Mumbai or still Bombay? Difficult choice. Mumbai: the most populous city in the world Mumbai Attractions
Elephanta Island is one of the hidden corners of India, which are definitely worth a visit. Formerly known as Gharapauri, or "the place of the caves", this island is located in front of the triumphal arch of Mumbai (Bombay) - the so-called "Gate of India".
You can get to the island in just an hour by sightseeing ferry. Elephanta Island is full of historical monuments listed world heritage UNESCO. The most impressive among them is a complex of ancient cave temples with huge statues inside. So, for example, there is a massive five-meter bust of the three-headed Shiva, one in the images of the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. All "Shiva Caves" are carved into the rock.
By the way, Elephanta Island got its name in the 17th century, when Portuguese sailors stumbled upon a stone sculpture of an elephant on the shore.
Coordinates: 18.96133100,72.93291100
Victoria Station
Victoria Terminus Station is a historic station, the most striking example of Victorian Gothic in Mumbai. Named after the national hero Chhatrapati Shivaji. It was opened on January 1, 1882.
The building was designed by Frederick William Stevens. Stephens took London's Pancras station by George Gilbert Scott as a model. However, the new creation has become grander and more magnificently decorated.
The building is distinguished by a riot of colors of various parts of the masonry, decorative metal details, marble, mosaic tiles and many sculptures. Most of the decor was done by Indian students of the Bombay School of Art.
The huge and elaborately decorated station has become a symbol of Bombay, an important trading center in India, and in 2004 it was inscribed on the UN World Heritage List. A few hundred meters from the station, the Gateway to India is located, and together they form a single complex that welcomes everyone who comes to this large Indian city.
The station operates 24 hours a day, sending millions of people across India by train.
Coordinates: 18.93972200,72.83527700
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Elephanta caves
The Elephanta Caves are located in the central part of the island of Gharapuri (Elephanta), located in the Arabian Sea near the city of Mumbai. The so-called "City of Caves" contains a large collection of rock art dedicated to the cult of the god Shiva. In 1987, the cave temples on the island of Gharapuri (Elephanta) were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Elephanta Caves is a complex of ancient cave temples that tell about Shiva and his world on the island of Gharapuri. It is about an hour by ferry from the Gateway to India, on the waterfront in Mubai, along the Arabian Sea. The extraordinary ancient caves of Elephanta Island conquer at first sight. Carved into the rock, they form a single sacred temple complex dedicated to god Shiva.
Crowded with silence, the echoing cave halls of Shiva instill peace in the heart and give peace. The Elephanta caves were carved into the rocks, presumably in the fifth to eighth centuries by the monks who settled on the island. Shiva appears as huge sculptures in the cave halls, and each time in a new image. The main spectacle is a five-meter massive bust of the three-headed Shiva, embodying his incarnations as the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer.
Coordinates: 18.96539000,72.93125900
The Marine Drive embankment stretches along Back Bay, passing through Chowpatty Beach, and ends at Malabar Hill.
The hill is known for being home to the wealthiest people in Bombay. Also located on Malabar Hill is the former residence of British government offices called Raj Bhawan. Currently, the building serves as a residence for the Governor of Maharashtra.
The Marine Drive embankment attracts completely different tourists. Here everyone will find a place to their liking. In 1961, the Taraporeval Aquarium was built on the embankment, which will be of interest to fans of both freshwater and marine flora and fauna. The aquarium is considered one of the best in India.
History lovers will be interested to get acquainted with the monument to one of the most popular Maratha leaders of the national liberation movement - Balu Gangadhar Tilak. The monument was erected in 1920.
Coordinates: 18.93933200,72.82406300
Fort Kalavantin Durg
Fort "Kalavantin Durg", located on top of a high hill, is a unique architectural monument. Every year it causes great interest among numerous lovers of difficult hikes. To overcome the three-hour climb to the top, you need a fair amount of endurance and physical fitness, because travelers have to climb the narrow steps of a staircase carved into a steep slope.
Fort "Kalavantin Durg" is part of the system of Panhalgada forts, which were built by the Shilahara dynasty at the turn of the XII-XIII centuries in the most strategically important areas. For those lucky ones who have enough strength to climb to the top of the hill, the landscape is amazingly beautiful with magnificent views of Mumbai and neighboring forts. Despite the fact that visiting the fort "Kalavantin Durg" takes a lot of effort, it leaves an incredible and inexpressible feeling.
Coordinates: 18.98248600,73.21975500
Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai
The Prince of Wales Museum is located in the south of Mumbai, India. It was founded in 1905 at the expense of wealthy citizens of Mumbai in honor of the future King George V, then the Prince of Wales. It is noteworthy that the young man of royal blood himself laid the first stone in the foundation of the foundation.
