 Mumbai
(Bombay), the cosmopolitan capital of Maharashtra, is located in the west
of India. Not in the least because of its location and the mark the British
left on the city, it changed from a fairly isolated town into a major
commercial city with over a million inhabitants. Recently, the government changed
the city's former, Anglicised name Bombay, into Mumbai. But what's in a
name? Mumbai still is a must for travelers and is, to a certain extent, a
match for cities such as Paris and London.
Although not everyone is pleased with its nickname, Bollywood, the film
industry in Mumbai produces over 300 films a year and is therefore, in this
respect, second after Hollywood. The actors enjoy their god-like statuses
and dwell in exclusive mansions on Malabar Hill, the area that holds its
own with Beverly Hills. Although not may people are permitted to actually
see the ins and outs of the film shooting process, there are some tours to
the film studies and if that doesn't work, there is always a place where
you can bathe in the typical mélange of Indian dance, songs, optional
violence and melodrama.
Don't let yourself be overwhelmed by the big city character because
there are plenty of nice things to see and do. There are museums, such as
the Gandhi Museum (in one of the Mahatma's former residences- it's light on
history and heavy on memorabilia), art galleries, bazaars (check out
Jhavari Bazaar, where bargaining is done comfortably on piles of pillows),
parks (the hanging gardens are a must) and temples. Especially in the
Hutatma Chawk area, you'll find a large concentration of impressive and
important historical buildings, such as the fabulous Town Hall in
neo-classical style. Marine Drive nearby the seaside, which is also called
the Queen's Necklace because of its sparkling nightlights, is a nice area
to stroll and relax in the evening hours.
However, you haven't actually been to Bombay if you haven't seen the
Gateway to India. This monument was built to commemorate the visit of king
George the V and Queen Mary in 1911. At the same time, it's the place where
you can catch a boat to the Elephanta Island, a UNESCO world heritage site
where you can see rock-cut temples and caves dating back to the 6th century.
Daytrips from Bombay include visits to the Kanheri Caves at Borivli (more
rock carvings), Bassein (to see its Portuguese fort) and Cheul (ruins of
Muslim and Portuguese forts). From Bombay visit Ellora and Ajanta. |
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