Mumbai : Victoria Gardens

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Victoria Gardens
	Victoria Garden is now days known as the 'Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan'. There is a zoo well known as 'Ranicha Bag' and the Victoria & Albert Museum. It also have a giant elephant statue at doorstep of the museum is the large stone elephant removed from Elephanta caves. It is spread in more than 48 acres area and have oldest trees in the Mumbai city, this is arich botanical garden with a lots of rare species of plants preserved neatly for studies. The zoo is closed on Wednesday and opens on all other days of a week for the visitors between 9 AM. to 6 PM. The entry fee is just five rupees and it is most liked by thechildren.

Mumbai : Taj Mahal Hotel

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Taj Mahal Hotel
	This hotel is located near the Gateway of India and so visit to this place is incomplete without mentioning the majestic Taj Mahal Hotel. The original red-domed hotel has been adjoined by a modern skyscraper, the Taj Mahal Inter-Continental. This majestic hotel in Mumbai, overlooks Apollo Bunder and one can enjoy the good views of the Gateway from top-floor of this hotel. The industrialist Tata built this hotel in the year 1903 and when he was refused to entre in the European hotel. It is very beautiful hotel and worth seeing the grand central staircases in the hotel's old wing.

Mumbai : Siddhivinayak Temple

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Siddhivinayak Temple
	Siddhivinayak temple is located at Prabhadevi and it is the epicenter of faith and abode ofLord Ganesha for the Mumbai peoples. This temple is built by Vithu Patil in 1801 and now taken care by the Siddhivinayak Ganpati Trust. The temple is more than 200 years old as per the Hindu Calendar. Devotees can perform pooja with bel leaves, milk and cure abhisheks of Lord Shiva and oil abhishek of Lord Hanuman, these two other deities share the premises with Lord Siddhivinayaka. People feel very relaxed and peaceful after visiting this holy place.

Mumbai : Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Sanjay Gandhi National Park
	Sanjay Gandhi National Park is formerly known as Borivali National Park and it is 110 sq.kms. in area and located on the Northern outskirts of Mumbai. This is the place, where one can enjoy fresh air breath and relax. There are the Lion Safari park as well as toytrain rides as main highlights and specially attracts children a lot.

Mumbai : Prince of Wales Museum

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Prince of Wales Museum
	The Prince of Wales Museum is located in the area between Colaba and Kala Ghoda Fort. This museum was built in 1905 to commemorate the King George V's first visit to India. It was not open for public visitors till 1923. The Museum is open from 10:15 AM. to 6 PM. on Tuesday to Saturday of every week. It was designed in grand Indo-Saracenic style by George Willet and decorated with ornamental garden and impressive gallery centre hall topped by a huge dome. It has collection which includes impressive sculptures from Elephanta Island and Gujarat as well as Karnataka, Terracotta figurines from the Indus Valley. It also displays paintings, porcelain, weaponry, natural history with collection of European paintings.

Mumbai : National Gallery of Modern Art

Mumbai or Bombay : National Gallery of Modern Art
	The spacious Sir Cowasji Jehanghir Public Hall now is the National Gallery of Modern Art. It is located on the MG Road and it is very happening place of modern exhibition, which includes showcasing of a range of changing exhibitions. There is small but permanent collection of contemporary Indian art on its top floor, which is dome shaped Gallery. This dome gallery is open for all on daily basis form 10 AM. to 5 PM. without any entry fee and it is closed on Monday.

Marine Drive

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Marine Drive
	Marine Drive Marine drive is a 7 km long costal road in South Mumbai which connects Malbar hill to Nariman point. The official name of the road is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Marg, but the name is rarely used. It's a C shaped tar road. The road is built upon the reclaimed land. The area on which we now see the Marine Drive, was a part of sea once. By actually byputting thousands of big rocks into the sea the land was reclaimed. Palm and coconut trees are lined up throughout the road on sea side. The road is six lanes broad. Newly constructed walking track alongside the road adds up to the beauty. In the morning and evening you can see many people doing cardio exercise like walking and running there. Marine drive is also used as the big viewing gallery to host the show. The shows of Indian armed forces are arranged here. Marine drive is world's largest viewing gallery from which lakhs of people can watch the show at the same time. At Nariman point you can hire a horse wagon called as baggi in local language. This is a considered as royally ride. Therefore the rates of this horse wagon ride are also very high. Marine Drive is one of the cream crowd areas of Mumbai and to be honest in India as well. The property rates of this area are sky high and highest in India. Many corporate offices of big organizations like Air India are in this area. Also many 5 star hotels like Oberoi towers, Trident are on Marine Drive. One unique thing about Nariman Point is that you can get any quality and any priced food here at any time of the day! Right from the roadside food to 5 star restaurants are here to pamper your taste buds. From Nariman point sunset looks amazing. There are many big stony structures just next to walking track. You can sit on that and enjoy sunset with your loved ones. After the sunset if we see the Marine drive from some distance and preferably with some height, streetlights on Marine Drive resemble the diamonds of a necklace. For the reason British people who were ruling India till 1947 gave the name "Queens Necklace" to it. Other sites to look for: Malbar hill is at the Northern end of the road. From the top of Malbar Hill amazing view of Queen's necklace can be seen. Girgaon chowpati is a place to taste some desi chat items. How to get there? By Air: International and domestic airport are around 24 kms away from Marine drive By Rail: Travel by western railway local and get down at Charni road or Churchgate. By road: It is connected very well by road. You can go here by hiring Taxi or by public transport buses. The best way is to come by local train and get down at Charni road station. From there you can take a cab. Visiting Marine Drive is an excellent experience so one should get there at least once in a lifetime!

