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Arthur Basin (historical)

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    • TravelerIndia - a journey to me
      31111
      Day 3

      First day - Mumbai

      January 8 in India ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

      It all feels surreal. It’s loud, noisy, hot, crowded, colourful, sensual, fragrant in many ways.

      The streets of Mumbai were incredibly quiet when I arrived at 4am this morning. Twinkling lights of the Indian flag punctuating the smoky darkness.

      Breakfast coffee at Leonard’s one of Mumbai’s oldest eating establishments followed by a late leisurely lunch at the Taj. Talk about a tale of two halves; wooden tables crammed cheek by jowl and over the top glitzy Christmas decorations. Crumbling doorways, majestic facades, intricate carvings, ornate balconies, dangling wires. Black and yellow taxis converging like a swarm of bees, rusty buses that should by rights be gracing the scrap heap, honking horns, big cars, bicycles, scooters. The sheer scale of India Gateway. A veritable mix. This is Mumbai and I am here.

      I got bindi-fied by a holy man. Goodness knows what was in those sweets he got me to eat! Karma comes in the form of cheap red wool and bartering.

      It’s a joy meeting people face to face after chatting online.      Read more

    • TravelerIndien 2019
      Day 16

      16. Tag - Auf eigene Faust durch Mumbai

      October 4, 2019 in India ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

      Heute hatten wir den Tag ganz für uns. Morgens hat es noch geregnet, aber dann wurde es schön (und auch ziemlich heiß und schwül).

      Nach dem Frühstück und finalen Packen ging’s zu Fuß auf einen nahe gelegenen Markt. Hier trennte sich die Gruppe - einige besuchten ein bekanntes Wäschereiviertel, andere zog es in eine große Mall. Hier gab es neben vielen westlichen Marken auch tolle indische Shops. Dann ging es weiter zu einem empfohlenen Deko-Shop.

      Zurück im Hotel konnten wir nochmal duschen, unsere Einkäufe verpacken und saßen nochmal alle zusammen beim Essen bevor um 20:30 Uhr unser Shuttle zum Flughafen ging.      Read more

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    • Indien / Goa
      Day 14

      Von Goa nach Mumbai

      April 12, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

      Guten Morgen Goa....um 3.30 uhr, noch dunkel.....
      Ganz schön früh , die Koffer fertig packen und in das erstaunlicherweise pünktliche Taxi ab zum Flughafen.
      Die Fahrt zum Flughafen dauerte knapp 40 Minuten ohne traffic....
      Der Flug hob pünktlich um 6:50 ab und wir waren um 7:45 in Mumbai.
      Angekommen erwartete uns der Fahrer des Taj Mahal Palace Hotels und brachte uns in etwas über einer Stunde Fahrzeit ins traumhafte Hotel.
      Eingecheckt und erstmal frühstücken .
      Nachdem wir alle ziemlich müde sind gab es eine Runde Pool zum Entspannen und für ein kleines Nickerchen....genannt Pfüsi auf schwitzerdütsch...🤣🤣
      Anbei ein paar Föteli 🙈🙈🤣🤣🤣
      P.S. Die Fahrt über die Brücke kostet Gebühr daher hält sich dort der Verkehr in Grenzen.      Read more

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    • TravelerIndia/London 2024
      Day 13

      Elephanta caves

      January 26 in India ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

      Elephanta Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, about 10 km from the mainland. It is also known as Gharapuri (meaning City of Caves).
      The Elephanta Caves complex is cut from solid basalt rock over an area of around 60,000 sq. ft. There are seven caves on the island divided into two groups.

      The first group of five caves have Hindu sculptures, out of which the Cave 1 is the most elaborate. Beautiful artwork covers the stone walls, and the cave has a pillared mandapa along with a large hall. The mandapa is the home to Shivalinga, and the hall consists of stone statues of Shiva in different forms.

      Elephanta Island history is still a mystery. There are no known records about the creation of the caves. And local folks give the credit to non-humans and supernatural powers.

      However, based on speculations and excavations, historians date the caves to be built anywhere between 5th century CE and 8th century CE.

      Portuguese took control of the island in the 1500s and named it as Elephanta Island because of a huge elephant statue. That damaged statue today rests in the Jijamata Udyaan Mumbai. The caves also suffered serious damage during the Portuguese rule.

      British Indian officials made efforts to preserve the ruins in 1909, and later during the 1970s, and the main cave was restored to its present form. The government mended other caves too      Read more