The building was completed in 1915, but I World War delayed the opening of the Museum, which finally took place only in 1922. The Prince of Wales Museum occupies a fairly large area, and a three-story building with a total area of 12,000 square meters houses a rather large collection of artifacts. The entire collection kept here is divided into three sections: art section, nature section and archeological section. In addition, not so long ago, namely, in 2008, an exposition of ancient Indian costumes and the textile industry appeared in the Prince of Wales Museum.
The museum's collection is so large and unique that you can spend half a day here without getting tired at all. A ticket to the Museum costs 40 rupees, and with an audio guide - 300 rupees, for children - 5 rupees. Traditionally, the building houses a souvenir shop.
Coordinates: 18.92670200,72.83245100
Restaurant Olive Bar & Kitchen
The Olive Bar & Kitchen restaurant chain is very popular in India. One of them is located in Mumbai and attracts with its light atmosphere, varied food, drinks and live performances of musicians in the evenings. This restaurant is often visited by world celebrities.
Olive Bar & Kitchen serves Mediterranean cuisine. The menu is here for English language. Moroccan chicken pie, as well as risotto with mushrooms and Indian spices, are a must-try at Olive Bar & Kitchen.
On weekdays, the restaurant always has a romantic atmosphere, with candles and subdued lights, and from Friday evening entertainment music programs await visitors.
Coordinates: 19.07158900,72.82843400
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Happy Planet Game Center
Happy Planet is a great play and entertainment center for kids of all ages. It is located in the Indian city of Mumbai. The amusement park covers an area of more than 15 thousand square meters and includes many attractions for children: boat trips, cannon shooting, slides, playgrounds for kids and much more.
At the entrance to the park, guests are greeted by consultants who can help you choose the best entertainment option for your child. During children's games, parents can relax in the Bliss Spa.
On the territory of the entertainment center, you can have a great lunch in the FOOD PLANET restaurant with a special children's menu.
For children's parties and birthdays, special rooms are allocated where children can jump, run, have fun, enjoying absolute freedom.
Coordinates: 19.13011600,72.93296300
The most popular attractions in Mumbai with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Mumbai on our website.
Mumbai (aka Bombay until 1995) is the largest Indian city with a population of over 21 million people. This is the economic and cultural center of the country: the offices of the world's most famous corporations, luxury hotels and haute couture shops are located here. Here, in the world-famous Bollywood, most Indian films and television programs are filmed. People from all over the country and from all over the world flock here in search of a better life. And while in Mumbai are in the world! Mumbai is absolutely different from the rest of India: both in terms of its breathtaking colonial architecture, and in terms of how representatives of different cultures and religions coexist organically here. When you get to Mumbai, you seem to be transported from dirty noisy India to Kipling's Bombay and, despite the life raging around, it seems that time has stopped. We tell you how to get there, where to stay and what to do in this amazing city.
Guide content:
Many airlines fly to Mumbai and you can often catch a ticket with a decent discount. However, there are no direct flights either from Minsk, or from Kyiv, or from Moscow. Arabic flies from Minsk with a transfer to Abu Dhabi Etihad. The cheapest way to fly from Moscow Aeroflot the truth is waiting for you here long transplant in Delhi.
If you want to visit the Indian capital at the same time, then there are two ways to leave Delhi for Mumbai. Local low-cost carrier indigo from $30 per ticket. The flight will take 2 hours. By train, which will get to Mumbai in a day, for about the same cost in a 3rd class carriage. Train timetables, seat availability and ticket prices can be found on the Indian Railways website.
The most comfortable way to get from the airport to the city center is by taxi. In the terminal building there are Pre-paid Taxi counters with a fixed fare. A trip to the city center starts from $7.
In Mumbai, heavy street traffic often leads to many hours of traffic jams. Therefore, if you arrived at peak hours, it is faster to get to the city center by train Mumbai Suburban Railway Network. The nearest Vile Parle station from the airport can be reached by taxi, rickshaw or bus: No. 312 (from Terminal 1) and No. 321 (from Terminal 2).
Comfortable BEST shuttles run from the airport to the city center every 15-20 minutes. You can see the bus route and build it for yourself on the company's website.
To find out everything you need to know about public transport Mumbai app download m-indicato. This is a must have in the city! With it, you can build bus and railway routes, find out the timetable for transport, calculate the cost of taxi rides.
Rickshaws and bombillas are banned in Mumbai, only official taxis. True, at peak times and at night, a taxi driver may refuse to take you to the meter, requesting a large amount. Trade down.
The most comfortable way for short distances in the city is to travel by taxi. The first kilometer on the meter costs $ 0.25, then $ 0.15 per km. Don't forget to remind the driver to turn on the meter!
The Mumbai Suburban Railway Network includes 4 branches and connects remote areas of the city. The fare depends on the distance and starts from $0.07 for a couple of stations. Tickets are bought at the box office at the stations. As a rule, the railway train has 1st class cars (which differ in price, but not in comfort - from $ 0.70) and separate purely women's cars.
