Mumbai
Traverse the happening city which is invariably abuzz
with activity.
Mumbai is a city of power, wealth,
glamour and fame which attracts people to aspire, enterprise & realize
their dreams. Historically rich the city is embellished with wonderful colonial
buildings, museums, beaches, places of worship, and above all, a flux of
millions of stories where Bollywood reigns supreme.
A city of varied cultures and a melting
pot of commerce, industry, entertainment, enterprise, and politics, Mumbai’s rendezvous
with wealth and fame have, however, been recent. It wasn’t a cosmopolitan
finance center to begin with. Its embellished history has witnessed several
shifts in power, and the seven islands changed hands frequently.
The seven islands that constitute
Mumbai were earlier home to communities of fishing colonies. For many
centuries, the islands were under the sovereignty of successive indigenous
empires before being ceded to the Portuguese and later to the British East
India Company. In the middle of 18th century, the city was
reshaped by reclamation of the area between the seven islands from the sea.
Along with construction of basic infrastructure, the reclamation project,
completed in 1845, transformed Bombay into a major seaport on the Arabian Sea.
In 19th century, Bombay
transformed from being a seaport to economic & educational centre. During
the early phase of 20th century it became a strong base for the
Indian independence movement. Upon India’s independence in the year 1947 the
city was incorporated into Bombay State. In the year 1960, accompanied by the
Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a new state of Maharashtra was established with
Bombay as the capital. The city was given a new name Mumbai in 1996. During
this short period of headway, the city has transformed into the commercial and
entertainment capital of India.
Mumbai has two popular beaches named as
the Juhu Beach & the Chowpatty Beach. The former has metamorphosed from
being a narrow sand bar off the Coast of Salcette Island in the 19th
century to one that has at its edge the most elite suburb of the city. Visitors
flock here to enjoy the sea & sand including having a look at the imposing
bungalows of the film stars. The Chowpatty Beach is the one with sizable crowds
simply because it is so very accessible. Along with, it has a row of glistening
shops that offer some of the most delicious snacks by way of Chaats, Bhelpuris, Pav Bhaji and
of course an assortment of Kulfis and
Ice-creams. You can also stroll from here up to Marine Drive, called the
Queen’s Necklace, and marvel at a skyline that truly defines the soul of
Mumbai. Some of the other beaches, located at quite a distance, are those at
Madh Island famous for its group of several quaint fishing villages and
farmlands in northern Mumbai and the ones at Marve and Manori located on
Western Suburbs of Malad in the city of Mumbai. The one at Gorai is where the
Global Vipassana Pagoda is located.
Museums in Mumbai have always been a point
of great attraction, offering substantial glimpses into not only the illustrious
past of the city but the country as well. The city has over 15 museums accommodating
to varied subjects such as archaeology, ancient art, natural history, science
and technology, contemporary art, flora and fauna, and so on. Distinguished the
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is the prominent landmark of the
city for museum lovers. It dates back to 1905 when its foundations were laid by
the Prince of Wales and is home to a rich collection of artefacts ranging from
sculptures, miniature paintings, coins, etc. Another interesting museum is that
of the Bombay Natural History Society which showcases a very rare and
prestigious collection of faunal biodiversity in India, which includes bird,
mammal, reptile, and amphibian specimens – well-preserved and open to
researchers too. And there is also the fascinating Nehru Centre which has a
permanent exposition, ‘Discovery of India’, which unfolds varied aspects of
Indian culture and its journey through times through its 14 galleries.
Visitors coming to Mumbai, wish to see the
glitter of Bollywood- the Hindi film making industry of India. But while you
may not be allowed to enter the gates of any film studio on your own, there is
now a wonderful way of going about it. Take the ‘Bollywood Tour’. It gives you
the opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes as you visit the sets of
films or television programmes. You may be lucky enough to come close to some
of Bollywood’s biggest stars and at the very least you will get an insight into
all the creative pain and effort that goes into the making of ‘entertainment’.
Apart from the high-rise buildings that
today dominate the Mumbai landscape, the city is also known for the Gothic
architecture. It also has several other architectural masterpieces as found in
caves, forts, churches, mosques, temples, modern shopping malls, huge
bungalows, etc. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, for instance, has been
inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its highly impressive
architectural and technological innovations.
- From Editor's Desk
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