Mumbai : Mani Bhavan

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Mani Bhavan
	Mani Bhavan is located nearby the 'August Kranti Maidan', and it is on the Laburnum Road. This was the house where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay during his visits to Mumbai. Now days this is a small museum. There is photo exhibition pictures the major incidents in Gandhiji's life and very good collection of books by or about Gandhiji are found here. This is open for all from 9.30 AM. to 9 PM. everyday.

Mumbai : Malabar Hill

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Malabar Hill
	Malabar Hill is the expensive amongst all in the Mumbai residential area and it is located at the Northern end of the Backbay. One can enjoy the splendid views of the Arabian Sea from there easily. It is most sought after attractions are the Kamala Nehru Park and the Hanging Gardens. There is a temple of Walkeshwar on the southern end of Malabar Hill.

Mumbai : Mahalaxmi Temple

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Mahalaxmi Temple
	Mahalaxmi temple is nearby Haji Ali mosque and visible from that place. This is the temple of very popular Goddess in this financial capital of India. As per the legends about this temple, when the Britishers were constructing sea wall for joining Malabar Hill and Worli at the end of 18th century, the Goddess appeared in the dreams of the local Hindu contractor and blessed him with success if he rebuilds her temple. As well as the most unbelievable thing is that the statue of this goddess was unearthed during the construction of that wall. The contractor then believed his dreams were true and granting a land nearby, where he built the temple, which stands to this day.

Mumbai : Juhu Beach

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Juhu Beach
	Juhu Beach is also one of the famous beaches in Mumbai city. It is the place where you can find the rich and the famous people came for hangouts. The Juhu beach is not a place for taking bath and to lie around. It is most famous for sunset. It is location in the Central suburb of Mumbai and Mumbai's street food is the main attraction for food lovers. One can see ISKCON Temple, St. Joseph Church and Gandhi Gram as are nice places to visit in Mumbai anytime of the year. On weekends one can have a carnival type of atmosphere here and horse rides, camel rides, dancing monkeys and many more will be always present around you to entertainyou. Luxurious hotels are enjoyable as well as the marvelous apartments line on Southern end of the Beach is worth seeing.

Mumbai : Horniman Circle

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Horniman Circle

After taking right turn from Flora Fountain that is Hutatma Chowk on the Vir Nariman Road to the Old Custom House, Town Hall and Mint on the imposing Horniman Circle. It is the stately, arcaded circle of buildings around the sole surviving section of Mumbai's original Cotton Green was laid out in the 1860.

This circle is overlooked from the east by the neo classical Town Hall, where one can find the Asiatic Library and the Mumbai Municipal State Central Library. It has the collection of old and rare manuscripts. Also beautiful park in the centre of these buildings seems like an oasis of quiet amidst chaos.

The Banyan tree that served as Mumbai's first stock exchange is still there and the modern stock exchange is situated in a high-rise building. The St. Thomas Cathedral located nearby Mumbai's oldest buildings. The first service was conducted on Christmas day in the year 1718. The cathedral is open since 7 AM. to 6 PM. everyday and for all. 

Mumbai : Haji Ali

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Haji Ali
	Haji Ali is located at the end of long causeway poking into the Arabian Sea and it is the beautiful mausoleum. It is a whitewashed mosque which contains the tombs of the MuslimSaint 'Haji Ali' who was said to have been a wealthy local merchant who renounced the material world after his trip to Mecca. This mosque was built in the 19th century by the devotees of Saint Haji Ali. But there is also another story describes that Haji Ali died while on pilgrimage to Mecca and his casket miraculously floated back to Mumbai and landed at this spot. The mosque is only visited in low tides via the concrete causeway made for a walk towards it. The sunset view from this mosque is quite spectacular and relaxing.

