Explore South Mumbai by Night with an Open Top Bus Tour

For my last weekend in Mumbai, I wanted to go exploring. I thought it would be cool to look South Mumbai  in the late evening from the upper deck of a bus.

SEE SOUTH MUMBAI BY NIGHT

When the sun goes down and the street lights come on, the illuminated South Mumbai’s famous historical and archaeological buildings give a romantic atmosphere to the city.

An upper deck of a bus tour is the most convenient and fun way to see some famous and historic landmarks in South Mumbai. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has arranged the 'Nilambari' open deck bus tour in Mumbai.

The tour guide will give you more information about famous iconic buildings in a way you’d never experienced them during the day. The beautiful colors of the lit-up buildings which come to dominate the skyline is a sight to behold.

WHERE IT GOES

The circuit of 16 places includes Gateway of India - Vidhan Bhavan - Oberoi Hotel - Marine Drive - Churchgate Railway Station - Eros Theatre - Oval Maidan - Maharshi Karve Road - Rajabai Tower- CST Railway Station Building - Hutatma Chowk - Homi Modi Street - Horniman Circle - Asiatic Library - Gateway of India.

TICKETS AND PRICING

The tickets are available from Maharastra Tourism ticket booth at Gateway of India, Mumbai.
Price: Upper Deck- 180/-; Lower Deck - 60/-
This one hour tour is conducted  every Saturday and Sunday. Tours depart at 7:00 PM  and  8:15 PM

Enjoyed  the cool night breeze on an open deck bus on the way heading back to  Gateway of India. This is simply an unforgettable, relaxing and interesting trip to explore Mumbai city.

Read More

Maharashtra Nature Park : A walk in Mumbai's Green Lungs

As monsoon times comes around again, most of us like to stay indoors especially in the weekend. I was looking for options to make the rainy Sunday even better. I thought of joining for a Photo Walk at Maharashtra Nature Park, conducted by DCP Expeditions — a Mumbai based renowned photography academy. 

Spread over 37 acres, Maharashtra Nature Park (also known as Mahim Nature Park)  offers endless opportunities for the photographers to click images. Located at Bandra Sion link road and on the Southern bank of Mithi river, exactly on opposite side of Dharavi slums, this forest santuary land was once a city garbage dump.  Now it is a place to study different plants, trees, mammals, butterflies, reptiles and  birds. The park houses more than 14000 species of vegetation, 120 varieties of birds and over 75 kinds of butterflies. It has paths to trek around the park, a pond and also has an auditorium for nature related activities.

Image Courtesy: DCP

As soon as you enter the park’s gate, you can see a well maintained office area of this park. It was 8:00 am in the rainy morning when the photo walk started. Light drizzle added to the beauty of nature, and it turned out to be the best time for a nature photography photo walk. Under the guidance of Mentors, the participants clicked some beautiful pictures of creatures and some flowers. As the rain poured down continuously, it was hard to click by holding an umbrella in one hand and a camera on the other.

We had an opportunity to click images of  a variety of butterflies, Humming bird moth, Centipede, Spiders,  Mushrooms, Damselflies, other insects, slugs, etc.

It was around 11 am and I decided to leave the place. It was a nice morning, meeting a bunch of enthusiastic photographers and learning about butterflies, insects and trees. 

Read More

A walk through Kamala Nehru Park and The Hanging Gardens

Old Woman's Shoe at Kamala Nehru Park, Mumbai

After visiting Mani Bhavan, I took a cab to Kamala Nehru Park which is located in the posh area of Mumbai Malabar Hills. I could not postpone visiting this place for a later time since I would be released from my current assignment on 12th and might have to leave Mumbai soon. In the end, we would be judged and keeping this in mind, I always work and live to my satisfaction.

Soon I was in Kamala Nehru Park. I had entered through the open gates. There was a huge old woman's shoe located inside it.  I stood infront of the shoe structure to take a photograph.  I could see kids trying to climb on the shoe and some of them even climbed to the top through the dingy steps inside the shoe. I have always been a kid and  I was trying to run away from that kid for the last several years but now trying to get closer to him.

I walked again. The pathways were nicely laid out with a couple of pergolas and benches, several lawn areas and lots of trees and shrubs.

I stopped at a viewing gallery from where I got  a spectacular view of the Chowpatty, Marine Drive and Nariman point.

View of Marine Drive from Malabar Hill

 

Just opposite to Kamala Nehru Park is the Hanging Garden which is a terraced garden and is made on a  water reservoir. I  crossed the road. My plan was to take  a quick walk, and then to go home. There were many people inside the garden.  The garden is situated on a slight elevation on Malabar Hill and  is a favourite spot of Mumbaites. 

