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CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS:MUMBAI
By adskkdev, Section Best of West Posted on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 02:55:59 AM EST
Mumbai, the business, industrial, financial, and celluloid hub of India. Mumbai is also often referred to as the city that never sleeps. This city of dreams was once presented to King Charles II in 1661 as part of the dowry when he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal. Today, it is the state capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of India. To the tourists Mumbai offers an amazing array of places to visit. There are excellent excursion options to the neighboring hill stations and ancient caves from Mumbai. For the shoppers and the food freaks, Mumbai is an absolute visit.
Shopping in Mumbai Mumbai is a shopper's paradise with bargain buys, exclusive boutiques, ethnic markets and mini bazaars. The bazaars of Kalbadevi and Bhuleshwar are must visits while in Mumbai. The Mangaldas Market, Zaveri Bazaar, and Chor Bazaar are amongst the best known shopping places of Mumbai. The Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market or the Crawford Market is renowned for offering the best of fruits and vegetables in Mumbai. Places to visit Gateway of India This 26 metres high stone archway is the first landmark of Bombay a visitor sees when arriving by ship. Designed by Writtet in the 16th century Gujarat style, it was built to commen morate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Indfia in 1911. This crypto Moresque archway welcomed numerous viceroys, governors and top civil servants as they disembarked by launch from their p&O steamers. An equestrain staue of Chhatrapatin Shivaji and statue of Swami Vivekhanda have been installed here. Chowpatty Beach A popular beach where celebration of festivals such as Coconut Day and the Ganesh Chaturthi immersions take place. Besides little kiosks selling Bombay's special snacks, Bhelpuri & Kulfi (local ice cream) one can find professional massesurs, 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. Chowpatty occupies a special place in the life of Bombay, having been the venue of mass political meetings in the pre-independence era.
 Malabar Hill The poshest 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 his sita, stopped here and made a lingam (phallic totem) out of sand to worship Lord Shiva. Flora Fountain The Flora Fountain erected in 1869 in honour of Sir Bartle Frere (Governor of Mumbai in 1862-67), now bustles with busy life and is the many business centre housing many major banks and offices. Gerald Aungier began the Cathedral of St. Thomas in 1672, which was formally opened in 1718 to the fountain. Running along the shoreline of Backbay, extending from Nariman Point around by Chowpatty beach upto Malabar Hills, is the most popular strolling pavement of Mumbai, built on land reclaimed during 1920. One of the most popular spots for evening outs is Chowpatty beach which also is famous for its junk food. The lively atmosphere during Ganesh Chaturthi Festival is worth a visit. One of the most fascinating landmark of Mumbai is the VT or Victoria Terminus designed by F.W. Stevens in Italian Gothic. In 1853 the first train ran from here to Thane. Juhu Nicknamed as the uptown bourgeois paradise, Juhu Beach is a place that attracts a large number of visitors throughout the year. Characterised by walkers, screaming children and courting couples, the beach covers an area of about 5 kilometres. Juhu beach is attractively studded with many five star hotels offering the customers a splendid view of the coast. The beach remains noticeably crowded on weekends. Moreover, the beach activities like camel rides, pony rides, acrobats, performing monkeys and entertainers will keep you enthralled all the time. Keep away from hawkers.
Marine Drive
 Elephanta Caves Mumbai's major tourist attractions are the rock cut temples on peaceful Elephanta Island, 10km ( 6miles ) north-east of the Gateway of India. Thought to have been carved between 450 and 750 AD, the temples survived Portuguese vandalism (one cave was reputedly used by a Portuguese battalion as a shooting gallery) and remain equal in size, beauty and power to the caves at Ajanta and Ellora. The main cave contains large sculpted panels relating to Siva, including the astonishing 6mt ( 20 feet ) high triple headed Trimurti in which Siva embodies the roles of creator, preserver and destroyer. Boats run daily from Mumbai's Apollo Bunder every hour until early afternoon, although it's best to make the trip during the week. Click on "Full Story" for more...