Mumbai : Gateway of India

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Gateway of India
	Gateway of India is one of the most sought by everybody visiting India for truism and especially in Mumbai. The Indo-Saracenic style Gateway of India built-in 1927 and designed by George Witter to commemorate the visit of George V and Queen Mary in the year 1911. It is modeled in honey colour basalt on 16th century Gujarati work faces out to Mumbai Harbour at the tip of Apollo Bunder in Colaba. It is one of the significance building in the city and favorite gathering spot for many locals in the evening as well as on the weekends. Also there is another place worth watching is 'Elephanta Island', one can go by boats from the gateways. Touts, photographers, balloon sellers and snake charmers adds more glitters to this bazaar. This is very special area for the Mumbaiites to wonder at evening time.

Mumbai : Flora Fountain

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Flora Fountain
	Flora Fountain is much cherished fountain in Mumbai and it is named after the Roman goddess of abundance. It was erected in the year 1869 in honor of Sir Bartle Frere, who was the governor of Mumbai and responsible for dismantling the fort as well as considerable shaping of the modern Mumbai. The whitewashed Goddess shares her diminished area with monument honoring the martyrs, who died fighting for the cause of Maharashtra out of the Bombay Presidency, and so it is called 'Hutatma Chowk'.

Mumbai : Essel World

Maharashtra - Mumbai or Bombay : Essel World
	Essel World is located near the Gorai beach and it is the theme park. One who loves fun can enjoy a lot after visiting this awesome place. It has many exciting rides and games to play and watch. It has a water theme park called as 'Water Kingdom', where everybody can enjoy water with full of joy and enthusiasm.

Elephanta Caves

Information on Elephanta Caves, Mumbai
	Elephanta Caves The Elephanta Island is the site of the magnificent Elephanta caves, containing beautiful carvings, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. These caves are located at a distance of 11-km from Mumbai and are now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island of Elephanta, being a commercial, military and religious center for centuries has traces of early Buddhist culture. The Elephanta caves are thought to date back to the Silhara kings belonging to the period between 9th - 12th centuries. Legends and history suggest that the great warrior prince of Chalukya dynasty Pulkesin ll, raised the shrine to celebrate his victory. Some historians also suggest that these caves were built by the Kalchuri King Krishnaraja in 6th century AD. The entire cave temple complex covers an area of about 60, 000 square feet. The World of Lord Shiva, Elephanta is the place where the main events in the mythology of Lord Shiva are depicted most powerfully, consistently and exclusively. At Ellora though other Gods appear on the panel with Shiva, but at Elephanta there is nothing but Shiva. According to Hindu Mythology three Gods govern their world : Brahma -- the creator, Vishnu -- the Preserver and Maheshwara -- the Destroyer. Elephanta has a story that there was a pillar whose end could not be found. Even the Gods failed to determine the length of the pillar. The temples in the Elephanta caves and the carvings on the walls show Shiva in different moods and shapes, Lord Shiva practicing Yoga, Lord Shiva meditating with snakes coiled around his neck, and at places Shiva is in the company of his wife, Parvati. Panel 6 of the caves represents the marriage of Shiva with Parvati with the rites being performed by Brahma and scores of other Gods attending the marriage. Panel 5 of the cave describes the coming of Ganga from heaven to Earth. As the great force of Ganga might have destroyed the Earth, she lands in the hair locks of Shiva who then gently releases her. The wise and righteous Lord before whom the forces of evil and ignorance, flee, and are terrified into submission is carved on the 7th panel. Similarly other wall panels narrate the story of Lord Shiva. On the western end is the sanctuary of Linga denoting the essence of creative power, in which Lord Shiva is worshipped as the Lord of Fertility and Procreation. The Monasteries of Ajanta lead us directly to Elephanta. It appears that the same families of craftsmen and sculptors who were working on the Kailasa temple of Ellora and adjoining Buddhist caves at Ellora were employed at Elephanta. An exquisite ensample of rock-cut artistry, can be found here. No doubt the cave was the creation of an unknown genius, a master architect, who having thoroughly absorbed and assimilated the magnificent contribution of his predecessors in the dual traditions of the independent free standing sculpture and rock-cut architecture, produced a monument which introduced a whole new world of form, quite distinct from any previous achievement. The sculptors carved out of solid basalt rock, a representation of the heavenly mountain residence of Lord Shiva. Opening out from three sides, the temple lets in light from many angles making the sculptures seem to move with the changing angles of light. The temple plan is so symmetric with important focal points worked out in a geometric Mandala (the design that represents the energy field). The pillars inside the cave give an impression that these pillars support the roof. Again the cross beams on the roof makesthe visitor feel there is a ceiling of the caves. The pillars have been deliberately kept simple as to attract the attention towards the exquisite carvings on the panels, which are nine in number. There are three openings to the caves, which allows light to enter from various angles in different seasons giving an expression that the images are moving with transition of light.