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Maharashtra,
a state where a millennium of culture weaves a tapestry of myriad charms. The
spiritual solace of centuries. The sylvan serenity of the countryside. The
stillness of a thicket disturbed only by a tiger flashing past, or the symphony
of tradition from its varied population. All abound in a unique togetherness. A state as vivid as
vivacious, Maharashtra is one of the largest
states in India, both in terms of population and area. Its booming capital
Mumbai, makes it not only one of the most important states economically, but
also a major gateway for overseas visitors. The first well known rulers of
Maharashtra were the Satavahanas (230 BC to 225 AD), who were the creators of
Maharashtra, and have left a plethora of literary, epigraphic, artistic and
archaeological evidence. The Maharashtrians' love for art and culture is quite
evident in their intense interest in drama. Their approach to music and dance is
rather lusty. Maha Shivaratri, Gokulashtami, Holi and Ganesh Chaturthi are the
main festivals of this fun loving state. No matter what kind of holiday you are
looking for, you will find it here. Whether it is lazing on the sun - swept
sands of the 720 kms coastline, or a peaceful self-exile in the awe-inspiring
mountains, or quiet worship at some famous shrines, or revelation in cave
architecture, art and culture or challenging treks or abundant wildlife thrills,
Maharashtra has it all.
A
city which is called the economic capital of India, a city of entrepreneurs, a
city of skyscrapers, a city of clubs and pubs, a city of dreams, of horse races
and cricket, a city of suburban trains, and a place full of contradictions. You
Can Advertise Here The enigmatic city of Mumbai was a cluster of seven islands
of Koli fishermen who lived on the shores of the Arabian Sea and worshipped
Mumbadevi. Hence, the place got the name Mumbai. Mumbai was given by Portuguese
as dowry to Charles II of England when he married Catherine. The group of seven
island was leased to the East India Company who offered freedom of business and
religion to persons who came and settled here. Initially a few Parsis and
Gujarati came but soon a sizeable population began to thrive here. This was way
back in the 17th century. Today also Mumbai is a city of migrants. People from
all over the country have come and settled here. This gives the society of
Mumbai a multi-lingual and multi-cultural colour.
 Mumbai,
the capital of Maharashtra, is the fastest moving, most affluent
and industrialised city in India. Mumbai is part of India's
beautiful west coast, that runs down from Gujarat, through Mumbai
to Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. The city has a natural harbour,
which was developed by the British. It is one of the most busy
ports of India, handling approximately 40 percent of India's
maritime trade. Mumbai (till recently known as 'Bombay'), derives
its name from the local deity Mumba Devi, whose temple is still
there. The Portuguese predecessors of the British preferred
to think of the name as Bom Baim, the Good Bay. Mumbai is a
group of seven islands which are today known as Colaba, Mahim,
Mazgaon, Parel, Worli, Girgaun and Dongri. Large expanses of
open sea have been filled in, and tidal swamps have been reclaimed
for furthering the land area. These reclaimed areas include
Churchgate and Nariman Point.Mumbai is home to people of all
Indian creeds and cultures. It is a fascinating city, throbbing
with life, and, for many people, the gateway to India.
Gateway of India,
the principal landmark of Mumbai, was the principal port when the visitors came
to India by ship. The gateway was conceived, following the visit of King George
V to India in 1911, and was officially opened in 1924. Its architecture is akin
to the conventional Arch of Triumph, with elements derived from Muslim styles of
16th century Gujarat. Near the gateway is the Colaba Causeway, which extends to
the end of Colaba promontory, the southern end of Mumbai Island. Sassoon dock is
always interesting to visit at dawn, when the fishing boats come in and unload
their catch.
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MUMBAI
FORT : The area north of Colaba is known as Mumbai Fort, since the old
fort was once located here. There are a lot of impressive buildings from
Mumbai's golden period here. St. Johns church, dedicated to the soldiers, who
laid down their lives in the Sindh campaign of 1838, and the first Afghan war of
1843, is also worth a visit. The Prince of Wales Museum, built to commemorate
King George's V visit to India, was opened in 1923. It is modelled on the Indo -
Saracenic design, and has sections for art and paintings, archaeology, and
natural history. The Jehangir Art Gallery is within the compound of the Museum,
and displays paintings of modern Indian artists. Flora Fountain is also nearby,
and is the business centre of India, housing many of the major banks and
offices. It was erected in 1869 in honour of Sir Bartle Frere, who was governor
of Mumbai from 1862-67. Close to the fountain is the Cathedral of St. Thomas
begun by Gerald Aungier in 1672, but formally opened in
1718.
