MUMBAI MERI JAAN
Mumbai (called Bombay) is a densely populated city on
India’s west coast. A financial center, it's India's largest city. On
the Mumbai Harbour waterfront stands the iconic Gateway of India stone
arch, built by the British Raj in 1924. The
city's also famous as the heart of the Bollywood film industry.
Marine drive, Mumbai
Marine Drive is a km long, arc
shaped boulevard along the South Mumbai coast, starting from the
southern end of Nariman Point and ending at the famous Chowpatty beach.
The coast lines the Arabian sea and is the best place to watch the
sunset in Mumbai, or even to just take a leisurely stroll by the sea any
time of the day or night.
The Marine Drive is also known as the Queen's necklace on account of its shape and yellow streetlights. It makes for a spectacular view at night
- you can go to either end of Marine Drive after sunset and see the
lights glowing in a perfect arc all along the coast. People come to walk
here in the evening to experience the brilliant sunset. It is also one
of the places people visit late at night, and you will find vendors
selling chai and sutta at all hours. The sound of the
waves, a view of the Mumbai skyline and the starry sky easily make
Marine Drive one of the most romantic spots in the city.
Gateway of India, Mumbai
The Gateway of India is,
without doubt, one of the most popular tourist hotspots of Mumbai. It is
located at Apollo Bunder Waterfront and overlooks the Arabian Sea in
the most beautiful way. One of the most distinguished monuments in
Mumbai, it was built in the year 1924 by famous architect George Wittet
as a commemoration of the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to
Mumbai. The imposing structure of the monument is a beautiful confluence
of Indian, Arabic and Western architecture and has become a popular
tourist hub in the city.
Nicknamed
'Mumbai's Taj Mahal', the foundation of this landmark was laid in 1911
and was inaugurated 13 years later in 1924. The structure in itself is a
made of yellow basalt and solid concrete and is embellished with
numerous Muslim and Hindu motifs as well. The basalt arch of the Gateway
served as the entry and exit access to India through waterways before
independence and was the exit point from where the last British ship
left India for England. There are statues of Swami Vivekananda and
Chhatrapati Shivaji that have been installed near the Gateway as well.
The view from the sea of the Gateway complex, especially at night, is as
beautiful as that of the Queen's Necklace from the Marine Drive. An
imposing edifice, the Gateway of India is a symbol of India's rich
history and cultural heritage.
Juhu Beach, Mumbai
Juhu beach is the longest beach
in Mumbai, and arguably the most popular among tourists as well. Juhu
beach is renowned for its wide variety of street food with a very
typical Mumbai flavour. The nearby area of Juhu is a posh locality in
Mumbai, home to a lot of famous Bollywood and TV celebrities - the most
famous being Amitabh Bachhan's bungalow - and it is not very rare to
spot a celebrity jogging on the beach.
This is also one of the best spots in Mumbai to watch a sunset, with a cool evening breeze, and one of the few places where you see the "relaxed" side of the Maximum City.
Television
shoots are often held and a number of toy-sellers, roasted corn vendors
and acrobats attract the eye. Stretched from Vile Parle to Santa Cruz,
children often have fun plane spotting with a departure runway near the
edge of the sea.This is also one of the best spots in Mumbai to watch a sunset, with a cool evening breeze, and one of the few places where you see the "relaxed" side of the Maximum City.
You may also visit the iconic Iskcon Temple which is meters away from the beach or indulge in a theatre experience at the famous Prithvi Cafe. Jalsa, Amitabh Bachchan's home is also in the vicinity and attracts an enormous crowd on weekends. There are also a number of famous cafes, restaurants, and pubs around this area which never sleeps, you'll find people taking a stroll as late as 3 am at night.
Colaba Causeway, Mumbai
One of the most crowded and
electrifying places to visit in Mumbai is the Colaba Causeway, famous
for being the shopping paradise and having endless shops to choose
from. The city of a million hopes, dreams and aspirations, Mumbai has
its heart in the right place despite all the floods and terrors and
everything that has shaken it over the years. Winning over everything
else, the Mumbai-spirit has remained undefeatable. And at the heart of
the unabashed city is the bustling Colaba Causeway - an absolute
must-visit. The place is mainly famous for its abundance of shopping
opportunities. Lying at the western tip, Colaba Causeway feels like the
pulse of Mumbai, quivering with excitement. It has a charm about it,
which will suck you into its world of colourful shops, eating places and
boutiques like a magnet.
Known as Shahid
Bhagat Singh Road formally and officially, Colaba Causeway acts as the
land link between Colaba and the Old Woman's Island. It lies close to
the Fort area which is a business sector and the heart of the city since
the British era. From roadside vendors to glamorous boutiques, the
street sells everything you can think of buying – in different quality
and prices. If movies are your thing and you want to experience how it
was to watch them in halls before multiplexes took over, you can pay a
visit to the old movie theatre – Regal Cinema. Behind Regal Cinema, the
Causeway leads you to the Bandstand Promenade overlooking the Arabian
Sea. Here, the great Gate of India welcomes you with all its grandeur
across from the majestic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel dominating the city's
skyline. If the walk makes you starve for something mouthwatering, you
will find the same at the many restaurants – old and new, cafes and
franchisee eatery outlets around to pacify your hunger.
Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai
The Siddhivinayak Temple is a
revered shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is one of the most
significant and frequented temples in Prabhadevi of
Maharashtra. This temple was built in the year 1801 by Laxman Vithu and
Deubai Patil. The couple did not have any children of their own and
decided to build the Siddhivinayak temple so as to fulfil the wishes of
other infertile women. It is one of the richest temples in Mumbai and
devotees visit this temple in large numbers on a daily basis. The statue
of Lord Ganesha here is believed to be self-manifested.
The
Siddhivinayak temple has a small sanctum housing the idol of Shri
Ganesha, which is about two and a half feet wide and made out of a
single piece of black stone. The trunk of the Lord tilts to the right,
and a snake adorns the idol much like a thread would. The deity has four
arms and is hence known as 'Chaturbhuj'. He carries a lotus in his
upper right hand, a small axe in his upper left hand, a rosary in his
lower left hand and a bowl full of his favourite snack 'modaks' as well.
Flanked by Goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi who signify wealth and
prosperity, the image of the Lord here is one that is of utmost
importance to the people of faith. A temple of Lord Hanuman is also
present in the premises. 
