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The city formerly known as Bombay is a metropolis of over 13 million people on the Arabian Sea, and was a center of British trade and political power for much of the British occupation of India.
The waterfront, approaching the Gateway of India, built in 1927 in comemoration of a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1911. |
Detail of the Gateway of India. It was from here that the last British regiment left India in February 1948. |
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The Taj Mahal Hotel, now part of the Inter-Continental Hotel chain, built about the same time as the gateway of India. |
Street scene. With its ubiquitous traffic fumes and dirt, walking in Mumbai is an assault on the senses, but still well worth the effort. |
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View inside a cremation center (ghat), where in accordance with Hindu tradition, cadavers are cremated as part of final rites. |
Street scene in Malabar, the most upscale of Mumbai's neighborhoods with ready access to both the center and Chowpatty Beach. |
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Two views (above) of the Mahalaxmi temples, with a characteristic pool used by the neighborhood for bathing and washing clothes. The temple is dedicated to three goddesses whose images were found in the sea, and is one of the oldest in Mumbai. |
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| Four views (above) of Chowpatty Beach, which faces Back Bay on Mumbai's western edge. The picture at left was taken in the Hanging Gardens, while that at left shows young itinerant male laborers from the countryside washing their clothes in storm drains on a Sunday morning. | |||
A sunset over Chowpatty Beach. |
The Tomb of Haji Ali, built to honor a Muslim saint who drowned here. Note the beggars lining the path, who are given a rupee or two by the faithful. |
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Elephanta Island, just a short 10km boat ride from Mumbai, features a cave temple dedicated to Siva. |
Those with rupees to spare can opt for transport by litter on Elephanta Island! |
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| The cave temple
at Elephanta (above) were probably dug in the 8C by the Rashtrakuta
Dynasty, which ruled the area at that time.
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Some 42km north of Mumbai, there is a remarkable complex of 109 cave temples built between the 2C to 9C known as the Kanheri Caves (above and left). They are dedicated to Buddha and date from as early as the 1C BC. |
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Bassein - the ruins of this formerly Portuguese city lie some 60km north of Mumbai. It was occupied from 1534 to 1739, and once contained five convents, 13 churches, and fine palaces in addition to its cathedral. |
Bassein - inside the ruined Cathedral of St Joseph, dating from the early 16C. |
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Detail of the Cathedral of St Joseph. |
A map of Mumbai showing the position of key districts in the central part of the city. Courtesy of Lonely Planet. |
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Maps courtesy of Mapquest. |
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