Every thing you don't know about Famous Mumbai

Throwing light on light houses

The lighthouse has played a leading role in the development of Mumbai as a major habour.
Sunk Rock Lighthouse : It is one of the three lighthouses in the South Mamba harbour off the coast of Mumbai.  It is red and yellow checkered tower,  located 5km (3 miles from the Gateway of India)

Kanhoji Angre Island Light house :Kanhoji Angre Island previously known as Khanderi (Kennery) island is an off shoot hillock off the western ghat ranges and is situated opposite Thal fishing port in Alibagh district south of Bombay.  Positioned at 18  0 42.1 N &  72 0 48.8’ E flashes (2) White Red every 10 sec ranging 25 Nautical Miles,  Red 22 Nautical Miles.  It is 30 m high Octangonal masonry tower, commissioned in 1852. Kanhoji island lighthouse under MbPT is an important landmark at the entrance to the Bombay harbour.  The island is approachable by a motor launch of Mumbai port trust or by hiring a boat from Thal port.  There is a fort on the island,  built by the Portuguese and later occupied by Marathas to lodge their army and navy Kanhoji anger took command of the Maratha navy in 1708.  He fought and won a number of sea battles till his death in 1729.  Kahnderi island was enamed in his honour in 1998 on the occasion of 125^th anniversary of Mumbai Port Trust.

Uttan Lighthouse :Situated 23 nautical miles and is positioned at 18 0 52.7 N and 72 0 48’ E.   By Road it is 12 km from Bhayander local railway station and is situated on a hillock, south of the entrance of the Vasai creek. It is 52 mt. high circular tower (red, white and black colour), commissioned in 1960.

Prong’s Lighthouse :It is the southernmost of the three lighthouses.  The other two are Sunk Rock and Dolphin.  The Prong’s Lighthouse was built in 1875,  the same year eponimus Sassoon Dock was built by David Sassoon.  The Lighthouse can be reached by foot from southern end of Colaba at low tide during spring.  10-second white flashing beam can be seen at a distance of 30 kms (18 miles).  The Lighthouse had a cannon during the British rule to secure the bay.

Arnala Lighthouse :Arnala Lighthouse is about 10 km West by road from Virar Railway station (Mumbai –Surat- Trunk Route).  Posititoned at 19 degree 27.4’N and 72 degree 44.8’E,  is accessible though pucca road upto the lighthouse.  Flashes (3) white and red signals every 15 seconds.  A new 15 m. MS trestle tower replaced the earlier structure and a DA gas flasher inside 300 mm optic and a sun valve were installed over this tower in 1967.  Under the scheme of modernization a new 30 m GI trestle with arrangement to hoist storm warning signals was erected in 1996 and a revolving light (Tideland make) was installed over it.  The new light was commissioned on 24^th June 1996.

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Mumbai Markets-Traditional & Modern

Traditional Markets

Mumbai has a host of shopping places to be explored.  From air-conditioned malls to branded shops, From celebrity outlets to street side,  stalls Mumbai has got something for everyone.

Shopping Malls

Number of mega shopping malls have recently developed across the city.  Atria mall is one of the prominent malls on the western coastline in the vicinity of major tourist and business location Worli.

Chor Bazar

Chor Bazaar is known as Mumbai' s paradise for antique hunters.  It is a thieves market,  (stolen articles put up for sale)  situated at the Mutton Street.  Chor Bazaar has an old collection of shops that have everything one wishes to buy- be at motor part, furniture, decorative items or antiques.  Few shops have some alluring antique jewelery,  old timepieces, even Maharaja’s sword. Bargaining is the key to shopping in this market.

Crawford Market & Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market

It is one of the prominent markets in Mamba and is located to the south of Mumbai- north of CST and opposite police headquarters.   The market is named after the Mumbai' s first city Municipal Commissioner,  Arthur Crawford.  Built in 1871,  the Crawford Market is also known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market.  The market sells vegetable,  fruits,  poultry and smuggled processed and packaged food products and cosmetics.

The main Crawford market has a network of lanes specialised in clothing, electronic goods,  artificial flowers, decoration items,  stationery,  dry fruits, packing material, toys etc. 

