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Welcome
To Mumbai
Mumbai (Bombay), a cluster of seven islands,
derives its name from Mumbadevi, the
patron goddess of the Koli fisher folk, its
oldest inhabitants. Once a Portuguese
princess’ dowry and later an adornment of
new-gothic British architecture, Mumbai
today, is more than just a metropolis. It is
in fact an enigma of mud huts &
skyscrapers, age-old traditions & high
fashions, the industrialists’ heaven &
moviemakers’ Hollywood. A lovely natural
harbor and winding creek set off the city of
Mumbai from the long, narrow coast of
Western India. Mumbai pulsates with
activity. It is a city that is disciplined
by no time frame-neither by day nor night.
Mumbai is also the country’s financial
powerhouse, the nation’s industrial
heartland, and its economic nerve center.
With dazzling shopping arcades, exciting
sport activity, night clubs and
discotheques, theatre and music, gourmet
restaurants and interesting sightseeing
Mumbai offers the visitor a heady mix of all
these and more.
Getting there
Air: Mumbai is an international
airport and many international airlines
operate flights to Mumbai from various parts
of the world.
Rail: Mumbai is the headquarters of the
Central and Western Railways. Regular trains
connect it with all major cities like Ahmedabad, Aurangabad,
Bangalore, Bhopal,
Calcutta, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur,
Madras, Nagpur and Trivandrum
Road: Mumbai is connected by good roads with
all major tourist centers.
Places of Interest
Afghan Church
(4.5 Kilometers)
Dedicated to the British soldiers who fell
in the Sindh and Afghan campaigns of 1838
and 1843, this church also known as St. John’s
Church was built in 1847.
Chowpatty
Beach
(4 Kilometers)
This is a popular beach where celebration of
festivals such as Coconut Day and the Ganesh
Chaturthi immersions take place. Besides
little kiosk selling Bombay’s special
snacks, Bhelpuri & Kulfi (local ice
cream) one can find professional masseurs,
pony-leaders, bee bee-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, Lomanya Tilak and
Vithalbhai Patel who symbolize 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.
Gateway of India
(2.4 Kilometers)
This 26-meter high stone archway is the
first landmark of Bombay a visitor sees when
arrives by ship. Designed by Wittet in the
16th century Gujarat style, it
was built to commemorate the visit of the
king George V and Queen Mary to India 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 equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji
and a Statue of Swami Vivekananda have been
installed here.
Haji Ali Mosque
(7.3 Kilometers)
This is a tomb of a Muslim saint who died on
a pilgrimage to Mecca. It is believed that a
casket containing his mortal remains floated
and came to rest on a rocky bed in the sea,
where devotees constructed the tomb and the
mosque. It can be visited only at low tide
Head Quarters of
Western Railway
Completed in 1897 it has, as ornamentation,
a sculptured group representing engineering,
commence and agriculture of the time.
High Court
(1Kilometer)
It is an attractive building built in 1878
in the early English Gothic style. The
central structure rises up to 54.2 meters
and is surrounded by statues representing
Justice and Mercy.
Hutmas Chowk
(1 Kilometer)
Formerly known as Flora Fountain. This
is the business center of Mumbai, surrounded
by offices, banks, colleges and shops.
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 colorful paintings depicting
various incidents in the lives of the 24
Tirthankaras of the Jain religion. On the
first floor is a special shrine marble &
the ceiling shows the different planets as
personified in Hindu mythology.
Kamala Nehru Park
(5.6 Kilometers)
Situated on the slopes of Malabar Hill, it
is mainly a children’s Park named after
the wife of India’s first Prime Minister.
Laid in 1952, the garden offers a panoramic
view of Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach
Mahtam Jyotiba
Phule Market
(1.6 Kilometers)
Formerly known as Crawford Market, it
was constructed in 1867. This is principally
a wholesale market with shops selling
flowers, fruits, vegetables, meat and fish
all under one roof.
At the hub of the market is a fountain by
Lockwood Kipling (father of Rudyard Kipling.)
Note: The distances given above are from the Government
of India Tourist Office.
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