Topiary art is displayed in  animal and human shapes cut into hedges which  make this spot unique.  The garden is covered with numerous trees, shrubs, and an array of colorful flowers.  I spent  some more time there as I had no haste to reach home.

Read More

An evening stroll through the Sagar Upvan at Colaba, Mumbai

I walked along Shahid Bhagat Singh Road on my way to Sagar Upvan. It is lined with restaurants, cafes, shops and market bazaars - that makes the city tourist friendly. Then I turned from Shahid Bhagat Singh Road to Dumayne Road to enter Sagar Upvan. Spread over 12 to 14 acres, Sagar Upvan aka BPT Garden was  a Garbage dump yard in the year around 2000.  Located behind Colaba bus Depo, the garden is maintained by the Mumbai Port Trust.

The stroll took me past lush green lawns, many potted flowering plants, a glass house, a stone plaza and a cactus house. The garden is filled with various kind of trees -  banyan, palm, bamboo and blossoming flowers.  There are boards displaying the common name as well as the scientific name of every tree. The garden has many sections: Rock Garden, Cactus Garden, Sea-Shore Point and plant nurseries. The rock garden has an interesting landscape.

Overlooking the sea, crowds stroll at Sea-Shore Point and relax on the benches under trees to enjoy the cool evening.. Here crowds gather together to enjoy leisure time.

Blossoming flowers are seen in huge varieties and few Cactus too around the clean walking tracks and green lawns. 

When the dusk began to hover over the garden, I had the chance to experience the garden in the golden hour. Lucky for me, it was a picture perfect day and I was able to enjoy for few hours wandering around.  I hope you enjoyed the stroll. 

Read More

Mumbai Filmcity Tour

Film City is an integrated film studio complex situated at Goregaon (East), Mumbai in India. It has several recording rooms, gardens, lakes, theaters and grounds that serve as the venue of many Bollywood film shootings.

It was a two hour guided tour. As soon I reached the entrance, the bus was ready to take us. After collecting my visiting pass I was allowed to enter inside the bus. They provided a bottle of water and a packet of potato chips. Our guide explained about the journey and do's and dont's till the end of the tour.

The first location was Girls hostel at the right side when you enter the film city.

Nowadays studios for television shows are more than movies. We saw a bunch of new sets for Indian cable TV shows .

 We saw this Bungalow mostly seen in Ooty location.

You might  have seen this building in many Hindi films as Waga border.

This house is famous in one of Amitabh Bachchan's film.  Can u guess?

We see this temple in most Hindi films.

This is the Varanasi Rly station created for one film.

Those who are regularly watching movies can guess this place which was the location for a song in one of Shah Rukh Khan's film.

This is the Court in all films whether High Court, District Court etc.

Newly constructed Jaipur palace.

Housing society in one of the famous Hindi serial.

New site under construction.

This is the place where one of Shah Rukh Khan's film song was shooted.

Overall I enjoyed the trip and got an opportunity to understand how the studios developed over time. 

Read More

Take a walk through Dadar Chowpatty, Mumbai

Dadar Chowpatty (near Shivaji Park) is  one of the places in suburban Mumbai where you could chill.

A SMALL GARDEN FACING THE SEA

The beach is  at a  walkable distance from Shivaji Park and  has two entrances, one from South and the other from North.  From North side, you can enter through  ‘Veer Baji Prabhu Udyan’, a garden connected to the beach. A big arch gate welcomes you when you cross the garden.

A big arch gate near Veer Baji Prabhu Udyan, Dadar Chowpatty, Mumbai

CHAITYA BHOOMI

Another entrance is through Chaitya Bhoomi. This is the place where Dr B. R. Ambedkar – who wrote the Constitution of India and is one of the founding fathers of our nation – was cremated . The main attractions of this place are - a memorial in the name of Dr B. R. Ambedkar ,  a Buddhist stupa, a torana (a Buddhist gateway) and a replica of the Ashoka Pillar.

Chaitya Bhoomi, Dadar, Mumbai

SUNSET VIEW

People come here to enjoy silence, breeze, sunset view and the giant view of Bandra Worli Sea Link bridge.

Sunset at Dadar Chowpatty, Mumbai

Read More

Chor Bazaar-Thieves Market

There are many stories about the name of this bazaar. One story is that if you have lost your belongings, you can find them in this bazaar - thus justifying the name - Chor Bazaar . But this bazaar is said to sell mostly second-hand goods rather than stolen goods.

It's located on Mutton Street, in the busy market area between S V Patel and Moulana Shaukat Ali Roads, near Mohammad Ali Road in south Mumbai.