Bus service in Mumbai is very developed. As a rule, all inscriptions on city buses are in Hindi, including numbers. You can try to learn how to count in Hindi, but it is still extremely difficult to navigate without Arabic numerals in the bus flow.
Surprisingly, it can be difficult to find a home in Mumbai: prices are 3 times higher than the national average (even higher on Booking.com), hotels are often overcrowded, many hotels accommodate only Indians, only men or only Indian men! Couchsurfers themselves do not recommend stopping through Couchserfing.com. In addition, web services for booking accommodation in India are not so common, especially for budget accommodation.
An inexpensive guesthouse can be found by walking along the street Shahid Bhagat Singh Road (Colaba Causeway) where the famous Leopold Cafe. 4-5 star hotels are nearby along the fashionable Marine Drive. Mid-range hotels are scattered between the two indicated streets.
Salvation Army House or Salvation Army House (43/45, BEST Marg, Apollo Bandar, Colaba) . Its 4-storey building is located just behind the famous Taj Mahal Palace. The Salvation Army is a Protestant charity that helps the homeless and the underprivileged. Now the building has been completely converted into a hostel: both dorms and separate rooms (AC and NonAC) are offered. Exactly this cheap place in Mumbai! The cost of a night with breakfast starts from $ 5 (per bed in a dormitory). There are always few free places, you can only book in advance for groups. Salvation Army is also famous for its peculiar “semi-military” atmosphere: barracks-style dorms, staff in military uniforms, an ascetic dining room, no hot water and thousands of travelers from all over the world! Negative: no bed linen and hot water. Pros: price, breakfast, location and atmosphere.
Hotel Volga II (Rustam Manzil, 1st floor, Above Leopord Cafe, NF Road, Colaba) located right next to the Leopold Cafe (very small shabby sign, you have to climb the stairs to the 2nd floor) - a popular budget place. Private rooms (AC and NonAC) are the cheapest on Colaba. NonAC room with shared bathroom starts at $10. Cons: Small rooms, no breakfast. Pros: price, location.
Apollo Hotel (Mathuradas Estate building, Mathuradas Estate Building, 43/45 Colaba Causeway, Colaba) . A small guesthouse occupies the 1st floor of a residential building. Rooms (AC and NonAC) starting at $10/night. Cons: small rooms, no breakfast. Pros: price, location.
Carlton Hotel (Florence House, No.12, MereWeather Road, Behind Taj Mahal Hotel) - tolerable hotel for the unpretentious. The small, no-frills rooms make up for the great location. Great for dropping off and falling asleep after a busy day in Mumbai. Rooms (AC and NonAC) from $12 per night.
Bentley Hotel Marine Drive 2* (Krishna Mahal, 3rd Floor, Marine Drive, Churchgate) - a decent hotel in a historic building located right on Marine Drive, within walking distance of the Churchgate railway station, but far from Colaba. But jogging along the morning Marine Drive is guaranteed! Modern rooms with breakfast from $45/night. Some of the rooms overlook the bay. Minus: remoteness from Colaba. Plus: Breakfast, Marine Drive.
Bentley's Hotel 3* (17, Oliver Road, Colaba) - a no frills quality hotel with large AC rooms and private bathrooms. Wi-Fi only at the reception, in India it is called "in public areas". Price per night from $45. Pros: location, breakfast, large rooms, renovated building.
Taj Mahal Palace 5* (Apollo Bunder, Colaba) . To fully feel the spirit of British Bombay, you should stay in the most famous 5-star hotel in the city, built in the century before last. The Taj Mahal is a museum and a hotel in one. Famous artists and musicians, politicians and members of royal families stayed here. The rooms are decorated in Indian style and some overlook the Arabian Sea and India Gate. The hotel has several restaurants, SPA, swimming pool. Nightly rates start at $215.
Mumbai is a city where poverty and wealth do not coexist so organically in the world. The business center of the city with the main attractions, hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs is located in the south in the Colaba area. In the north of Mumbai are the world-famous slums.
In the mid-90s, the city underwent a large-scale renaming. Therefore, get used to the fact that almost any attraction or institution has two names: the old well-known and the new, as a rule, difficult to pronounce. Until now, many establishments in Mumbai are called Bombay.
Rich Mumbai
Mumbai's nightlife is in full swing until 2am. After all the establishments are closed, the city is strict with this. Bars are usually open until midnight. Most nightclubs prefer Indian music!
Air (Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, 1/136, 34th Floor, Hotel Rooftop, Dr. E. Moses Road, Worli) - pretentious rooftop bar Hotel Four Seasons, which offers a gorgeous view of Mumbai. Expats prefer to gather here to admire the city over a cocktail and pleasant conversation.
