There are some plans which are never executed. Yes, some plans of Goa trip, some plans of Bangkok trip and some plans of visiting the crowded cities. I took a train from Bengaluru to Mumbai one fine day to fulfill the wish of my Best friend. My best friend stays somewhere far from the Mumbai city. Yes, by now every one is aware of the fact that how huge Mumbai is! Travelling from a metro city I shouldn't curse this city, but Mumbai was swarming with headlights every where I turned. The night, we planned the next day Mumbai Darshan. Here, I would suggest people who have limited time and no means of commuting kindly check the "Mumbai Darshan" facility offered by various travel agencies operating across the city.
Day 1
The excitement of roaming around the streets of Mumbai, didn't allow me to sleep. We got up pretty early and paced our scooty towards Gateway of India. Few things to be kept in mind is the city is located at the coast, so it would be humid most of the year. Don't forget to carry scarfs, caps, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion and water bottle. You should make sure that you stay hydrated in the scorching heat of Mumbai Nagariya. There is limited parking available nearby Gateway. So, make sure you park your vehicle safely with the assistance of Mumbai Police. Mumbai Police is one of the most helpful bunch of policemen ever. The view from Gateway is mesmerizing. For most of us, it is a flash back of the 2008 Mumbai attack where the fumes fogged the Taj. For others, we are busy replicating that Instagram post about Gateway of India. Maybe the place is remained lonely and secluded...it is always thronged by people and flocked by pigeons. The entry to Gateway is free of cost, however most of the tourists take a ferry to travel across the sea to the Elephanta Caves. The ride to Elephanta caves is abit longer than expected, close to an hour. However, the view is amazing where you see hundreds of ships anchored, some passing by close, some dancing at a distance along with the waves. Elephanta Caves is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. To climb up, there is a toy train available, but you can also walk up to the caves which will leave you panting hard for the rest of the journey. The view from the top is breathtaking. The caves are dilapidated ruins of history, dedicated to the Lord Shiva. The caves are one of the favorite picnic spots for families and of course, lovers point. The view from the ferry approaching the Gateway is one of the best memory I have. Only if I had the DSLR to capture the best of the sunset.
Day 2
I would say I was lucky enough to visit the Naval Dockyard. It is one-time life opportunity and I couldn't miss this. We visited the warships lined at the Naval Dockyard. The feeling of walking inside the ship and seeing the officers working every second for the safety of the Nation. It gave me goosebumps when I saw the fluttering flag of India and Indian Navy on the ship deck. Due to security reasons, there are no cameras allowed on board. However, there are visits organized for civilians on special occasions. After the dockyard visit, we went to Gateway as I was in love with the place. There are various art galleries, such as National Gallery of Modern Art, Nehru Centre Art Gallery for art lovers. My personal favorite was the KalaGhoda, of the KalaGhoda Art Association. If you visit Mumbai, during the KalaGhoda Art Festival then you can witness some of the famous art works. Well, for us it was time to head back to the Red Carpet, Wax Museum. It is one of the wax museum in one of the malls in Ghatkopar (R City Mall). The museum has wax statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Anna Hazare, Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Queen Elizabeth and many more. You are allowed to take a tour and click numerous pictures inside at a cost of 300 INR.
With the time constraint, I couldn't visit other places.... But, I made sure I ate at the Chowpatty and clicked at the beach at the dawn. I made sure I partied like never before and hogged endlessly on home-cooked home and Mumbaiya food. I hope to see you soon Mumbai
"More dreams are realised and extinguished in Bombay than any other place in India"
