India Travel Club
Adventures & Holidays

Mumbai (Bombay) 

HANGING GARDENS
On the top of Malabar Hill, these gardens were laid out in 1881 and are correctly known as the Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens. They take their popular name from the fact that they are built on top of a series of reservoirs that supply water to Bombay. The formally laidout gardens have a notable collection of hedges shaped like animals and there are good views over the city.

MALABAR HILL
 At the end of Back Bay, Marine Drive climbs up to Malabar Hill. This is an expansive residential area, for not only is it  a little cooler than the sea-level parts of the city, but there are fine views over Back Bay and Chowpatty Beach and right across to the central business district. At the end of the promontory is Raj Bhavan, the old British government headquarters and now the governor’s residence.

MARINE DRIVE
Now officially renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Rd, Marine Drive is built on land reclaimed in 1920. It runs along the shoreline of Back Bay, starting at Nariman Point and sweeping around by Chowpatty Beach and up to Malabar Hill. The road is backed with high residential buildings and is one of Bombay’s most popular promenades.   

CHOWPATTY BEACH
 Bombay’s famous beach attracts few bathers and even fewer sunbathers – neither activity has much of a following in India, and in any case the water is none too healthy. Chowpatty has plenty of other activities though. It’s one of those typical Indian slices of life where anything and everything can happen, and does. Sand-castle sculptors make elaborate figures in the sand, contortionists go through equally extravagant contortions and family groups stroll around. In between there are kiosks selling Bombay’s popular snack, bhelpuri, and kulfi (ice cream). Donkeys and ponies are available for children’s rides
PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM
Beside Wellingdon  Circle, close to the Colaba hotel enclave, is the  Prince of Wales Museum, built to  commemorate King George V’s first visit to India in 1905 while he was still Prince of Wales. The first part of the museum was opened in 1923. It was designed in the Indo-Saracenic style and has sections for art and paintings, archaeology and natural history. Among the more interesting items is a very fine collection of miniature paintings, bas-reliefs from the Elephanta Caves and Buddha images. Put aside at least half a day to explore this fascinating place. 
GATEWAY OF INDIA
In the days when most visitors came to India by ship and when Bombay was India’s principal port, this was indeed the ‘gateway ‘ to India. Today it’s merely Bombay’s foremost landmark. The gateway was conceived following the visit of King George V in 1911 and officially opened in 1924. Architecturally it is a conventional Arch of Triumph, with elements in its design derived from the Muslim styles of 16^th –century Gujarat. It is built of yellow basalt and stands on the Apollo Bunder, a popular Bombay meeting place in the evenings.
  Close to the gateways are statues of Swami Vivekananda and of the Maratha leader Shivaji astride his horse.
FLORA FOUNTAIN
This is the business centre of Bombay, around which many of the major banks and business offices are centre. The fountain stands on Martyr’s Square, officially renamed Hutatma Chowk, at the heart of a busy five-point intersection. It was erected in 1869 in honour of Sir Bartle Frere who was governor of Bombay from 1862-67, during which time Bombay experienced its most dramatic growth due to the worldwide cotton shortage caused by the American Civil War.
Elephanta Caves – 
 9 kms by sea. These 7^th century rock – cut cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are situated a top a hill on the island. With everlasting memories of the day spend night at hotel.