Trilogy (Hotel Sea Princess, 969, Juhu Tara Rd, Airport Area, Juhu) . Bombays' favorite two-story club is located near Santracruz West Airport. On Saturday, the entrance fee can reach $20.
wink (Vivanta by Taj President, 90, Cuffe Parade) - one of the most glamorous bars in Mumbai. Located at the Vivanta by Taj President Hotel and open until midnight. Japanese cuisine and a pint of beer starting at $7.
China House (Grand Hyatt Mumbai Off Near Bandra Kurla Complex, Western Express Hwy, Vakola, Santacruz East) . Another club popular with locals is located at the Grand Hyatt in the Santracruz area. There is strict face control here. On Fridays the club is open until 3 am. In addition, it is famous for its excellent Chinese cuisine.
Tryst (Phoenix Mill Compound, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel) - one of the most popular and expensive clubs among the residents of Mumbai. You will have to pay $ 15-30 for entrance, depending on the day of the week, Saturday is the most expensive. Renting a table will cost $450.
Hype (Atria, The Millennium Mall, R1, 4/F, Dr Annie Beasant Road, Worli) . If you want to plunge into the atmosphere of a Bollywood party, then you need to go to Hype. Indian movie stars often visit the club, remixes of famous Bollywood songs are heard here and theme parties are held.
Colaba Causeway (Shahid Bhagat Singh Road) . Shops and stalls with everything stretch along the street. necessary for a tourist: souvenirs, magnets, clothes, shoes, jewelry. However, the quality leaves much to be desired. If you want to buy really good Indian things, you should go to local markets. For small souvenirs, prices here are lower than the national average.
bookstores on Mahatma Gandhi Road(in the Flora Fountain area). In India, books in English cost mere pennies. For example, a large collection of Kafka can be bought at the collapse for $ 4. On the back of books, the publisher prints the recommended price, but even here you can and should bargain!
Chor Bazaar (Mutton St, Kumbharwada) . Mumbai's largest flea market is famous for its variety of antiques and antiques sold for pennies. Here you can find Victorian furniture and home decoration, whimsical musical instruments and vintage Bollywood posters. The last ones in the store with the huge Mini Market sign.
Mangalda Market(Janjiker St, Lohar Chawl, Kalbadevi) - the largest textile market in Mumbai with 200 years of history. Here they sell the best silks and saris in the city. In a huge number of shops you can find traditional Indian clothes of excellent quality at a low price (overshirts, bloomers, scarves, etc.).
Zaveri Bazaar (Sheikh Menon St, Lohar Chawl, Kalbadevi) - the jewelry mecca of Mumbai, where a thousand shops sell cheap jewelry made of yellow gold beloved by Indians. For jewelry you need to go to Bhuleshwar Market (Marine Lines East, Panjarpole, Bhuleshwar) - this is a real women's paradise, where the glitter of jewelry blinds the eyes! The latter does not work on Sundays.
To the spice market Lalbaug Market (Dinshaw Petit Rd, Lal Baug, Parel) you should go for the world-famous turmeric, red and cashmere chili peppers. Good factory-packed spices can also be purchased at any grocery store. For example, in the Sahakari Bhandar supermarket (Colaba Chamber, Ground Floor, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Colaba) on Colaba.
Buying good tea in India is more of a myth than a reality. As often happens, excellent tea is immediately exported, and Indians drink what is left or powdered (as we have in tea bags). When brewed, it turns out to be very strong and completely tasteless. Of course, in shops and markets they sell loose leaf teas in beautiful packages especially for tourists. But do not confuse them with the very real Indian tea.
Map of Mumbai with attractions from the guide
Bargain like it's the last time in your life! Know that an enterprising Indian for the first time calls the price at least 2 times higher than the real one. You need to bargain for everything except food, medicines and prices in state institutions (transport, mail, etc.). Retail prices are already printed on food and drink packages by manufacturers.
Currency. In India, money is not changed by banks, but by special exchangers with the Currency Exchange sign. They charge a fee of 7% of the amount and set not the most favorable rate, so it is better to change on the black market (both from dollars to rupees and vice versa). In Mumbai, it is advantageous to change money at Colaba Causeway (Shahid Bhagat Singh Road). Just walk along the market street and the money changers will come to you. You have to bargain for the course! Focus on the official exchange rate minus a dozen or two Indian cents. The larger the amount you change, the better the rate you ask for.
Internet. In connection with the terrorist attacks in 2008, the strictest security measures were taken in Mumbai. First of all, this is reflected in the availability of communications and the Internet. It may well happen that your roaming will stop working in the city. There is no access to Wi-Fi in public places, only in rare cafes and restaurants, as well as in hotels of a medium and high price category. At the same time, to connect to the network, you may be required to present a passport and restrict access during the day.