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VICTORIA
TERMINUS:-
One of the
most popular promenades of Mumbai is the Marine Drive, built
on land reclaimed during 1920, and runs along the shoreline
of Back bay, starting at Nariman point, and sweeping around
by Chowpatty beach upto Malabar hills. Chowpatty beach is one
of Mumbai's famous beaches, and is a popular spot for people
seeking evening outs. It is also a scene for the vibrant annual
Ganesh Chaturthi festival. A major landmark of this vibrant
city is the VT or Victoria Terminus which was designed in Italian
Gothic style by F. W. Stevens. The first train to steam out
of Mumbai was from here to Thane in 1853 .Modeled
on the lines of the St Pancras Station in London, Victoria Terminus
is undoubtedly the Raj's piece de resistance, Complete with
carved stone friezes, stained glass windows and flying buttresses.
It is Gothic architecture at its best, an awesome edifice that
most citizens view with deep pride. At the top of the central
dome stands the triumphant figure of Progress. The station was
christened to commemorate Victoria Jubilee Day in 1887 when
India's first steam engine puffed out to neighboring Thane,
about 45 kms away. Today it has been rechristened Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus after the Maratha warrior. And the old steam
engines have been replaced by electric ones. But to the 2.5
million commuters who push past its massive portals everyday,
this is still VT, the pulse of a throbbing city.
TARAPOREWALE
AQUARIUM:-
is also on Marine drive, and has both fresh water and saltwater
fishes. On top of the Malabar hills are the Hanging Gardens
and Kamala Nehru Park, which offer superb views over Mumbai.
Some distance away from Malabar Hills is Mahalaxmi Temple, the
oldest temple in Mumbai, dedicated to the Goddess of Wealth.
Haji Ali tomb and mosque is located nearby, and can be reached
by a long causeway, which can be crossed at low tide. Other
attractions of Mumbai include the Juhu beach and the Nehru Planetarium.
Taraporewala
Aquarium on Marine Drive has a good collection of sea and fresh
water fish and other marine life. There is a proposal to convert
this into an underwater oceanarium, where people can undertake
an undersea walk, surrounded by marine life. It is open on all
days except Mondays.
AJANTA AND
ELLORA CAVES:-The state of Maharashtra is home to the enchanting Ajanta
and Ellora group of caves. The cave shrines were all cut out of rock, by hand,
and rank amongst some of the most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian
architectural heritage. The 34 caves at Ellora and the 29 caves at Ajanta, were
hidden from the public eye, till they were accidentally rediscovered in the 19th
century.
Murud-Janjira
 Battered on
all four sides by the waves, with its imposing stone walls standing 40 feet high
even at high tide is the majestic island fortress of Murud-Janjira. Never
conquered by enemy forces for over 350 years since its construction by Malik
Ambar (15th century AD), an Abyssinian regent of the Ahmednagar kings,
Murud-Janjira is probably the only impregnable fort on the 720-km stretch of the
Maharashtra coast. Visitors can still see the ruins of the palaces and stately
mansions of the invincible Siddis, who prospered within the stronghold. The
short boat ride to and from the mainland is enjoyable.
| Shirdi
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Devotees from all over
India visit Shirdi and pay their respects at the shrine of Saibaba - the
contemporary saint of Maharashtra. The town is considered holy by people
belonging to all faiths and pilgrims are seen in large numbers here, all
through. Fairs are organised on Ramnavmi, Guru Pournima and Dussera. The
Dwarkamayi mosque and Sakori Ashram are popular places to visit. |
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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. |
Marine
Drive
Also
called the Netaji Subhas Chandra Marg, it is a promenade along the water
front. The drive runs from the Nariman point to Chowpatty beach and ends at
the Malabar hills. The drive is built on the land reclaimed from the Back
Bay along the Arabian coast. The place is a beautiful place to watch the
sunset. In the night the whole drive is lit by street lights that give it
are very unique expression. Due to the street lights some call it the
necklace of the Queen.
Hutatma
Chowk -
Also
known as the Flora fountain because of the fountain. It is located at one of
the established business center of Mumbai. The chowk is named after Roman
God of Abundance. It was erected in 1869 in honor of Sir Bartle Frere,
Governor of Bombay who was responsible for shaping much of Bombay.
