposing structure of the monument is a beautiful confluence of Indian, Arabic and Western architecture and has become a popular tourist hub in the city.
The structure in itself is a made of yellow basalt and solid concrete and is embellished with numerous Muslim and Hindu motifs as well. There are statues of Swami Vivekananda and Chhatrapati Shivaji that have been installed near the Gateway as well. The Gateway of India is not only a historic artifact but an example of marvelous architecture in itself.
The Film City is comprised of about twenty indoor studios and is located in Aarey Colony, Mumbai, Film City is a home of Bollywood. The place is so vast that about 1000 film sets can be erected here simultaneously. Over the years, it has been the locations for a number of Bollywood films. Today, Film City has grown to be one of the best film studios, well-equipped with all the essential amenities and world-class facilities.
One can visit sets that depict foreign locations right here in Mumbai, or learn the nuances of acting at the live movie shoot tours. A land where it is difficult to differentiate between reality and dreams, Film City is a must visit for all movie buffs.
The Prince of Wales Museum is present in Mumbai and is regarded to be one of the heritage buildings of the city. Adorned with stunning stone and lattice work, the architecture of the Prince of Wales Museum is a blend of Indian, Mughal and British engineering styles. Inside, the museum holds almost 50,000 of some of the most exquisite artifacts relating to the rich and diverse history of India.
The complex exhibits a myriad collection of ancient artifacts, artwork and sculptors of the country which give a unique insight into our past. Preserved in its best form, the Prince of Wales Museum is a wonderful manifestation of India's glory and rich past.
The Mumbai Zoo which is now known as Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo, named after the mother of Shivaji, the hero of Maratha Empire. The zoo is located in the heart of the city in Byculla. In the zoo, one can witness many wild animals in separate enclosures such as lion, monkeys, crocodiles, elephants and many more.
The zoo is going through a revamping procedure which will add many exciting features to the premise as well as bring in many more species of animals. The renovation will also include a medicinal garden, a butterfly enclosure and a tactical garden for the visually impaired.
Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai
Located on the backdrop of a beautiful view of the Arabian sea is the shrine of Haji Ali. The Haji Ali Dargah is located on a small island that is off the southern coast of Mumbai near Worli. The Dargah can only be accessed during the low tides via a causeway that is surrounded by the sea on all sides. At night, the view of the shrine lit up in the distance with nothing but the sea around it, is a divine sight.
The best time to visit Mumbai is from October to February when the weather is pleasant and ideal for exploring and sightseeing. Mumbai receives copious rainfall during the monsoon from June to September. The Summers are not a good time to visit Mumbai because it is too hot and humid with temperatures between 25°c to 38°c.
Mumbai offers an amazing travelling experience to all the visitors who visit here. Mumbai has everything to offer from charming city life to peaceful sea shores. Mumbai is a stunning, serene and captivating destination for travelers. So, pack your bags and move on a journey to Mumbai and enjoy your one in life traveling experience.