If you need to always be in touch, you should connect a local SIM card. 1 GB of mobile Internet will cost about $ 4-5. You can do this at any street stand with mobile operator badges. In the area of Colaba Causeway (Shahid Bhagat Singh Road) and in Bharucha Road, they are at every turn. To connect, you need a copy of your passport and visa, 2 photos 3x4 and, optionally, a receipt for paying for the hotel. Activating a purchased SIM card can take from several hours to a couple of days. This process is quite complicated and consists in the fact that the mobile operator carefully checks your data and be sure to call the hotel to confirm that you are staying there. The SIM card can be used throughout the country and recharged anywhere.
Indian airports are allowed only upon presentation of an air ticket. Make sure that it is downloaded to your smartphone. If you arrived and left the airport, they will not let you back, because. ticket used. Therefore, first of all, try to change money or withdraw it from an ATM in the airport building, it will be almost impossible to do it on the street.
First aid kit. If you have never drunk sedatives in your life, take stronger and more poignant ones with you to India. You can start taking them at the airport. Don't flatter yourself, this is India, you won't get off with a simple valerian here. Also make sure you have a complete set of medications for digestive problems with you. Don't forget gastal and hand sanitizer. If you have asthma or lung problems, take an antihistamine, a thick face mask (available at any Mumbai pharmacy) and do not walk around the city in the morning when smog descends on the streets. In Mumbai, the air is so polluted, especially in winter, that unaccustomed tourists often become allergic to it. If this happens, go straight to the nearest hospital, they will give you special strong antihistamines against air allergies.
What to take with you. Make several copies of your passport and visa, they are needed when checking into hotels and connecting a SIM card. India has its own ideas about the purity and whiteness of white, so it will not be superfluous to take bed linen with you, which is not a pity. If you are going to travel around the country or go to Goa by train, take a light sleeping bag. If you are going to the north - the sleeping bag is denser. Not all streets of Mumbai are illuminated in the evening, and in Goa there is no street lighting at all, so a flashlight will not be superfluous. It is better to bring hygiene items with you, in India it can be extremely difficult to find them. Indians do not use toilet paper, they sell it to tourists at a price of around $ 1 per roll.
How to become a disco dancer? Bollywood organizes boring and insanely expensive excursions, where at best they will show one small film set. Do you want to see Bollywood from the inside? Go to the daytime Leopold Cafe (Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Near Colaba Police Station, Colaba Causeway) or Salvation Army House (43/45, BEST Marg, Apollo Bandar, Colaba), where Bollywood casting managers hang out and gather Western youth for extras. A European face in an Indian film is prestigious! The shooting process takes all day, but you will plunge into the world of Indian cinematography and earn about $ 7 for shooting.
Text - Ekaterina Borisova, photo - KIDKUTSMEDIA , marina.shakleina ,
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When I was planning a trip to India, I booked only a day for Bombay: in the evening I flew in from Goa, and in the evening of the next day I flew from Bombay to Calcutta. I decided that one day of light in Bombay would be enough, but in the end I was wrong: the city is absolutely magnificent and majestic. And not so much even with its monumental British (Victorian) buildings, but with an amazing mixture of cultures and architectural styles of the city as a whole. We will make allowances for the fact that this is far from a "safe haven" where you can relax and enjoy the aura. This is a gigantic metropolis of 25 million full of poverty and garbage, critically overpopulated, with a bunch of inter-religious problems (70% - Hindus, 20% - Muslims, 5% - Christians, 5% - Buddhists), overloaded with transport and with a depressing environmental situation. India, mother! Nevertheless, I liked Bombay more than I would like to return here. The city, by the way, is quite young: being founded by the British in 1672 (it is significant that the British East India Company bought this land from the Portuguese, who landed in India as much as a hundred years earlier), it remains the business and financial capital of India to this day. leaving even Delhi behind in this context.
One of the symbols of Bombay (and India as a whole) is the Gateway of India monument, or Gateway to India. Much has been written about him in guidebooks and I will not repeat myself. Let me just say that this massive gate in the heart of Bombay was erected by the British in 1924 as a symbol of their colonial greatness and the conquest of India. It is ironic that only 23 years later the last British soldiers were hastily leaving India after independence.
Opposite the Gateway to India rises the classic and most expensive hotel in the city "Taj Mahal Palace", also a visiting card of Bombay. By the way, it has nothing to do with the British and was built in 1903 by the richest man in India and the founder of the Tata corporation (almost all of India's industry is part of his empire), Jamsheji Nasservanji Tata. It is believed that he, having been offended by the disrespect (due to the color of his skin) from the servants in a London hotel, decided to create a hotel of a level of chic that Europe had not seen. And he succeeded; at the beginning of the 20th century it was certainly one of the best hotels in the world.
On November 26, 2008, the Taj Mahal Palace turned into the scene of a bloody drama when dozens of Islamic militants attacked the hotel and took many tourists hostage. During the storming of the hotel by the Indian army and police, 37 people died and the building was seriously damaged, below are a couple of photos of those days -
In my opinion, Bombay's main railway station, Victoria Terminus (nowadays renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), is Mumbai's finest piece of architecture. Moreover, having traveled to a bunch of countries of the world, I have never met such a majestic station -
The station was built by the British in 1887 in honor of the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. It is logical that for the Indians this "significant" day has absolutely no value, but rather reminds of colonialism. But the building itself is beautiful, you see!