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Haji
Ali Mosque - This
mosque is located in the causeway protruding into the Arabian sea. The white
mosque is the tomb of Saint Haji Ali. Haji Ali was a wealthy Muslim who
renounced the world and proceeded to Mecca. It is said that he died in Mecca
and the casket miraculously drifted and came to the spot where the mosque is
built toady. The mosque can only be approached during low tide. The mosque
is surrounded by refreshment stalls and other kinds of shops which take away
the sombre of the place. The rocks behind the mosque is a good place to
catch sea breezes. |
Gate
Way Of India
When
a visitor comes to Mumbai by sea he sees a 26 m high structure.
This structure is called the Gateway of India. It is the icon
of Mumbai. It was designed by Wittet and is built in the 16 th
century architectural style of Gujarat. Gate way of India was
built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary
to India in 1911. After that function, this crypto-Moresque has
welcomed many visitors. The Gate was formally opened in 1924.
Today it is a famous haunt for the residents for Mumbai. Near
the Gateway of India is Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the most famous
and luxurious hotels in India (can we say one of the best in world).
It is said that the Hotel was built in 1903 after JN Tata was
refused in a hotel for being a native. Nearby are the statues
of Swami Vivekanand and Shivaji astride his horse.
Nehru
Centre - It was in 1972 that
the Nehru Centre was conceived by the late Shri Rajni Patel and
others as a living memorial to the maker of modern India, who
symbolized the ideals of enlightened curiosity, scientific temper,
secular values, a world view and above all, a faith in the people
of India. The foundation stone of this magnificient dream was
laid by the late Smt. Indira Gandhi on November 2, 1972 on a six-acre
plot leased by the Government of Maharashtra.
Nehru
Planetarium- The Nehru Planetarium is a large domed building,
popular with the city's amateur astronomers. Inside, various cubicles
estimate your weight on each of the nine planets of the Solar
System while in the domed interior, daily shows uncover the timeless
mysteries of the cosmos. The place is usually packed with school
children so make sure you buy your ticket in advance. Adjacent
to the planetarium is the Nehru Centre, venue of numerous international
trade fairs and local exhibitions. In the basement, the Nehru
Auditorium usually boasts classical music and dance recitals,
concerts and plays.
Powai
Lake- Within easy reach of Bombay by car are several picturesque
lakes. Powai Lake, 25 miles from Bombay, is a quiet stretch of
water by the side of a motor road. It can be approached via King's
Circle, Sion, and Kurla. or through Santa Cruz and Andheri. Lake
Powai is smaller lake of the two, and is situated a little west
of the campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), one of
the premier institutions of science and technology in India.
Prince
of Wales Museum- a magnificent, but somewhat strange structure,
built in a confluence of Gothic and Moorish styles, and crowned
by a sparkling white dome. It boasts a good collection of ancient
Indus Valley artifacts dating back to 2000 BC, plus some priceless
Tibetan and Nepali Art. There is an entire gallery devoted to
Buddhist tankha scrolls and another to Tibetan bronzes, but the
chief attraction here is the collection of over 2000 miniature
paintings from the various art schools of India. Next to the Museum
is the Bombay Natural History Society, which has an extensive
collection of local flora and fauna
Priyadarshini
Park- A rocky wasteland near the sea has been reclaimed and
transformed into a large park, which can only be described as
a feast for the eyes, amidst the concrete jungle of Malabar Hill.
It lies to the west of Napean Sea Road. Besides acting as a lung
for the city, it has a large track for joggers, several tennis
courts and a fully equipped gym and a health club.
Rajabai
Tower- Next to the High Court, the Venetian -Gothic University
has a Gothic clock tower 260 feet high that is curiously adorned
with oriental figures. In the old days it used to play Rule Britannia,
God Save the King and a Handel Symphony among sixteen tunes that
changed four times a day; now the repertoire is limited to the
wafting chimes of the Big Ben on the quarter hour. The Rajabai
Clock Tower is named after the mother of a 19th century stockbroker,
who contributed towards its construction; it has a spiral staircase
, which is unfortunately closed to the visitors after several
unhappy citizens hurled themselves from the top. Under the clock
tower is the magnificent University Library, with what are undoubtedly
some of the most exquisite stained glass windows in Asia. These
have recently been treated by British conservationists and restored
to their pristine glory. Well worth a look.
Dhobi
Ghat- A unique feature of Mumbai, the dhobi is a traditional
laundryman, who will collect your dirty linen, wash it, and return
it neatly pressed to your doorstep. All for a pittance. The "laundries"
are called "ghats": row upon row of concrete wash pens, each fitted
with its own flogging stone. The clothes are soaked in sudsy water,
thrashed on the flogging stones, then tossed into huge vats of
boiling starch and hung out to dry. Next they are ironed and piled
into neat bundles. The most famous of these Dhobi Ghats is at
Saat Rasta near Mahalaxmi Station where almost two hundred dhobis
and their families work together in what has always been a hereditary
occupation.
