Mumbai
About Mumbai
Originally a group of seven islands, Mumbai is today, the capital city of
Maharashtra and the commercial capital of India. It is one city that is said
to be awake all the time, viz., it never stops functioning. Day or night,
Mumbai is always alive and running. It is one of the most modern cities of
the country, though, this by no means indicate that Mumbai has lost its
cultural heritage. It is very much possible to see the culture of the people
in the day to day lifestyle. Infact, it would not be wrong to say that
modernity and tradition have blended finely to give way to a new lifestyle.
Reaching Mumbai
Mumbai is one of the important gateways for international tourists who wish
to explore the land of India. The Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport
receives flights from various international destinations. The domestic
airport of Mumbai operates flight that connect it to different parts of the
country.
Domestic tourists can also reach Mumbai by railways. Mumbai, being a very
important city of India, is connected to various other cities like
Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Calcutta, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad,
Jaipur, Madras, Nagpur and Trivandrum.
Regular bus services also connect Mumbai to major tourist centres.
Mumbai Attractions
»
Gateway of India - The Gateway of India was built as a mark of honour to
the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India. The Gateway of India,
built of yellow basalt, is today an important landmark of the city. The
central dome is 48 feet in diameter and reaches upto a height of 83 feet.
Located at the seaside, the Gateway also provides enjoyable excursion in a
boat or a ferry. For any tourist visisting Mumbai, a trip to the Gateway of
India is a must.
» Mahalaxmi Temple - Dedicated to Goddess of wealth,
the Mahalaxmi temple is situated at the edge of the Arabian sea. An
interesting anecdote associates itself with the construction of the temple.
It is said that a causeway was being built at the place, however, the moment
the foundation was laid, a huge wave would come and wash it away. Then, one
night, a labourer saw Goddess Laxmi in his dream who commanded him to dig
out an idol of hers from that place and build a shrine over it. This was
done, and amazingly, the waves never disturbed the construction of the
causeway in future (which was built very soon). Today, the Mahalaxmi temple
is a sacred place for Hindus who throng in thousands everyday to offer their
prayers.
» SiddhiVinayak Temple - The SiddhiVinayak temple is
extremely holy for the Hindus and is dedicated to God Ganesha, the Elephant
god of Hindus and the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The temple is a
standing evidence of the religious faith of the people. Thousand of devotees
flock to the temple daily and stand in long queues for hours before they get
an opportunity to have a darshan of their god. The long waiting period does
not deter in any way the devotees' desire to offer their prayer to the God.
» Dargah of Haji Ali - Located a little distance
away in the sea, the dargah of Haji Ali is reachable by a paved way. It is
dedicated to an affluent merchant who gave up all the worldly pleasure to
set out on a pilgrimage to the holy Mecca. The tomb, which is around 800
years old, has green and red chaddar covering it. Thousands of devotees and
tourists also visit this shrine everyday to pay their respect to Haji Ali.
» Juhu Beach - Located at the shores of the Arabian
Sea, Mumbai has many beaches worth visiting. However, the most popular of
these is the Juhu beach. Numerous people, both residents and tourists, visit
this beach every day to walk in the waters, play with the sand, eat and
drink on the beach stalls and click a photograph with loved ones. It will
not be wrong to say that whenever people think of entertainment at a low
cost in Mumbai, they think of the Juhu beach. Easily accessible, it is one
of the best places to spend some time introspecting as well.
» Marine Drive - Marine Drive is one long pathway
with sea on one side and modern buildings on the other. Once, it was called
the 'necklace of the queen' because the street lights illuminated the entire
pathway like the jewels in the necklace of the queen. Here, tourists can
simply take a walk with flock of pigeons giving them company or cross the
road to enter some of the most modern shooping malls of the city. The Marine
Drive is also one of the busiest streets of Mumbai.
»
Essel World - Sprawling over 64 acres, Essel World enjoys the status of
being the city's only international styled theme park. Here tourists can
enjoy as many as 45 rides and a game. A Water World section is a virtual
paradise for children, especially in summers. They are free to run and play
with water as much as they want. It is one place in Mumbai where people can
let themselves go completely and enjoy to the hilt.
» Prince of Wales Museum - This museum was built as
a mark of respect to King George. The architecture of the museum follows the
Indo Sarcenic style. Within the museum, the collection ranges from art and
painting to archaeology and natural history. The museum is worth paying a
visit once.
Departure from Mumbai
Tourists need to report at the Resham Bhavan (Churchgate, MTDC office)
latest by 15.00 hrs. From there, they will be transferred by bus to the
railway station. The Deccan Odyssey departs on Wednesday at 16.40 hrs from
the Chhatrapati Shivaji Station. Dinner is served on board.
Arrival In Mumbai
The train arrives in Mumbai at around 07.30 hrs. Breakfast is served on
board. The royal journey on Deccan Odyssey ends here but the memory of it
will stay forever in the hearts and mind of the passengers.