Linking Road and Elco Markets at Bandra

Linking Road and Elco Market are most popular markets in the heart of Bandra.  Markets sell everything from bags, shoes, clothes, fashion accessories, lingerie etc.  the Linking Road also has numerous fancy shopping arcades and branded showrooms.

Fashion Street

The exports’ – surplus of readymade garments land at the Fashion Street – a huddle of little shops at M. G. Road.  The fashion available at fraction of a price in foreign stores,  is grabbed by fashion conscious, collegians, off the rack.  Haggling and bargaining,  of course is half the fun of buying.  The clothes, fashion accessories and footwear are of good quality and the cheapest anywhere in the world.

Heera Panna Shopping Market

It is one of the oldest, established and most famous shopping markets in Mumbai. It is blissful place for shopping freaks and is well known amongst Mumbaikars as grey market for original and authentic Electronic goods.

Maker Arcade Cuffe Parade

One of the economical markets in the most post localities of Mumbai, is the Maker Arcade that houses several branded departmental stores and super-markets.  International brands (GAP, NEXT, French Connection, Gymboree, Old Navy etc.) from US and Europe, Import readymade garments from India.  The export surplus of these exclusive international brands are available in Maker Arcade Market at fraction of a price in respective countries.

Some of the other market attractions are

q       Gandhi Market situated near King Circle,  Matunaga

q       Dadar Phool Market(wholesale flower market)

q       Opera House for electronic goods

q       Lamington Road for automotive components

q       Lohar Chawl for electronics and hardware

q       Abdul Rehman Street for Party decoration

q       Zaveri Bazaar for jewellery

q       Bhuleshwar for festive, marriage and religious ceremony articles

q       Mohammed Ali Road for old books.

Beaches in Mumbai

Juhu Beach

Like Chowpaty,  its uptown counterpart.  The Juhu Beach is a bourgeois paradise.  Juhu Beach get strokes of turquoise waves.  One can access this unruffled beach from Vile Parle, Santacruz and Andheri.  The lovely sight of sun descending into the vast Arabian Sea,  presents an amazing vista.

Girgaum Beach

Girgaum Chowpaty is Mumbai' s most famous beach.  In the evening the atmosphere is more like a carnival;  ferry wheels,  pony rides,  monkey shows, and even the odd self-styled gymnast who will demonstrate amazing yogic postures of a small fee.  At one end is a row of bhelpuri shops hawking Mumbai ‘s most popular snacks.  Chowpaty Beach is a famous site where the idols of Lord Ganesh are immersed in the sea, marking the end of Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

Manori & Gorai Beaches

Both these are excellent, safe suburban beaches, linked by a rocky headland and accessed across a small creek from mainland Mumbai. On the other side, Manori beach is a ten minute rickshaw ride away, fringed with swaying palm trees and a row of beach-side cottage hotels.  One of the most famous of these is Manori Bel, a cluster of white washed spanish-style villas with clean bright rooms and charming wicker furniture.

Marve & Erangal Beaches

Across the creek from Manori,  on the mainland itself,  Marve is the retreat of Mumbai' s beau monde.  This is where most of India’s big industrial houses have their weekend bungalows beautiful, sprawling mansions tucked along the winding coastal road.  Hotels on this stretch mainly cater to corporate types.   Further down at Erangal, the road tapes out into a large fishing village inhabited by koli – the fisherfolks.  At its southern tip there is a derelict seventeenth century Portuguese fortress that affords and unbroken view of Mumbai's famous skyline.  The nearest railhead, Malad is a suburban station on the western railways from where buses ply to these beaches.

Other Beaches around Mumbai

Dahanu – Bordi Beach

Located in the Thane District,  is a distinctively silent beach.  Dahanu is famous for the lines of fruit orchards and the fruit Chikoo,  Udwada, ‘the Mecca of Zorastrians’  is also very near to Dahanu.  Udwada has a beautiful temple which houses their sacred fire and is said to be kept burning for almost the last thousand years.  Dahanu town is around 145 kms away from Mumbai.

Ganapati Pule Beach

Located on the western coast of Maharashtra,  Ganapatipule is considered to be pilgrim.  Velneshwar Beach Temple and pawas where Swami Swarupanand’s Ashram is located,  can be seen from the beach.  You can also explore the Jaigarh heach and Jaigarh Fort.  Nearest airport is Mumbai and nearest railhead is Ratnagiri around 50kms away.