By the way, below the Supreme Court (High court), also built in the late 19th century -
What are the children playing? Something like tic-tac-toe?
At the nearby University of Bombay, youth celebrated the founding of a new political party and announced their intention to actively fight corruption -
The taxi driver is sleeping, and the service is on -
Scientists rest -
Street entertainment -
Sugarcane juice -
By the way, the place below is called Oval Maidan (hello to Kyiv), here the Bombays play cricket -
You know, for a part-time day in Bombay, I managed to see quite a lot, for example, the tomb of Haji Ali, located in the northwestern part of Bombay on the island. But more on that next time -
And, yes, about "burning ass" (not to be confused with diarrhea!), It's really embarrassing to say. Traveler friends, is it just me who has a similar natural phenomenon from very spicy Indian food? Who understood me in the topic, and who didn’t - it’s embarrassing to translate, the topic is painfully intimate :)
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01. In fact, this is the same city. According to one version ( Indian) the city was founded in 1507 under the name of Mumbai, in honor of the Hindu goddess Mumba Devi. And then the Portuguese came and renamed it Bombain, something like a good bay. When the Portuguese were replaced by the main local colonizers, the British, the name adapted into the sonorous Bombay. For some reason, only in 1995, the local authorities decided to return the historical (in their opinion) Name. And since then, officially Bombay is called Mumbai. But, the usual Bombay ( to the first syllable) is still in use among both citizens and travelers from all over the world.
02. Such a glorious view opens from the window of my hotel, where I got from the airport after about two hours of endless traffic jams ... 
03. I confess that of all the cities in India where I have visited, Mumbai is perhaps the most interesting. 
04. Well, actually the pronoun "most" is applicable to many adjectives relating to the description of Mumbai: The largest in India ( more than 22 million); The most business read rich); The most contrasting outright poverty and no less outright wealth side by side); India's most cosmopolitan city (here is a real clash of west and east, Europe and Asia)...
05. It is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea. 
06. So, somewhere beyond the horizon is Dubai...) By the way, it is from here that cheap consumer goods come to Dubai Creek. 
07. The main visiting card of Bombay, the royal gate to India (and from India) ...) The arch was founded in 1911 in honor of the visit of King George V, and through them the last British troops left India in 1948, after the country's independence was declared . 
08. I must admit that all the most interesting things in architecture were built during the period of English domination, approximately in the second half of the 19th-20th centuries. Here at the arch, there is a luxury hotel "Taj Mahal", built in 1903, and attacked by terrorists in 2008. 
09. Next to the historical, modern building built already in the era of Indian independence (approximately in the 70s of the XX century).
10. The place is very popular with citizens and numerous tourists. It is also popular with terrorists. There have been multiple attacks, including bloody attacks. Now the entrance to the territory is limited by the need to undergo a personal search procedure (however, very formal).
11. From here you can go to the remote island of Elephanta ( where there are many monkeys and caves, and there are no elephants at all).
12. Or take a ride along the coast on numerous pleasure trams. This is for those who have a lot of time. 
13. As for me, I chose a walk through the center of the historic city. 
14. There are many curious colonial buildings built in the spirit of English neoclassicism and neogothic. 
15. Of course, there is also something like constructivism. 
16. Green Mumbi, Clean Mumbai. Green Mumbai, Clean Mumbai. Both that and another is applicable, perhaps, only to the historical center of the city, and then with a big stretch. 
17. Is it because of traffic jams? Perhaps they are truly fantastic. Moscow in the middle of the 2000s is resting ( seems to be better today)... In general, the ecology is the same! 
18. But there is a lot of greenery. 
19. For example, in the very center of the city, the so-called Oval Maidan is located, surrounded on all sides by pretty tropical vegetation, 
20. and very beautiful colonial buildings of the past. For example, the building of the Supreme Court of the State of Maharashtra. 
21. Or the beautiful Rajabai Clock Tower, which is part of the University of Mumbai. 
22. And actually the Oval Maidan - 
23. this is the current field for the mega cricket popular in India ( colonial echoes),
24. and football. 
25. Photo from the past. Oval Maidan in 1875. When tropical trees were small.
(photo from the Internet)
26. When the trees have grown, beautiful historical Buildings became barely visible... Part of the campus of the University of Mumbai. 
27. Walking around the city, I was sincerely struck by the diversity of colonial architecture. Literally, every building is a masterpiece! 
28. What can not be said about local public transport. 
29. However, this is how else to look ...) 
30. And a little further, the legacy of independence?) 
31. I wonder what modern Indian cities would have looked like if India had not declared independence in 1947? 
32. It is clear that the question is a trick. But when you look at the colonial past and the relative present, the latter seems to be inferior to the former. 
