Bombay, as I would call it since its with these name that it has been known in the past and will continue to be known whatever those illiterate bunch of jokers called shiv-sainiks try to do.
Bombay, a dream city, is said to be a land of opportunities.It is said that Bombay has a place for people from all walks of life, it never breaks anyone’s heart.It is India’s most industrialized city situated on the west coast of India.It houses the historic Bombay Stock Exchange(BSE), the world famous Bollywood(One of the largest employer in the country) to the offices of all major industrial titans like Ambani’s, Tata’s, Birla’s to major international companies.It account’s for 40% of India’s maritime trade. Bombay has more no. of millionaires than even NY on one side and Dharavi(Asia’s largest slum) on other side.No other city in the world provides such a sharp contrast.But believe me, those slums at Dharavi too are worth millions of rupees.You can get the world’s most costliest brands here right from Gucci to RalphLauren to Rado to Cartier and the list goes on & as always, the other contrasting part of Bombay, the cheapest brands with Made in USA engraved on them at our very famous chor bazaar and fashion street.You can get a Reebok and Nike worth 2000 to 3000Rs for just 200 to 300Rs.
Believe me, even today Bombay is much more safer for even single women during nights than any other metropolis of the world.
Nightlife and Entertainment
Bombay never sleeps. No matter what time of night you venture out, there are bound to be others going about some business or other.For todays pop days, Bombay offers a huge lot of pubs and discotheqs which are usually open till 2 in the night.It also offers a lot of amusement parks from Esselworld to the gorgeous Water Kingdom(Asia’s biggest theme park)
Of course, Bombay is also a cultural centre attracting the finest Indian classical music and dance artists from all over the country. Venues such as Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, K M Munshi Marg - the headquarters of the international cultural (Hindu) organization - Cowasjee Jehangir (CJ) Hall, Birla Matushri, Tejpal Auditorium, Shanmukhananda Hall and the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) auditorium frequently present concerts and recitals. NCPA also offers modern Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi and English-language plays as well as Western chamber music, while a smattering of platinum-selling Western rock artists appear at Bombay stadia.
Not Sure What To See First?
I take you to my top picks of must-see sights, local hangouts and unforgettable activities.
1)Elephanta Caves
Catch a boat to Elephanta Island, where a group of rock-cut caves house mystical Hindu carvings, among them the famous Trimurti (three-headed) Shiva shrine.
2)The Prince of Wales Museum
The Prince of Wales Museum, one of Bombay’s most distinctive British-era buildings, is crammed with antiquities from across the subcontinent. Set aside at least a few hours.
3)The Top
Enjoy a buffet lunch at the Ambassador Hotel’s revolving restaurant, The Top, on Veer Nariman Road. Top-notch food and superb views of the metropolis.
4)Haji Ali’s Tomb
Bombay’s most visited Muslim monument, Haji Ali’s tomb, crowns a narrow causeway on the west edge of the peninsula. It is most spectacular at sunset.
5)Taj Intercontinental
Tea at the Taj Intercontinental, reputedly India’s most expensive hotel, is an essential stop on any tour of the city’s sights. It also harbours an excellent English-language bookshop.
6)Bollywood
Take in a Hindi movie in one of downtown’s gigantic air-conditioned cinemas for a taste of Bollywood at its spiciest and most lurid - this is, after all, the country’s film capital.
7)The Fort Area
A walk from Colaba to the former VT (now CST) Station takes you through the atmospheric Fort district, home to the cream of Bombay Raj-era architecture. This is the heart of commercial Bombay.
8)Chowpatty Beach
A sunset stroll along the packed strand of Chowpatty Beach, with its ear-cleaners, masseurs, sadhus and card tricksters, is an institution for Bombay citizens.
9)The Municipal Dhobi Ghats
The Municipal Dhobi Ghats, where the clothes of the city’s middle classes are soaked, mercilessly thumped and then sun dried, are one of Bombay’s most intriguing sights.
10)Dabawallahs
Members of the Bombay Tiffin Box Suppliers Association, known as dabawallahs, are collectively responsible for the city’s legendary lunch box delivery system and can be seen in action outside Churchgate Station, around midday, stacking colour-coded tiffin tins.
So that’s it from Bombay.I welcome each and every one of you to visit Bombay atleast once in your life time.I assure you it would a memorable experience for you.No other city in the world can match Bombays’s contrast.