Baseein Beach

The Beach has been famous as a shipbuilding site for centruies.  It is also famous for its wide sandy beach,  its forts and exceptionally ravishing churches.  Its wide beaches are symmetrically covered with palm grooves and fort ruins which gives it a very calm look.  This beach is just 10 km. away from the capital of Konkan, Nalasopora Village,  which is believed to the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.

Daman Beach

Daman a Portuguese territory till 1961, is now a Union territory of India.  The Daman beach holds many fabulous attractions like Koti Daman Fort, Light House, Gandhi Park.  It is situated along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway,  around 170 kms from Mumbai and is easily accessible.  Silvasa and Vapi are two other beaches, which are close by and can be visited for their amazing waterfronts.   

 Harnai Beach

Located at distance of some 200 kms from Mumbai.  Its an isolated stretch that is lines with a fort on it is northern end.  You can also visit Murud,  the beach south to Harnai which is famous for its clean white sand and soothing water and Panhale Kazi,  the famous rock monument which is around 30 kms from these beaches.  

Famous lakes n Mumbai

Vihar Lake

It is the largest lake in the Mamba city,  situated inside the premises of the Sanjay Gandhi National park.  The lake lies between Tulsi Lake and Powai Lake.  Vihar Lake serves as one of the sources serving Mamba’s water needs, especially of its southern region.  The overflow level of the lake is approximately 80.42 m.  it is one of the most popular shooting locations.  The serenity of the Vihar Lake provides the best relief from the mundane and hectic city life.

Powai Lake

Powai Lake is situated in the Nothern subrub of Mumbai. It is an artificial lake, towards the west of the Indian Institute of Technology,  the Premier Institute of Science and Technology.  The lake built by the British in 1890,  adds to the charm of the Bombay city of India.  It owes it name to Framaji Kavasji Powai Estate,  belonging to a parsi merchant.  Powai Lake is easily approachable from King’s Circle,  Sion and Kurla as well as from Santacruz and Andheri.

AAREY LAKE

Aarey lake is tucked away inside the expansive parklands of the Aarey Milk Colony.  You will find a small lake with row boats and paddle boats,  attractive gardens and colorful flowers, lotus pond, and plenty of places to relax and enjoy some India Chai (tea).  There is another popular garden a short distance away, aptly named the ‘Picnic Spot’.  Located :  Goregaon East,  32 kilometers (20 miles) north west of the city center

Monolithic Monumets of antiquity-Mumbai Caves

Background

The environs of Mumbai are a puzzling maze of chequered history a gargantuan megalopolis harboring a cluster of monolithic monuments of antiquity.  Five such monemnets lie scattered : Kanheri, Kondvita (Mahakali), Elephanta, Jogeshwari and Mandapaeshwar,  the first two being Buddihist (1^st B. C.) caves and other three being Hindu (7^th A. D.) caves.  The clue to history lies in a non-descript town called Sopara (Vasai Taluka, Thane district), an extended suburb of Mamba(70 kms.)  This miniscule town on the Arabian Sea flourished as a big time maritime port dating far back to the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharat.

It was im prominence particularly in the Buddhist era, at least two citizens of Sopara are believed to have had a rendezvous with the Buddha in person.  One such personage was Purna(6^th B.C.),  a wealthy merchant turned monk whose vertaim dialogue with Buddha is cited in “Purnavad Sukta, Majjim Nikay”  an ancient Buddhist text.  On the outskirts of Sopara still stands a Buddhist stupa whose excavation is accredited to Pandit Bhagwanlal Indraji and the discovery published in volume XV of the Royal Asiatic Society (1881-82) wherein the astounding relics (3^rd B.C.) have been exhibited.  Also,  the 8^th and 9^th (out of 14) rock edicts of emperor Ashok explored at Sopara lie in the custody of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj(former Prince of Wales) Museum.