33. St. Thomas Cathedral, 1718, by the way, 299 years! Anniversary next year. 
34. Inside, ceiling fans familiar to hot countries. Naturally, this is the Cathedral of the Anglican Church.
Mumbai (until 1996 the city was called Bombay) is the economic and financial capital of India. The main bank of the country is located here - the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, the headquarters of many large Indian companies (Tata Group, Relaence Industries Ltd, Mahindra and Mahindra), commercial banks, as well as representative offices of a large number of transnational corporations. Mumbai is a major hub for international communications. With a deep natural harbor, it is the largest port in western India. Mumbai is the center of the entertainment industry: most of India's television and satellite networks are located here, as well as the Indian "dream factory" Bollywood.
Attractions
Elephanta Island.
One of the main attractions of Western India. A small island located in the Bombay Bay (10 km from Mumbai) got its name from the stone figure of an elephant carved into the rock, which in 1864 was transported to Bombay.
There is a temple on the island, built between 450 and 750 BC. AD, dedicated to the god of the Indian pantheon Shiva. A long wide stone staircase (approximately 90 m) leads to the place where this temple, consisting of four caves, is located. In the main cave there is a relief image (about 6 m high) of the trinity of Indian gods: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The arch is supported by 42 massive columns, and the side walls are decorated with relief images of scenes from the myths about Shiva. The entrance to the temple is guarded by eight figures of mythical guardians carved from stone.
Other sculptural compositions of interest are Arddhanariswar (where one side of Shiva's body is made as male and the other as female), the wedding scene of Shiva and Parvati, the dance of Shiva, shaking the world. Noteworthy is the sculpture of the demon Ravana, who is trying to destroy the abode of the gods, Mount Kailash.
Gateway of India.
They are located at the end of the street. Shivaji (national hero of the Marathas). This massive arch, which was officially opened in 1924, is located on the waterfront of the Mumbai bay. Designed by J. Whittet, it was built in honor of the visit of King George V to India in 19110. and symbolized the inviolability of British rule. It is notable for the fact that in 1947 British troops passed through it, leaving India after the country gained independence. Near the India Gate there is an equestrian statue of Shivaji, erected in 1960, as well as the building of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club, which was built in 1898 in the Gothic style.
Taj Mahal Hotel.
Located next to India Gate. The hotel building was built in 1903 by the famous industrialist J.N. Tata according to the project of W. Chambers. The hotel is also notable for the fact that it housed the first Russian diplomatic mission in India. Now it is one of the best five-star hotels in the city, where a large number of cultural and business events take place.
Museum. Chattrapati Shivaji.
The museum, also known as the Prince of Wales Museum, was built to commemorate the first visit to India in 1905 by King George V, who laid the foundation stone for the museum. In 1923 it was opened to the public. The building of the museum is made in the Indo-Moorish style. The exposition has three main sections: art, archeology and natural history. The basis of the collection was the funds of the Royal Asiatic Society. Subsequently, the museum's collection has been constantly replenished with works of art and historical values donated by representatives of the financial and industrial elite of India. In particular, the Tata family made a great contribution to the development of the museum.
The gallery on the ground floor houses sculptures by local craftsmen and a rich collection of Indian birds. On the second floor, various art objects are presented, including paintings, dishes, weapons, etc. On the third floor, there is a wonderful collection of Indian miniatures.
The entire exposition occupies 18 halls on three floors and includes more than 6 thousand exhibits. Main halls: ancient and ancient history, Assyrian palace bas-reliefs, Indian sculpture, Indian bronze sculpture, Nepalese and Tibetan art, European painting, art of the peoples of the Far East.
Station them. Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Station them. Ch. Shivaji, previously known as the station. Queen Victoria, is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in the city. Completely built in 1888, it was originally designed by the English architect F. Stevens as the headquarters of the Hindustan Railway Company. Listed in the world cultural heritage UNESCO.
Bombay University.
The university, which is one of the oldest universities in India, was founded by the British in 1857 (simultaneously with the Calcutta and Madras universities). Now it has 46 faculties, including the Russian language department, and unites 338 colleges. More than 380 thousand students study at the university and colleges.
In one of the buildings of the university are Big hall with a round stained glass window depicting the signs of the zodiac, as well as a university library with spiral steps and colorful galleries. The building is crowned by an 80-meter clock tower, reminiscent of London's Big Ben.
Jyotiba market of Mahatma Phule.
This is Mumbai's largest food market. Better known as the Crawford market, it was built in 1869 with the participation of the father of the famous English writer R. Kipling. It is believed that Kipling Sr. is the author of the bas-reliefs on the market building. On opposite side street in the depths of the garden, the Kipling house, where the writer spent his childhood, has been preserved.
Mumbai Stock Exchange.
