The crowd and chaos of Mumbai can mystify any traveler around the world. But this trip is for the one who seeks peace and maybe a little intrigued about China Town.
Before I came to Mumbai for a short visit, I've penned down few places to visit during my stay. I've read a lot of blogs and shortlisted few places including the Chinese Temple in Mazagaon and a Buddhist Temple in Worli. Chinese Temple is one of the few must visit places in Mumbai, sadly (or should I say fortunately), not many of the localities know about it.
We headed to Mazagaon on a Sunday morning. Took a local to Dockyard Road station(Harbour Line) and then a taxi to Mazagaon. Bad luck strikes! Nobody knew the place nor did my GPS worked. We stopped at a shop and kept asking every passerby. Finally an old parsi uncle said that it is just few minutes from there and told us the route. A few rights and a few lefts and we reach the place.
Upon reaching, I was perplexed as it did not really look like a temple, it was just an old but a beautiful house which had like dozens of cats guarding it. I went inside to ask whether I'm at the right place or not, and was greeted by the temple's care taker( Mind you! He did not look like a Chinese :P). We went upstairs to the prayer hall and two Chinese men welcomed us with a big smile. First thing he asked me, "How did you come to know about this place?". He said that the only non - Chinese people who come are Arts & Commerce students for their documentaries or projects. He was very excited to tell us about the History of the temple.
People believe that this temple answers their questions. Next to the idols, there are few sheets which tells the fortune using bamboo sticks, but there is no one who can read and intepret it for you( Yeah! They can read and talk amazing Hindi and English but cannot read Chinese). There is also a pair of the Chinese mystical Yin and Yang( Kidney beans kind off stones). You ask a question and throw them to the floor. If they fall with the opposite sides up, it means the forces are with you. If both of them are closed, then it means that whatever you've asked for is not something you should venture into. Else, it means that the question cannot be answered now.
Chocolatesss! Yes, they offer chocolates as prasad. How cool is that?
And just when we were leaving the place, two students with their camera and a tripod stand were going upstairs. Maybe another documentary ;)
If you do not want to visit the cliched tourist places in Mumbai, I would definitely recommend you to go here. It's serene and also a very pretty place to just sit and to get lost in your thoughts. Maybe your questions might get answered, who knows ;)
Keep travelling!
