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Ten Must-See Features of Mumbai
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Mumbai, the financial capital and business hub of India is an island port city along India’s west coast. From the old world colonial era downtown area at its southernmost tip to the upcoming and modern suburbs along its north, Mumbai is a city of multiple hues. Among its diverse areas and their nooks and crannies runs a common thread of optimism, opportunity, inclusiveness and a unique cosmopolitan culture. It receives a constant influx of immigrants from all over India & beyond because of its famed promise of not just a livelihood but a serious shot at the “rags to riches” dreams for those who dare to dream and are prepared to work hard. Indeed, many businessmen, traders, film stars and artists have come here with nothing but a dream and have made it big. Here’s my list of the ten must-see features of Mumbai starting from downtown and going towards the suburbs. 1. Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus Station The grand central station of Mumbai is an iconic landmark which forms the backdrop for the opening sequence of many a “Bollywood” movie and rightly so because the story of many an immigrant to Mumbai from other states begins right here. It is the first landmark on the immigrant’s journey to the “city of promise”. The financial capital of India has indeed turned many an immigrant pauper into a prince. The station building is a fine example of the Victorian Gothic style of Architecture and is a throwback to the old Mumbai of the British “raj era”. 2. Gateway of India The Gateway of India was designed to be the first monument of Mumbai that visitors from the sea would look at. Its architecture style is a combination of Hindu and Muslim; the decorations are in Hindu style whereas the arch is in Muslim style. The iconic Taj Mahal hotel, another awe-inspiring architectural wonder is nearby. 3. Haji Ali Dargah The Haji Ali Dargah is the tomb of Haji Ali and a mosque built on an islet off the coast of Worli in South Mumbai. People of all religions and faiths visit the dargah to seek the blessings of the legendary saint. Being surrounded from almost all sides by the sea with only a small tract of land leading to it, the dargah also holds a lot of aesthetic & photographic appeal. 4. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj museum formerly Prince of Wales Museum is located in the heart of South Mumbai near the Gateway of India. The museum is categorized primarily into three sections: Natural History, Art & Archaeology. Approximately 50,000 exhibits of ancient Indian history as well as objects of interest from outside India are housed here. The museum building employs the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, incorporating elements of other styles of architecture like the Jain, Maratha and Mughal. a garden of palm trees and formal flower beds surrounds the museum building. 5. Marine Drive Marine Drive, a 3-kilometre-long boulevard in South Mumbai is also known as the queen’s necklace (it looks like necklace at night time with the street lights forming the jewels). It is a 'C'-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast which is a natural bay linking Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill areas of Mumbai. The highlight of Marine drive is the beautiful promenade lined with palm trees. At the northern end of Marine Drive is famous Chowpatty beach arguably, the birthplace of Bhel-puri (Mumbai’s local fast food delicacy). 6. Elephanta Island Elephanta Island or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") located on the Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of Mumbai houses the famous Elephanta Caves. The island can be reached via the regular boat service from Gateway of India. The caves dated to between the 5th and 8th centuries contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Hindu god Shiva as well as Buddha. 7. Juhu Beach Juhu is a suburb on the north western side of Mumbai. Juhu is one of the more affluent areas of Mumbai with many Bollywood stars including Amitabh Bachchan owning bungalows here. It is famous for its Mumbai street food, notably bhel-puri, pani-puri, and pav-bhaji. Juhu beach is also a very popular place for aircraft watching as planes from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport usually takeoff directly over the beach towards the sea. The world famous ISKCON temple nearby is another tourist hotspot. 8. Bandra Bandstand Bandra, a suburb of Mumbai on the western side houses the Bandstand Promenade, a kilometre long walkway along the sea. Less than a decade old, it is simultaneously a popular hang out spot, a jogging track and a park. Towards the Land's End side of the promenade is an amphitheatre. It serves as a venue for the Mumbai Festival and other events including concerts, classical dance and other performances. Visible along the promenade are expensive bungalows and flats, some of which belong to Bollywood movie stars. If you are lucky, you might even sight one of these demigods of Indian cinema. There is a small walkway from the bandstand to go to the Mount Mary Church, which is at the top of the hill. It has good view of Mahim Creek. The newest jewel in Mumbai’s crown, the Bandra-Worli sea link bridge which is a cable-stayed bridge over the sea can be seen from the bandstand. 9. Hiranandani Powai Hiranandani Gardens is a township located in Powai, a northern suburb of Mumbai. This area is well known for some magnificently tall residential buildings and super-expensive apartments. It has become the home of several corporate offices and IT enabled service providers. It is growing to be the showcase of the new suburban Mumbai which is developing in competition to downtown Mumbai and the western suburbs. Powai Lake and its newly-built promenade is also a must-see. 10. Sanjay Gandhi National Park Surrounded on three sides by India's most populous city, Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a large protected area in north Mumbai spread over 104 sq. km. It is one of the few national parks within a metropolis in Asia and is one of the most visited parks in the world. More than two million visitors every year are attracted by the rich flora and fauna of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The 2400 year old Kanheri caves sculpted out of the rocky cliffs in the park are also a major tourist attraction. The undulating green lands of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park are a stark contrast to the concrete jungle and the hustle and bustle of the city surrounding it. Visit it for great views of forests, hills, valleys, lakes, waterfalls and open expanses of greenery.
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