The modern high-rise building of the exchange, also known as the Bombay Stock Exchange, is located on Dalal Street. The exchange was founded in 1875 as the Association of Stock Brokers and is the oldest exchange not only in India but also in Asia.
Fountain of Flora.
This fountain is located at the intersection of the most important streets in the southern part of the city on the site of the gates of the English fort that were previously located there. It was built in 1869 in honor of B. Frere, Governor of Bombay.
Asian Society Building.
This large white building with columns used to house the municipality. Then it was transferred to the Asiatic Society, and now there is an extensive library there. Next to it is the building of the old mint, built in 1828, and not far from it is the old customs house (1720).
Afghan church.
The church was built in 1847 in memory of British military who died during the Sindh campaign of 1838 and the Afghan war of 1843
Cathedral of Saint Thomas.
Anglican Cathedral of St. Thomas at the intersection of St. Veer Nariman and Kovasji Patel is Mumbai's oldest English building.
Marine Drive.
This crescent-shaped promenade stretches along the entire Back Bay and is considered one of the the best places for walks.
Chowpatty beach.
Located at the beginning of Marine Drive. This sandy beach is one of the city's favorite pastimes. He is also famous for having witnessed a number of events in Indian history. So, during the period of the struggle for independence, it was there that one of the largest anti-English speeches began. In 1920, a prominent leader of the national liberation movement, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, was cremated here, and his monument is erected on the beach.
Taraporeval Aquarium.
Built in 1961, the aquarium is located on Marine Drive and has a rich collection of freshwater and ocean fish and shells.
Hill of Malabar.
Some sections of this hill in one of the most famous areas of the southern part of the city offer a wonderful view of Mumbai. In addition, there are a number of attractions here, including the Hanging Gardens, famous for its collection of plants. Next to them, covered with dense foliage of trees, are the so-called. towers of silence, where the Parsis (immigrants from Persia, followers of Zoroastrianism) used to bury their dead. According to their religion, water, fire and earth are sacred and cannot be defiled by the bodies of the dead, so it is customary for the Parsis to give the corpses to be eaten by vultures, placing them on the tops of these towers. On the same street as the Hanging Gardens, there is one of the best parks in the city built in 1952 - the park named after. Kamala Nehru. In the southern part of the hill is the Raj Bhavan, the residence of the Governor of Maharashtra.
Mahalakshmi Temple.
Located in the prestigious Breach Kandy area at the foot of Malabar Hill, this famous temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess of well-being, Mahalakshmi.
Mausoleum of Haji Ali.
It was built a few dozen meters from the shore at the site of the death of a Muslim saint named Haji Ali, in whose honor it was erected. It is connected to the shore by a long passage, which sometimes goes under water at high tide.
Siddhivinayaka Temple.
One of Mumbai's main Hindu temples is located in the Prabha Devi area. Dedicated to the god of the Hindu pantheon Ganesha, whose statue, made of black stone, is inside.
Mani bhavan.
In this house, located near August Kranti Square, from 1917 to 1934. was the headquarters of M. Gandhi in Bombay, where in 1931 and 1934. important meetings of the Working Committee of the Indian National Congress took place. It was here that on January 4, 1932, M. Gandhi was arrested by the British authorities.
The library located on the first floor of the museum contains more than 30 thousand volumes of works by M. Gandhi, books telling about his life, as well as studies on the philosophy of Gandhism by Indian and foreign authors. On the second floor there is an auditorium where visitors can watch films about M. Gandhi or listen to recordings of his speeches. The room on the third floor gives the museum guests a complete picture of the conditions in which M. Gandhi lived and worked, its furnishings and furniture are as close to the original as possible. The museum also has an exhibition of M. Gandhi sculptures and a small art gallery with a rich collection of photographs, letters, articles and documents, including manuscripts of M. Gandhi and his associates.
Caves of Kanheri.
Kanheri Caves are located 45 km from the historical center of Mumbai, in one of the most attractive corners of the National Park. S. Gandhi. These are 109 caves of various sizes, carved in stone in the period from the 1st century BC. BC e. by the ninth century n. e. From the point of view of the development of Buddhist culture, the history of the creation of caves can be divided into three stages: the first stage covers the end of the 1st-2nd centuries. BC, the second - IV-V centuries. AD and the third stage - IV-IX centuries. AD In their design, the Kanheri caves reflect two branches of Buddhism - "Hinayana" and "Mahayana".
The caves were used by Buddhist monks for housing, study, and as places for prayer and meditation. The high architectural level of the cave temples gives visitors a clear idea of the existence in Kanheri of a highly organized settlement of Buddhist monks who had well-developed ties with many major trading centers in India. In the mid-70s, Indian scientists discovered evidence that the Kanheri cave monastery was a major educational center.
The most interesting is the largest in size and original in execution cave No. 3, which attracts attention with its high colonnade and architectural style.