Mumbai, the commercial capital of India is one of the most developed cities
of India. Mumbai is the booming capital city of Mahrashtra with its
beautiful range of attractions for its visitors coming from all around the
globe. From nature lovers to science addicts to the common tourists the city
of dreams, Mumbai has something special to offer to every single traveler.
Today, Mumbai is a city of migrants. People from all over the country and
world have come and settled here. This gives the society of Mumbai a
multi-lingual and multi-cultural hue.
Tourist Attractions in Mumbai
Gateway of India :
Gateway of India is a 26 m high stone archway, the first landmark of Mumbai
a visitor sees when arriving by ship. Designed by Writtet in the 16th
century Gujarat style, it was built to commemorate the visit of King George
V and Queen Mary to India in 1911. You will also find an equestrian statue
of Chhatrapati Shivaji and statue of Swami Vivekananda which have been
installed here.
Chowpatty Beach :
If you have not been to this place then you have missed the real charm of
Mumbai. Chowpatty Beach is the real thunder of Mumbai. People gather here,
for celebration of festivals such as Coconut Day and the Ganesh Chaturthi
immersions. Besides little kiosks selling Bombay's special snacks, Bhelpuri
& Kulfi (local ice cream) one can find professional masseurs, pony
leaders, beebee-gun shooting galleries, contortionists, snake charmers,
monkey-trainers, balloon sellers, flower-girls and lots more. On the beach
are statues of India's freedom fighters, Lokmanya Tilak and Vithalbhai Patel
who symbolise the freedom struggle.
Prince of Wales Museum :
The Prince of Wales Museum was also built to honour King George’s
visit. The construction of the museum is based on the Indo -Saracenic style
of architecture and was successfully completed in 1923. The Prince of Wales
Museum exhibits various areas like the art and paintings, archeology and
natural history.
Malabar Hill :
The classiest area of Mumbai, Malabar Hill has attractive residences,
including the Chief Minister's house and a palatial state guest house. Here
also, are the ruins of Walkeshwar temple build sometime between 810 and 1260
AD. It is believed that lord Rama on his way to rescue Sita from the
clutches of Ravana, stopped here and made a Shiva Lingam (phallic totem) out
of sand to worship Lord Shiva.
Marine Drive :
Built in the 1920s, Marine Drive runs along the shoreline of the Arabian
Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. It is Mumbai’s most
famous highway and a favourite hangout for watching the sunset. Lined on the
landward side by a crescent of crumbling Art Deco buildings, it is lit up at
night prompting the onlookers to dub it the Queen’s Necklace.
Jehangir Art Gallery :
Its heaven on Earth for all the art lovers. The gallery is located in the
compound of the Prince of Wales Museum and comprises of an Auditorium and an
exhibition hall. The gallery presents the works of modern Indian artists.
Besides being the venue for art exhibitions in Mumbai the Jehangir Art
Gallery conducts other art activities for the promotion of a national
movement in contemporary visual arts.
Reaching Mumbai
By Air :
Mumbai has the busiest domestic air network in the country. The
international terminal is at Sahar, which is 30 km north of the city center.
The domestic terminal at Santa Cruz is just 4 km away.
By Rail :
Mumbai
is a major railway junction of the country. It is the headquarters to two
railway zones, Central and Western. The main railway station is Victoria
Terminal, now renamed Chattrapati Shivaji Terminal. Other railway stations
are Dadar, Churchgate, and Kurla. The Railheads of Mumbai are easily
accessible from any part of India.
By Road :
There are two major north-south highways running through Bombay, cross
connected by other roads at various points. Mumbai is well-connected with
major destinations in Maharashtra and neighboring states through road.
