Mumbai - the city where God sent me, where I grown up..where I learned what is Life. Mumbai, it has given me so many things in life, which if I wants to return it back...surely I cant. This the city of dreams. A dream seen by me, by you and by every Indian. This city has given us so many things, and still giving but never complaint.
People from other places comes here to find a way of earning for them, to study, to visit and to enjoy life. ANd no one goes empty handed.
Mumbai has now grown into a very large metropolitan city. It has earned a reputation of being a main and a rich important centre of trade, commerce, communications, business, industry and tourism. The Konkan Railway now has paved a way for smooth and speedy access for communication with the southern part of India. With a view to further develop this city as a financial and banking centre, the Bandra-Kurla complex in the central Mumbai is being set up with all ultra modern facilities so as to accommodate more and more multinational companies and their commercial activities. Although the old Mumbai has undergone a multifarious change during the last four to five decades, the city, however, has preserved its original charm. Indeed, the real beauty of this city lies in the vividity and diversity in its culture and life style and one can experience the pride of the city in its unity and integrity in the period of crisis. People of all regions, religions and communities have settled here for generations and many more are coming here every day for business, trade, tourism and for their livelihood. But the harmony in the lifestream remains undisturbed. This multi religious and multi linguistic culture of this city make the life in the city more colourful and more vivid. Indeed, Mumbai is a city of magic and myth. The development and expansion of Mumbai has now reached a saturation point due to ever increasing population. Now, there is no enough space left over for horizontal expansion. So, it is expanding vertically in upward direction with multi storied sky-scrapers. More and more marshy land is being reclamed for construction of houses and business centres.
Places of Worship:
I will only mention places of worship here as there are a lot of places of interest and which can be describe a well known guide.
Mumba Devi Temple :
Mumba Devi or Mumba Aai is the patron goddess of the Kolis, the original habitant of Mumbai. It is because of her name the seven islands of Mumbai were collectively called Mumbyin. It was only in the 18th century that the name Bombay became popular and was used for all practical purpose.
Bhuleshwar Temple :
This is one of the famous old temple in Mumbai. It was built in 1708 by a wealthy and generous devotee from Prabhu community named Dadaji Laxajirao. The temple has a spacious expanse and shows prominent signs of Gujarati style of architecture in its design and construction. At the entrance of this Shiva Temple is a Nagarkhana (drum room). Wood used for it is beautifully carved. The temple also has a spacious Sabha Mandap, a conference hall, hwere the devotees assemble for worship and darshan.
Walkeshwar Temple and Banganga :
The Walkeshwar temple at the bank of Banganga Lake on Malabar Hill was originally built by the Shilahara, who ruled the islands of Mumbai during 810 to 1260 A.D. The Bangaga Lake is formed by an underground spring which flows naturally within.
Babulnath Temple :
It is an old temple of Shiva where devotees throng for darshan on Mondays. Shivratri and other festivals. The temple is built in 1780 and is located at the south of Malabar Hill. The Shiva Linga in this temple is unique and monolithic.
Mahalaxmi Temple :
This is one of the old and most famous temple in Mumbai. The temple stands in the north of Malabar Hill, near Worli sea-shore. Three idols of goddesses namely Mahalaxmi Mahakali and Mahasaraswati are installed in this temple. Devotees throng here on Tuesdays, Fridays, and also during the Navratri festival.
Siddhi Vinayak :
The Original old temple was built about 200 years ago. Since the old precinct of the temple could not accommodate the large number of devotees coming for darshan in crowds, the trustees of the temple renovated the temple in recent years. The present design of the temple is truly a beautiful piece of architectural skill.
Thomas Cathedral Church :
The Church, situated in the old Fort area, is the oldest church in Mumbai. Built in 1672, it was opened for public prayers in 1718. The design of this church is very simple with symmetrical balance in its architecture. The interior part of the church is very graceful and artistic.
Mount Mary Church :
The Old Church, situated in Bandra, the suburb of Mumbai, is very popular because of its week long fair held every year in the precinct of this Church
Jumma Masjid :
The Masjid is the oldest one in Mumbai and popularly known as Jama Masjid. Built in 1802, It is located in market area surrounded by Mangaldas Market on one side and Abdul Rehman Street on the other. The beautiful Architecture of this Masjid has made it a prominent landmark of this market area. Muslims offer their prayers here on Friday.
Zakaria Masjid :
Built in 1808, the Jahaz-I-Akhirat Masjid also is an important place of worship for Muslim communities. The masjid, popularly known as Zakaria Masjid, is one-storied structure built on a tank and surrounded by gardens. The Masjid is located at Mahammad Ali Road and is a beautiful piece of architecture.
Haji Ali Durgah :
This spectacular shrine of a Muslim Saint Haji Ali is built in the midsea at Worli, very close by the Mahalaxmi Temple. The memorial is considered to be a sacred place in Mumbai. Its snow white colour and beautiful architectural design can be seen distinctly as a landmark even from a far off distance. People of all faiths and sects go to this shrine for blessings. The place can only be visited at a low tide because the pathway built upto the shrine merges into the sea water at the time of high tide. It is because of this shrine that the area around it came to be know as Haji Ali.
Durgah of Saint Makhdum Fakir Ali Paru :
This is another famous sacred durgah in Mumbai which is visited by devotees belonging to different religions and sects. The shrine was built in 1413 in the memory of great Muslim Saint Makhtum Fakir Ali Paru, popularly known as Makhtum Baba, a master preacher of holy Koran. Situated in Mahim, the Durgah is an ancient muslim shrine in Mumbai.
St. Michael Church :
This again is a place where followers of almost all religions come, offer their prayers and seek blessings. The worshippers, in a very large number, normally visit the church on Wednesday. They assume that their wishes and prayers are heard here and are granted too. The Church is located in Mahim area near the Mahim Railway Station.
A lot has been said and written about Mumbai in different ways in different media. However, the life of Mumbai is still a mystery for every one. In reality the city is a magic city, where dreams are sown and grown. There are dream merchants too, who crop them ruthlessly. People here, young or old, rich or poor or small or big are fond of seeing colourful dreams. Some of the dreams blossom but many of them simply get worn out. Mumbai has so many faces and facets. In reality, you see Mumbai as you dream about it. It is beautiful and ugly, gay and painful, mystic and superficial. Still the city attracts anyone and every one. It is true that one who comes to stay here in this lovely city, never returns to his homeland.
So you all my Mumbaities friends, lets join our hands and make our lovely City a name for peace and nad happiness.
Shukran!