The Elephanta Caves

The Elephant island is located 10 kms. from the Mumbai harbour,  north east of Apollo Bunder and embraces Elephanta Caves one of the world heritage sites in India.  Earlier known as Gharapuri – meaning peaceful abode of Lord Shiva,  the site was discovered in the 6^th century.  As soon as the Portuguese arrived and saw the carved elephant on the island,  it was named Elephanta Caves.

An epitome of Hindu cave culture,  Elephant consists of five caves of which the most notable is the Mahesh Teenmurti Cave.  The main temple consists of a large pillared mandapa (hall) and a freestanding square shrine at the west end of the hall.

Kanheri Caves

The Sanjay Gandhi National park, commonly known as the Borivili National Park,  is a miraculously preserved natural oasis in the heart of an urban sprawl.  Situated in the heart of this part, Kanheri Caves comprises of a total of 104 rock-cut caves,  the largest specimen of this style of architecture in India,  possibly in the world.  The Kanheri Caves are the Buddhist caves (monasteries) were monks practiced their austerities around first century.  Caves contain Dagoba Buddhist Shrines with more than 100 tiny cells the Viharas (resident cells) cut into flank of a hill,  each filled with a stone plinth that evidently served as bed, prayer and meditation halls (chaitya),  water cisterns (kund or Podhi),  relic and memorial stupas (dagoba), crematorium and university.  Kanheri is replete with epigraphic inscriptions in pali, sanskrit, even Persian and Chinese that shed light on a horde of information concerning the political, social, economic, religious set up of those by-gone day.

Kondvita (Mahakali Caves)

The Kondvita or Mahakali caves in Andheri East are by far the cleanest of Mumbai' s lesser caves.  The complex is fairly big with 20 cells and caves.  The caves were center of Buddhism.  The new name – Mahakali caves is therefore misleading.  The caves are carved into a long hillside.  One small cave in the middle, houses a “Stupa” inside a capsule like chamber.  The right wall of this cave has a multi-tiered look and was possibly used for meditation.  The other cave is towards the end of the row and has small pillared hall with nine chamber openings into it. 

Mandapeshwar Caves

The caves were surprisingly built by Buddhists possibly with the help of Persians.  The sculptures in these caves are estimated to have been carved out of the cave walls in the same period as of those seen in the more splendid Jogeshwari Caves.  It once contained the largest Mandapa and a prominent Garbagriha.  The caves unfortunately faced a series of invasions by different rulers,  each ruler attempting to establish the supremacy of his state religion by defacing these magnificent monolithic sculptures.  Most of what can be seen on the walls now are just dilapidated remains which are sad reminders of its glorious past.  Centuries after the caves were built,  the Franciscian Priests occupied the cave and built a church (now called IC Church) and a graveyard right on top of it,  over the ruins of a once grand Shivaji fort.  The caves stand,  but neglected.

Karla Caves

The Buddhist Karla Caves lie in the western ghats,  about 114 kms. away from Mumbai. Built in the time of the Hinayana sect,  during the Satavahana rule,  these caves do not actually show the Buddha.  A steep 350 –step climb leads to the caves.

At the entrance is a recently built temple,  accompanied by a pillar from the Buddhist period.  The façade of the caves is formed by carved temple screens,  sculpted with railing ornaments and human couples.  Outer and inner screens form an ante chamber to the main cave.  The panels of the wooden doors and windows are finely decorated with intricate sculptures of couples embracing. 

By the seventh century AD, the Mahayana sect. Took over and representations of Buddha became more common.  At the central doorway,  are the sculptures of the Buddha preaching while seated on a lion-supported throne,  along with magnificent carvings of three elephants,  On each side,  fifteen pillars separate the narrow aisles from the central arch.  The pillars are adorned with the motifs of elephants,  men and women riding, etc.  All three caves also abound with finely carved Viharas and Chaityas.

Jogeshwari Caves

Being one of the sacred Hindu places in Mumbai, Jogeshwari Cave is a 1500 –year-old historical structures.  Long flight of steps leads to the main hall of this atmospheric cave temple and has central pillared hall containing a shrine and a Lingam.  There are several other smaller chambers with idols of Datta, Hanuman,  Mata and Jogeshwari inside the cave.

While settlements sprawl the sunken rock complex,  the slim passage leads to the entrance of Jogeshwari Caves.  The complex no longer has its boundary walls.