This market is divided into two sections - Mini Market and Juma Market. The Mini Market is renowned for selling Bollywood posters while the other deals with hardware.

I walked through streets of Mini Market. It was lined with shops selling almost everything under sun. There is no better place for souvenir digging than this large flea market, especially if you are seeking antiques and vintage items.

Apart from antique items, you can also find ingenious reproductions and miscellaneous junk at the street. I stopped to look at the clocks, old gramophones and manual typewriter. You will find old fans, car parts, scores of shops selling spanners and screwdrivers hardware items.

Old Gramophones in Chor Bazaar

You can also spot almost all kind of sports goods- Cricket bats, balls, shuttle cocks and skipping ropes. If you have good bargaining skill, then this might be the place to be. Haggling and bargaining is the norm here.

I have never seen a collection of coins elsewhere.

Old coins for sale, likely all fake, in chaor bazaar

Other than the music systems and accessories, one can buy second hand phones, Chinese phones or even an Apple Iphone.

The area is full of crowded streets and crumbling buildings. Except Friday, you can visit the shops between 11 Am to 7.30 PM. Most of the lanes are crowded with vendors selling all sorts of antique goods at reasonable prices.

This area has become one of the most tourist attractions in the city and is also a photographer's delight.

Read More

Dhobi Ghat: Massive Open Air Laundry in Mumbai

You must have seen this place in movies or heard about this Dhobi Ghat. This 140-year-old dhobi ghat  is Mumbai’s biggest human-powered washing machine. This place was constructed by the Britishers to build a system of  getting their soldiers’ clothes washed.

The best view is from the bridge across the railway tracks near Mahalaxmi railway station. From the bridge, you will see rows of open air concrete wash tubs.

When we crossed the entrance, we were greeted by the alluring smell of detergent. Every day thousands of kgs of dirty clothes - delivered from hospitals, hotels, barbershops and households - come to the Dhobi Ghat and are beaten and scrubbed, hung out to dry, folded and returned to sender.

The washing takes place in rows of concrete tubs. After being rinsed, the clothes are hung to dry before each piece is ironed. The dry clothes were sent for pressed to crisp perfection.  Then the clothes are marked with a code.

Besides the old-fashioned method of washing, the Ghat is also equipped with automatic laundry machinery. But most of the washing is done by hand. Most of the workers spend their day knee-deep in the scummy water.

There are hundreds of dhobis and their families that work and live at the Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat. Here, children are born and live sorrounded by concrete wash tubs. It is considered that occupation in Dhoi Ghat is  passed down by generations.

A visit to Mumbai is incomplete without a stop at the Dhobi Ghat, especially for shutterbugs, this area gives a great photo opportunities of Mumbai’s Day-to-Day life.

Read More

Walk along the streets of Matunga,Mumbai

Last Saturday, I went for a walk through the streets of Matunga.  Matunga is different from other parts of Mumbai because of its unique culture, architecture and eateries.

I have been visiting this place since my first term of Mumbai - then Bombay 26 years ago- mainly to visit Kochu Guruvayoor.  I used to walk from Mantunga West railway station and walk towards east.      This time, I was able to look beyond all my nostalgia and tried to capture life of the street to my camera. 

Kochu Guruvayoor,Matunga,Mumbai

Shops lining the pavement offer everything you want. Street food vendors and fruit and vegitable vendors come together to create an uplifting, bustling atmosphere.

Matunga has a huge population of South Indians especially, the Tamil Brahmins, who have been residing here for several decades. But the place is now dominated by Gujaratis and Kutchis who have moved in from South Mumbai.





Matunga smells of flowers. Matunga flower market is one of the most popular flower markets in Mumbai.  It has a Facebook Page. You see them everywhere. Different kinds of jasmine,  roses,  mullai,  thazhambu,  kanakambaram and other varieties are designed in different shapes.  

Since most of the customers are Tamil and Gujarati speaking , the vegetable and fruit sellers, most of them from North India  manage to communicate with the language of customers.

DELICIOUS LUNCH

Matunga has some of the finest vegetarian eating houses in the city.  I have eaten in most of these which are owned by the Shettys from Udupi and Mangalore.  This time I had a wonderful lunch from Mani's Lunch Home. They served Rice,  Chapati,  Dal, Koottu kari, Thoran,  semiya kheer,  special palakkad Iyer onion sambar,  rasam and chass in plantain leaves.

