Places to visit in Mumbai: Things to see in Mumbai
Mumbai is the industrial and commercial capital of India. It is referred to as “the city that never sleeps”. Mumbai is home to Bollywood (the Indian version of Hollywood). Mumbai is easily the most happening place in India. Mumbai International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country. Mumbai as a city offers a lot for travelers who wish to experience India to its fullest.
The people of Mumbai take their celebrations very seriously. It is a totally electrifying experience in Mumbai especially in times of Holy, Ganesh Chaturthi, and so on. Mumbai is a magnet that attracts talents from across the world. The city is considered one of the oldest cities in the country actively involved in trade and commerce.
Some of the must see places to visit in Mumbai includes sites like,
Elephanta Caves
Elephanta Caves is located in the Elephanta Island in the Mumbai Harbour. It takes approximately an hour to ferry people from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island. Elephanta Caves are rock cut caves that contain a large number of well preserved rock cut curving dating back to the mid 6th century. There are many Buddha monuments carved into the caves as well, these are estimated to have been done during the 2nd century BCE. Elephanta Caves not only contains carvings of many gods and goddesses of Hindu Mythology but it also contains various scriptures pertaining to Indian mythologies as well. Exploring the island is usually a full day journey, hence prepare for the same. Elephanta caves are open on all days from 9 am to 5 pm except on Mondays. Elephanta Caves is easily one of the most visited tourist places in Mumbai.
Interesting Facts about Elephanta Caves
- Elephanta Caves was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1987.
- The name Elephanta was given to the island by the Portuguese, before which it was called Gharauri.
- The rock cut temple complex covers an area of 60,000 sq ft.
- Most of the sculptures were defaced by the Portuguese who used them for target practice during the 17th century.
- Lord Shiva is the most sculptured god in the caves. There are many Shiva statues in the cave, the famous ones being Sadasiva, Yogisvara, and Shiva Nataraja.
Gateway of India
The Gateway of India was constructed by the British who ruled India back then, in the year 1924. The Gateway of India overlooks the Arabian Sea in the Colaba district. The Gateway of India is in some way the monument that marks the most important part of India, in a way the gateway to the Indian subcontinent.
It is at that time considered as one of the biggest infrastructure marvels of the pre independent British rule. People from all over the world come to witness the extravagant building that has royaly withstood the test of time. The total construction cost of the building was estimated to be about 21 lakhs and naturally, the entire expense was borne by India. There are a lot of food vendors who have placed their carts near this building. Hence, people who come and visit the Gateway of India can enjoy some local delights as well. Gateway of India is one of the most visited tourist places in Mumbai.
Some of the interesting facts about the Gateway of India Monument
- It was built as a triumphal arch to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Mumbai.
- The foundation of the building was laid in 1913
- The chief architect of the Gateway of India was George Wittet.
- One of the most prestigious hotels in India The Taj Mahal Hotel is located very close to the monument.
- It is just 2.5 km from the world famous Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
- The Somerset light infantry passes through the Gateway of India monument signaling the end of British rule of India.
- It is nicknamed the Taj Mahal of Mumbai.
Global Vipassana Pagoda
The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a meditation hall that can hold a capacity of about 8000 people. It was designated as one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra by the Maharashtra tourism development corporation in the year 2013. The Global Vipassana Pagoda is easily considered one of the best places to meditate and reconnect with nature and experience spirituality. People from all over the world come to Global Vipassana Pagoda to experience the calmness and tranquility of the place. People who have traveled to Global Vipassana Pagoda have said that meditation in the hall has positively energized their mind and body. It is open every day from 9 am to 7 pm. Global Vipassana Pagoda is easily one of the most visited tourist places in Mumbai.
Interesting Facts about Global Vipassana Pagoda
- It is designed to replicate the Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon, Myanmar. It was created to show gratitude to Myanmar from India for preserving Vipassana Meditation in its pristine purity. India being the birthplace of the same has failed to maintain the same.
- . A genuine replica of Buddha is enshrined in the Global Vipassana Pagoda.
- It contains the biggest pillar less dome in the world.
- About 2.5 million tonnes of stone were used in the creation of the same.
- It took almost 11 years to complete the construction of the monument.
- The objective of the building is to remain as a beacon of peace and harmony for the next 1000 years.
How to travel to Mumbai
Mumbai, as mentioned earlier, is the industrial and commercial capital of India. Mumbai being one of the most important cities in the Indian subcontinent has a well connected airport. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Mumbai is one of the busiest and well connected airports in the country. People from all over the world can buy cheap flight tickets to and from Mumbai. Some of the major cities in the US have the opportunity to buy direct flight tickets from USA to India. The city is connected to all major cities across the world. There are also a lot of last minute airline tickets deals offered by various airlines across the world for business travelers as well. There are a lot of places to visit in Mumbai that will interest people of all types and characters, there’s something for everyone.
Conclusion
Mumbai is one of the most happening cities in the country. It has a lot of things that can entertain travelers like the hustle and bustle of city life, the traffic, and honking of the hones along with its food and culture. Mumbai has emerged as one of the favorite travel destinations for people traveling to India. Cheap international air tickets makes traveling to India more affordable to people from all parts of the world. People who travel to Mumbai usually travel to Delhi and Bangalore to experience life in Indian cities. To know more about the two cities read about the places to visit in Delhi and the places to visit in Bangalore to get a unique perspective of both the cities.
