Mumbai Travel Guide (Bombay)
Location : Located on the
western coast of India.
Area : 437.77 Km
Attractions : Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Tomb
of Haji Ali
Ideal Time to Visit : October and January
¤ Mumbai, The City That Never
Sleeps
Mumbai, is the capital of Maharashtra and one of the most important
metropolitan cities of India. Mumbai is a cluster of seven islands. It
was presented to King Charles II in 1661 as part of the dowry when he
married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal. After India's
Independence, Mumbai has evolved as a vital commercial and thriving
city of India. It has a cosmopolitan nature, with many discotheques,
restaurants, beaches, theatres, pubs and night clubs. The city has a
free and vibrant spirit and is also known as a city that never sleeps.
Here culture and traditions are keeping pace with modernity. It
perfectly represents the ever-changing face of today's India, where
old and new walk hand in hand in harmony.
The official language of Maharashtra is Marathi, but Hindi and
English are also widely spoken and understood. Mumbai is also the
glamour capital of India. It is the seat of Hindi film industry, which
is also known as Bollywood, the largest producer of films in the
world. The cultural life is quite happening here, with a constant
stream of performances in music, dance and drama. The city of dreams,
Mumbai is also a shopper's delight, with exclusive boutiques, ethnic
markets and mini bazaars. Mumabi's local junk food sold on the streets
and beaches are very popular not only within the state but all over
the country. Some of these deliciouses snacks are pau bhaji, bhel puri
and kababs.
Apart from these are many travel attractions here like the Gateway of
India, Prince of Wales Museum, Tomb of Haji Ali and Mahalakshmi
temple, Juhu beach, Marine drive, Chhtrapati Shivaji Terminus and many
more. With all these features Mumbai is one of the most loved cities
of India.
¤ Atrractions In Mumbai
Mumbai, the cosmopolitan city of India, is also a cultural hub. With
natural beauty at par and a thriving economy the city is one of the
most important cities of India. The charm of Mumbai is beyond
comparison. This city has many worth visiting attractions, that lure
innumerable tourists every year.
Some of the most popular and well-known travel attractions are the
Gateway of India, an historical monument. It was built to commemorate
the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911. It is
regarded as the signature mark of Mumbai and the visit to Mumbai is
incomplete without giving a visit to this splendid monument.
Another prime attraction of Mumbai is the Prince of Wales Museum. It
is designed in the Indo-Saracenic style and is one of the finest
buildings constructed during British rule. It was build to commemorate
the first visit of the Prince of Wales to India. Then, there is the
Mahalaxmi temple, one of the famous temples in Mumbai devoted to the
Goddess of wealth Mahalaxmi. The temple has images of Hindu Goddesses
like Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali. The Tomb of Haji Ali is
another major attraction of Mumbai. The Mosque at the tomb of Haji Ali
stands on an island and is famous for its outstanding architecture.
Innumerable devotees throng this tomb everyday to pay homage to the
Saint Haji Ali.
Apart from having many historical monuments, Mumbai also has many
scenic beaches. Some of the them are the Juhu beach and Marine Drive
also called as Chowpatty beach. Chowpatty Beach is a popular beach
where people gather in the evening and enjoy themselves. On the beach,
one can find vendors, masseurs and roadside restaurants with
specialties being bhelpuri and kulfi. Just like Chowpatty, the uptown
Juhu Beach is a hangout place, where young and old enjoy their
evenings. Here one can see children playing with the sand, courting
couples and rowdy adolescents. A splendid beach, worth visiting.
Besides these attractions, there are many more places that are worth
visiting in Mumbai. To name a few are, Malabar Hills, Crawford Bazaar,
Kalbadevi, Essel World, Hanging Gardens, Film City, Flora fountain,
Chatrapati shivaji terminus etc.
¤ Excursions From Mumbai
Aurangabad Aurangabad is a
historical destination, famous for its medieval monuments and cultural
heritage. It boasts of the world heritage sites of the famous Ajanta &
Ellora. Apart from this there many other travel attraction also, that
lure tourists from all over the world.
Khandala
Khandla is an exotic hill station, ideal for trekking. It is covered
with lush green landscapes, a perfect getaway to spend an exciting
weekend.
Lonavala
Lonavala is a beautiful place covered with lush green sceneries.
Some of the worth visiting attractions at Lonavala are the lovely
Tugauli, Lonavala and Bhushi lakes.
Pune
The second largest city of Maharashtra, Pune offers many tourist
attractions. It is famous for the Ashram of Osho Rajneesh and many
gardens along with the banks of river Mula-Mutha.
Matheran
Matheran is a small hill station situated near Mumbai. It is the
only place in India where no motor vehicles are allowed in order to
maintain its freshness and beauty.
¤ Shopping
Mumbai is considered as a shopper's delight. There are shops lined up
in the corners and pavements of Mumbai's streets. One can buy anything
and everything from the famous bazaars and markets of the city. On
your travel vacations in Mumbail if you are looking for some good
clothes at less price, then you should definitely shop around Colaba
Causeway and Fashion Street. They are stretched along the Cross and
Azad Maidans. At Breach Candy and Kemps Corner, more trendy and costly
shopping can be done.
The Chor Bazaar of Mumbai is a very old bazaar. Here one can look for
some exquisite antique pieces, while the nearby Zaveri Bazaar is
famous for its diamond, gold and silver jewelery. Apart from these,
Mumbai also has many shopping arcades, owned by almost all five-star
hotels such as the Oberoi and the Taj Mahal. Dadar, Bandra-Linking
Road, and Juhu road areas in central and suburban Mumbai are good
spots to shop.
¤ Reach Mumbai
By Air : Mumbai has an
international and a domestic airport, they are the Chhatrapati Shivaji
International Airport (formerly known as Sahar Airport) and the
Chhatrapati Shivaji Domestic Airport (formerly known as Santa Cruz
Airport). Both these airports are situated at a distance of 4 kms from
each other. They are located approximately 30 kms and 26 kms away from
the heart of the city - Nariman Point - in south Mumbai.
An airport bus service operates between the airports and the Air
India building at Nariman Point. It takes around an hour to reach the
domestic terminal and fifteen minutes longer to reach the
international terminal. But during peak hours due to the traffic the
journey could last almost two hours. Tickets can be bought either on
the buses or at the booth outside the Air India Building. There is
also a shuttle bus that operates at regular intervals between the
domestic and international airports.
By Rail : The Mumbai Central and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
(or VT) are the two railway stations at Mumbai that connect it to the
rest of the country.
By Road : Long distance buses depart from Mumbai Central S.T.
bus depot to several towns and cities. MTDC also operates a number of
bus services throughout the year (except for the monsoon months) to
many scenic spots and tourist centers.
Local Transportation : Inside Mumbai you may avail any of the
various means of local transport like the taxis, local trains or
buses.
Major Circuits
Major Tour Packages To Maharashtra
|
|