Read More

Unexplored Monsoon Wonder of Kharghar,Navi Mumbai – Pandavkada Falls

Pandavkada Falls is a seasonal waterfall located in the Kharghar hills, a suburb of Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. With the height of 107 metres, it is a plunge of  waterfall pouring water on the rocky surface which depends upon the amount of rain.

How to reach Pandavkada Falls :

You can catch a local train to reach Kharghar. Then you need a private vehicle or take Auto rickshaws to reach this place.

Landscape view of the waterfalls, milky lines in the vast green canvas welcomes you as soon as you reach the place. Enroute you can stop by small river.

There are no barricades around the falls. Few accidents had happened in the past and so the entry to the falls is blocked by security. Enjoy the sight of waterfalls, take pictures of the surroundings and carry memories in your heart.

If you are enthusiastic , you can trek to the nearby Kharghar Hills which is a part of the Sahyadri hill ranges of the Western Ghats.

This is not a popular  tourist destination but nature lovers will find this place wonderful. From the top of the mountain, you will get a fantastic view of the surroundings. Rolling hills and paddy fields make for a picture postcard setting, gathering clouds lend a surreal feel to the breathtaking scenery.

What else near Pandavkada Falls:

Kharghar Valley Golf Course : This is just in front of the central park. A nice place for shutter-bugs.

Central Park:  On the way back if you still have the appetite and energy, spend a leisurely evening in Central Park. Central park is quite big, well maintained with a  scenic view and lot of slides, swings etc  in the play area for children. From the top of the Amphitheatre you can have a great view of the golf course, hills and glimpse of Pandavkada falls. There is one artificial water body. Ample car parking facility is available at the entrance of the Park.

It is perfect place to those who  want to get away from the  hustle and bustle of city life. Feel the greenery, take a long walk  and cherish the cool breeze .

Read More

In Search of Mumbra Devi's Best View

The month of May... the hottest month of the year. It was hot and sunny, but pleasant. There were few travel plans for this month. So I decided to be a part of a photowalk to Mumbra Devi Temple, Mumbra - a suburb of Thane district, in the Indian State of Maharashtra. One has to take a  slow train to get down at Mumbra station.  Fast trains  run in different routes. Mumbra Devi Temple is situated in Parsik Hill.  As the train approched Mumbra, I could see the Mumbra Devi temple.

As per our itinerary, all of us reached  Mumbra Station East at around 5:00 pm. We started our walk from Mumbra station and we took the lane just opposite to the railway station and it goes upwards to Mumbra bypass. We walked through the narrow street lined with shops . The street was crowded.

We have to cross the old Mumbai-Pune highway to start our ascend to Mumbra Devi Temple.  One has to climb numerous steps in order to reach the  temple and it is said that temple is situated at a height of 210 meters appx above sea level.  From Mumbra bypass, we  began walking uphill through steps. When we began  to climb, I felt that the temple is near and can be reached easily. But soon I realised that it is situated at  a great height  and  we took around one hour to reach the top.

It was around 6 pm, when we reached the top. The temple was made in rocks and now concrete structures are built. The main temple has a mural of 10 faces of Mumbra Devi.

One can see whole plains from the temple. You will get the view of Ulhas river, Mumbra creek, Diva and Kalyan. After pooja and taking the blessings of Mumbra Devi, we waited there till sunset.

Since I do not have DSL camera, I watched others setting their cameras in tripod. After  Sunset, once all the lights  are switched on, one can witness the beauty of the Mumbra by night. My friends were busy to take the beautiful images with long exposures.

It was around 8 pm, when we started to descend towards Mumbra station. Once we reached  Mumbra station, we had cold drinks and bid adieu and returned to our home.

Read More

Global Vipassana Pagoda, Mumbai

The main dome

I’m really excited to be heading to so many beautiful places in Mumbai that I have never visited. Global Vipassana Pagoda is one such place.

Opened in 2009, this temple is relatively new. It is situated in Gorai - a 15 minute travel by road from Borivali(West), and is dedicated to the teachings of Gautam Buddha-peace, harmoney and meditaion. It was an interesting journey to Pagoda from Gorai jetty .

Visiting time is restricted between 9.00 am to 7.00 pm. I'll let the pictures explain you about Global Vipassana Pagoda.



The entrance

The pagoda's stores the antique artefacts of Buddha, which are believed to emit positive vibrations. Hundreds of people come here in search of peace. 

Gong Tower

Bell Tower

Ashoka Pillar

There is one Lilly pad pond near to the Ashoka Pillar. There are many places around the main pagoda to see and visit video & photo gallery and painting gallery.

God and Goddess of Sky

Buddha Statue

Also , adventure lovers can visit  Esselworld and Water Kingdom that are at a walking distance from the pagoda.

Read More