Sanjay
Gandhi National Park- Originally planned as a wildlife retreat
outside Mumbai, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is now virtually
engulfed by the growing city. Most of it is wild and unsafe, but
breathtakingly beautiful, filled with dense forests and dotted
with sylvan lakes. There are wild animals here, of course, but
the only way you can see them is to take the Lion Safari at the
entrance. Don't expect displays of predatory power though: most
of the animals here are so used to tourists that they merely yawn
at the passing buses.
Sasoon
Dock- Another fishy area in downtown Colaba, Sassoon Dock
is the Mecca of local gourmets and restaurateurs who forage for
quality seafood at dawn, when the trawlers unload their booty.
Baskets of shrimp, lobster, thin, bony mackerel and fleshy pomfret
are sold here at wholesale rates by loud fishwives who sit on
the wharf right next to the colourful boats. There are also cold
storage places where you can buy the cleaned and filleted variety
that is earmarked for export. Despite the pervasive smell and
the chaos, however, Sassoon dock is an experience worth undertaking.
Town
Hall - Asiatic Library- With its old parquet floors, spiral
staircases, wrought iron loggias, and exquisite marble statues
of forgotten city fathers, the colonnaded Town Hall is perhaps
the most regal and elegant of Mumbai's heritage buildings. It
houses the Asiatic Society, a library with a collection of 800,000
antique volumes. One of them is a priceless first edition copy
of Dante's "Inferno." There is also an impressive numismatic collection
of over 1,000 ancient coins and a rare gold mohur belonging to
the Mughal Emperor Akbar. You need permission to look at these
treasures, but the public library is open to all and usually draws
a large number of senior citizens who pore over the local newspapers
in the fading grandeur of its reading room.
Veermata
Jeejabai Udyan- Popularly called Ranee Baug after its namesake,
the Victoria Gardens are now rechristened Jijamata Udyan. They
are botanical gardens, sprawled over 48 acres and contain some
of the oldest trees in the city, some dating back two hundred
years! At the entrance is a charming Renaissance clock tower to
match the Italian Renaissance-style Victoria and Albert Museum
(now the Bhau Dali Ladd Museum) that houses an interesting collection
of local archaeological finds. Just behind it is the Mumbai Zoo,
a depressing place with animals in bare cast iron-and-stone cages.
Avoidable. You can however, opt for an elephant ride on weekends,
but the best bet is a stroll through the gorgeous botanical gardens
or picnic on the well-kept lawns.
Vihar
Lake- Within easy reach of Bombay by car are several picturesque
lakes. Powai Lake, 25 miles from Bombay, is a quiet stretch of
water by the side of a motor road. It can be approached via King's
Circle, Sion, and Kurla. or through Santa Cruz and Andheri. Vihar
Lake, a mile away from Powai lake, is less secluded, as it is
one of the sources of Bombay's water supply. The lake, incidentally,
is infested with crocodiles, which often bask in the sun.
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Worli
Fishing Village- Over two thousand years ago, Mumbai was an
archipelago of seven islands, inhabited by the kolis. These tribal
fisherfolk still live here in tightly knit communities that the
passing centuries have scarcely touched. The best place to see
them is in the 600-year-old Worli Fishing Village that stands
on a sliver of land jutting into the sea. Plunge into one of its
winding gullies and you will instantly be assailed by the smell
of drying fish, and colourful koli women, their dark skins offset
by chunky tribal jewellery. At the end of the village is a small
Portuguese fort with remnants of an old armoury, soldiers' barracks
and thick ramparts. Before the Raj, when Portugal ruled Mumbai,
this was a strategic vantage point to counter attacks from the
sea.
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Central
Railway
General Enquiry Tel-134
Reservation Enquiry Tel- 135
Arrival/Departure Tel-136(south)
Tel-137(north)
Western Railway
General Enquiry Tel-131
Reservation Enquiry Tel- 135
Arrival/Departure Tel-133(south)
Tel-132(north)
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Indian
Airlines
City Office Tel- 2023031,2025654
Air India
City Office Tel- 2024412
Jet Airways
City Office Tel- 8386111,6156433
Airport Tel-610272,6156433
British Airways
Tel-2820888,8329061/63/64
Air France
Tel- 2025021,2025067
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J.J.Hospital
Tel- 3735555/9031
Nanavati Hospital
Tel-6182262
Tata Memorial Hospital
Tel- 4146750
Breach Candy Hospital
Tel-3633651/4872
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