Aamchi Mumbai – Places to visit for a backpack traveller

The city that never sleeps, Mumbai, completely enthralled me as I got an opportunity to visit it for the first time early this year in January. Surrounded by the sea, towering building, carefree people , mouth watering street food, everything was exquisite and mesmerizing about “Aamchi Mumbai” The sea breeze blowing over my face re-energized me. It was a delight to see from young to old, from couples to families, girls and boys move around freely on the beaches and enjoy every bit of it. Sitting on a stone on the beach, the view of the sunrise and the sunset was captivating my imagination. My three day visit to Mumbai included spending time on the beaches, visiting the temples, not to forget the iconic Gateway of India, the Taj Hotel, Elephanta caves and many other mind blowing places.

Bandra Worli Sea Link

It was night as I landed on the economic capital of India, Mumbai and once out of the airport, my cab whizzed onto the man made marvel, the ‘Bandra Worli Sea Link.’ Rolling down the windows, the reflection of the street lights on the crystal clear sea water left ,me spell bound. Not to forget the cool breeze which blew over my face and reenergised me, letting all my weariness vanish within a span of few minutes. The spectacular Bandra Worli Sea Link which is a work of engineering genius , is a delight for road travellers as it reduces substantial amount of time for those who are travelling between Badra and Worli. One should not forget to capture this great work of architecture in their lenses, a memory which they will cherish all their life.

Gateway of India

A moment of pride as I stood before the Gateway of India, which is symbolic of India’s rich heritage. One of the most distinguished monuments, Gateway of India, overlooks the Arabian Sea and situated close to the iconic Hotel Taj, is not only the hotspot for the tourists but also for the locals who throng it throughout the day. One should not miss on the opportunity to oblige the professional shutterbugs who within a span of few minutes will take a print out of your picture posing before the imposing edifice.

Chowpatty

If you are wanting to beat the hustle and bustle of life and want to spend some quiet moments, Chowpatty is the place for you where you can laze around. With the waves hitting the beach and in close proximity to Marine Drive, Chowpatty is one of those places where you get to relish some mouth watering street food. From ‘pani puri’ to bhel puri, , vada pao, pao bhaji, you can enjoy everything at an extremely affordable price. Moreover, a walk on the sand with footwear in hand, is an experience to cherish. Not to forget the cool sea breeze which touches one’s face like a feather.

Siddhivinayak Temple

A must visit temple of Lord Ganesha, revered by people from all walks of life. One of the intriguing aspects of the temple is that the idol of Lord Ganesha at the Siddhi vinayak is carved out of a single black stone. One of the unique features of the temple is that the trunk of Lord Ganesha is towards the right instead of being towards the left. It is believed that with the blessings of Lord Ganesha at the Siddhivinayak temple, one’s wishes tend to get fulfilled and then people do return again to the temple to thank God. The architecture of the temple is incredible and with the passage of time, the temple was renovated with an aim to augment its beauty. It is also believed that the idol of Lord Ganesha is self manifested.

Marine Drive

The sun setting and the sea watering glittering like gold with rays falling on it and gradually getting replaced by the moonlight is a sight which will captivate the imagination of any individual. The serenity and calmness on Marine Drive provides peace to individuals who spend the quiet moments on the beach of Marine drive, away from the maddening rush of the city, which is always on a move, 24x7. One of the most enchanting part of Marine drive is spending some quiet moments even at 1:00 a.m at night, admiring the sea waves with a cup of tea in hand.

Elephanta Caves

This exquisite piece of rock cut art work is among the World Heritage Site. One of the most interesting part is the ferry ride to Elephanta caves amidst the sea water, the sea breeze refreshes you and one is left mesmerised by the beauty of nature, with the sea birds flying along the ferry. One gets to view the majestic Hotel Taj from the ferry. Once, you alight from the ferry, you have to climb quite a number of stairs to see the rock caves. Once you reach the caves you will get to see some magnificent sculptures of Lord Shiva and Parvati in different postures. In order to appreciate the beauty, one needs to actually visit this place.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, which is the main railway station of Mumbai is a perfect blend of the Indian and Victorian architecture. The railway station has eighteen platforms and is all the time bustling with not only the intercity trains but also those which arrive from other cities. At night or late in the evening, the terminus lights up and leaves the visitor completely speechless as he or she is in the complete aww of this stupendous piece of architecture.

Mahalaxmi Temple

Close to the sea is located the Mahalaxmi temple, dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. One can make their way to the temple through the narrow lanes and then climb the stairs, followed by worshipping Goddess Lakshmi as well as Goddess Saraswati and Kali. The best part about the temple is the management of the crowd, where both male and female separately stand in a queue and worship the Goddess. The serene atmosphere at the temple provides peace and solace to the individual. Tourists must keep in mind not to click pictures as it is strictly prohibited.