Bombay Stock Exchange
India's largest stock exchange is housed at Dalal Street. Its daily trading volume is counted in billions of rupees, making it Asia's largest stock exchange after Tokyo. It was founded in 1877. The present Stock Exchange building was built a hundred years later. Around 8000 companies are listed on the Bourse Kamla Nehru Park Kamla Nehru park, located at the top of Malabar Hills is another site to visit in Mumbai. Overlooking the Marine Drive, the park houses "Old Woman's Shoe", wonderfully cut hazes and roomy walkaways. Moreover, the park also provides you a spectacular view of the city and the sunset. The Kamla Nehru park also makes a favourite gateway for the locals here. Nishiland Water Park Located near Panvel, at Vinegaon, Nishiland is spread over 56 scenic acres of greenery set amidst Sahayadri mountains. The park's main attractions are wave pool, children's play pool, a water slide, a boating lake, a 'Rub a Dub Jacuzzi', an air conditioned video games parlour, shopping arcade, a highway restaurant serving Indian, Chinese and Gujarati food etc. Timing: 1000 to 1800. Entrance Charge: Adults Rs. 200/- Children & Senior Citizens (proof of age required) Rs. 175/-. Fantasy Land Fantasy land is located in 30 acres of lush green landscape within the city limits of Mumbai. Besides several interesting rides the park offers coin operated games, pedal boats in an artificial lake and horse rides. Timing: 1100 to 2000. (week days), 1100 to 2100. (Weekends & Public Holidays, Closed on Mondays except during summer and winter vacations). Entry Charge: Rs. 175/- Adult & Rs. 125/- Child (3-12 yrs.) (Fee includes unlimited rides) Essel World
The first amusement park in Mumbai. It is located just outside the city limits in Gorai village, across the creek from Borivili or Malad. It has over 30 rides for both adults and kids. The main attractions are roller coasters, big dippers, whirligigs, slides, dodgems, train rides etc. Timing: 1100 to 1900 (off season) 1000 to 2000 (April-June & October-December)
Entry fee: Below 4 yrs-Free (height below 3' 3") Water Kingdom Billed as Asia's largest water theme park, this park has world's largest wave pool, a suite for waterslides for both adults and kids, a drifting river and various theme cruises.
Entry Fee: Below 4 yrs-Free (height below 3' 3")
 Places of Worship in Mumbai Siddhivinayak Temple One of the most popular places of worship in Mumbai is the Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple was rebuilt on the site of a 200 year old temple. The black stone idol of Lord Ganesh, in the temple is two and a half feet in height and two feet in width. Several devotees throng this temple in the Prabha Devi area of Mumbai.
 Jain Temple Built in marble in 1904, the shrine is dedicated to Adinath, the first Tirthankara or apostle. The walls of the temple are adorned with colourful paintings depicting various incidents in the lives of the 24 tirthankaras of the Jain religion. On the first floor is a special shrine dedicated to Parsvanath carved out of black marble& the ceiling shows the different planets as personified in Hindu mythology. Mahalaxmi Temple The Mahalaxmi Temple of Mumbai is dedicated to Mahalaxmi, the goddess of wealth. The temple is situated on B. Desai Road - residential and shopping area of Mumbai. The holy temple attracts thousands of devotees every year Mumba Devi Temple The Mumba Devi temple is dedicated to Goddess Mumbadevi, the patron of Mumbai city. Goddess Mumbadevi is often referred to as the resident deity of Mumbai. The city derives its name from this sixth century old temple. Several devotees flock to this temple at Bhuleshwar. Haji Ali Mosque Situated at the end of a long causeway poking into the Arabian Sea, is a whitewashed fairytale mosque containing the tomb of the Muslim Saint Haji Ali. The saint is believed to have been a wealthy local businessman who renounced the material world and meditated on a nearby headland following a pilgrimage to Mecca. The mosque and tomb were built by devotees in the early 19th century. Alternative versions say Haji Ali died while on a pilgrimage to Mecca and his casket amazingly floated back to Bombay and landed at this spot. The mosque can only be reached at low tide, when the causeway is lined with beggars suffering every imaginable affliction and deformity . There's nothing somber about the building's cool courtyard, which is generally full of chattering families and refreshment stalls. The rocks exposed at low tide behind the mosque are a favourite spot to catch sea breezes
SOURCE (www.emumbaitourism.com
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