Mumbai, City of Gold
| DAY 1 ARRIVE MUMBAI Arrive Mumbai and transfer to The Oberoi, Mumbai. DAY 2 MUMBAI Start from the Gateway of India, standing in front of the monument in the forecourt. This is an introduction to Bombay, its historical background, geographic morphology & the area surrounding Apollo Bunder precinct including the Taj Mahal Hotel, Royal Bombay Yacht Club etc. Walk to Regal Circle, near the Wellington Fountain and continue to the Institute of Science towards the bustling Kala Ghoda intersection, the Fort and details of all buildings around including Elphinstone College, David Sasson Library, Army & Navy Building, Watson’s Hotel & the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue. Next stop – Mumbai University Campus and a visit the University Library (pending permission). Cross over to Oval Maidan to take in a view of the High Court, the Art Deco line of buildings, the Eros Cinema tower, the Western Railway headquarters and Church Gate railway station. Witness Dabbawalas in action, how they exit the crowded trains with huge carts on their heads, meet them, converse with them, take photographs and also time permitting, visit one of their branch offices located nearby and meet up with employees & converse about their day to day activities. Visit the Gateway of India, built to commemorate the visit of King George V in the year 1911. It is a fusion of Indo-Saracenic architecture. From here, proceed to the Afghan Church at Colaba, passing through the famous Dhobi Ghat to see the traditional way of washing clothes. Proceed to the Prince of Wales Museum for a visit (closed on Monday). It is a beautiful Gothic structure designed by George Wittet in Indo-Saracenic style. Drive past the Gothic-style Rajabhai Clock Tower, in the grounds of Bombay University. The High Court next to the tower and Victoria Terminus (popularly known as “V.T”, the largest railway station in India) are also in Gothic style. Proceed to visit the Jain Temple at the top of Malabar Hill. En route, drive along the shoreline of Marine Drive. The Jain temple is a colourful, quiet and atmospheric temple with superb carvings on its exterior. If you climb to the upper storey, you can look down on the masked monks tracing symbolic patterns in powder and ash before the image of God. Continue past the Hanging Gardens and the Parsi Towers of Silence before visiting the Kamla Nehru Park, which was laid out in memory of Jawaharlal Nehru’s wife. Drive past Haji Ali Tomb, located in the sea. |
Finally, visit Mani Bhavan, Mahatma Gandhi’s residence when he visited Bombay. There is a beautifully crafted tableau of 28 panels, depicting key events in the great leader’s life. The re-creation of the simple rooms he occupied provides an insight into this legendary figure whose influence is still very much alive in Indian life and politics today — a potent symbol of both the Indian nation and ideas of social justice.
DAY 3 MUMBAI Afternoon car and driver at disposal with a personal shopper in Mumbai. Shopping in India is the most exciting experience! So how to decide where to begin and where to look and how to get there? Your own Personal Shopper. These ladies can not only find you the best tailor or dressmaker; they can take you to sales in private homes. They are extremely well connected and can recommend the best manicures and the best place for a chilled glass of wine at the end of a shopping day. Whatever you need, whether an antique map of the city dating back to the British Raj, or that gorgeous pair of evening sandals, they will take you to the right store – for style, price and service. You can shop for a pair of diamond earrings without fear of being cheated on quality or price, or they can help you choose the perfect silk rug for your home. DAY 4 DEPART MUMBAI |