    • TravelerTravelling in South India 2019
      Day 28

      Mumbai

      September 9, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

      E' una città recente e la visita dei suoi luoghi storici si concentra nell'area del vecchio porto e nei quartieri edificati dagli inglesi dal XVIII al XX secolo nella punta meridionale della penisola dove sorgono i quartieri di Fort, Colaba, cuore all'Inghilterra di Buona Baia e Malabar Hill, quartiere residenziale di ville e giardini pensili. Iniziamo la visita dal Gateway of India , centro storico dell'antica Bombay inglese. consiste in un arco trionfale risalente al 1911 costruito per celebrare la visita di re Giorgio V d'Inghilterra e di sia moglie , era la porta d'ingresso degli inglesi. Di fronte si erge il Taj Mahal Palace edificato nel 1903 in stile Indo saraceno secondo il desiderio del potente commerciante, fondatore dell'impero economico della famiglia Tata, fu il primo Grand Hotel dell'India . Fu' il primo edificio inizia a dotarsi di elettricità non solo nelle stanze degli ospiti ma anche nelle lavanderie, negli ascensori e nei bagni. Ha sempre ospitato i più importanti personaggi del mondo. L'immagine del fumo che si innalza dall'hotel divenne il simbolo degli attentati terroristici del 2008 quando decine di persone vennero uccise e gran parte dell'edificio danneggiato. Noi dormiamo in un albergo proprio dietro al Taj Mahal, non è proprio la stessa cosa ma ci accontentiamo il Regent Hotel, deve essere di proprietà di qualche arabo perché bivaccano nella hall tutto il tempo , vestiti con i loro lunghi abiti bianchi. Per pranzo, andiamo al Samrat dove assaggiamo il loro famoso thali del Gujarat un trionfo di sapori e consistenze, dolce e speziato davvero eccellente, alla sera invece abbiamo voglia di cambiare un po' e prenotiamo al Burma Burma un elegante ristorante che propone la cucina del Myanmar. e ci lanciamo a scegliere i nostri piatti preferiti l'insalata con le foglie di te' , i noodles insaporiti nel brodo con latte di cocco, cipolla croccante , noccioline. Ci divertiamo a ripensare al nostro meraviglioso viaggio, un pezzetto del nostro cuoricino sicuramente è là, forse perché è stata la prima vera esperienza fuori dall'Europa tutti insieme o forse i colori della Birmania o la gente o la sua magia non so di preciso cosa sia ma qualcosa c'è sicuramente.Read more

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    • TravelerTravelling in South India 2019
      Day 29

      Mumbai Victoria Terminus

      September 10, 2019 in India ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

      Il più esuberante edificio in stile gotico di tutta Mumbai, del 1888 che assomiglia di più ad una cattedrale che a una stazione ferroviaria. l'opera mirava a celebrare con estro eccezionale l'importanza della ferrovia presso gli inglesi e di conseguenza l'idea del progresso mto in voga alla fine del XIX secolo . Di fronte si erge il palazzo della Municipal Corporation disegnato dallo stesso architetto nel 1893. Giro nel bazar delle gioiellerie viviamo un po' la vera vita di Mumbai. Piccola pasticceria tipicamente indiana, Ale fa il carico. Cena al Lepold Cafe'Read more

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    • TravelerTravelling in South India 2019
      Day 29

      Mumbai Maharaj Museum

      September 10, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

      È il museo più grande di Mumbai ospita collezioni di oggetti provenienti da tutta l'India. E' allestito all'interno di un un'imponente edificio sormontato da una cupola..Ci colpiscono molto per la bellezza dei pannelli del 700 a.c. e raffiguravano la battaglia assiro babilonesi.Read more

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    • TravelerIndien 2019
      Day 15

      15. Tag - Nachtzug und Mumbai

      October 3, 2019 in India ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

      Was für ein Erlebnis! Nach unser eher unspektakulären Abschiedsessen ging es zum Bahnhof von Kota - um 21:05 Uhr ging unser Nachtzug nach Mumbai. Zwischen zahlreichen indischen Passagieren auf 2 Waggons verteilt, suchten wir uns unsere Betten. Der Schaffner wollte unbedingt einen Fehler in unserer Buchung finden um bestochen zu werden - er prüfte alle Namen und Reisepässe aber alles war korrekt - er war sauer und Amrit sehr happy.
      Es war ziemlich eng und nicht ganz so gemütlich wie damals auf dem Weg von Shanghai nach Peking, aber durch das Ruckeln haben wir dann doch alle eine Mütze Schlaf abbekommen.

      Kurz nach 8 Uhr kamen wir in Mumbai Central an (leider nicht am Victoria Terminus). Mit neuem Bus und Reiseleiter ging es erstmal frühstücken, bevor wir vom Gateway of India aus mit einem Boot zum Tempel auf der Elephanta Insel fuhren. Das war echt spannend, nur leider dauerte es aus verschiedenen Gründen viel länger als gedacht (riesiger Schulausflug und gesundheitliche Einschränkungen unseres Reiseleiters). Zurück in der Stadt seilten sich dann einige Mitreisende ab, während der Rest noch eine kleine Stadtrundfahrt machte. Es ging zum Victoria Terminus, von wo aus wohl der 1. Zug Indiens abfuhr, zum Gandhi Haus und zu den hängenden Gärten, von wo aus wir einen tollen Blick auf die Stadt genossen.

      Endlich im Hotel wollten wir nur noch was essen und endlich ins Bett! Morgen besichtigen wir dann Mumbai auf eigene Faust bevor es abends zurück nach Hause geht.      Read more

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    • TravelerNaidoo Family Holiday
      Day 2

      The Diaspora of it all

      December 18, 2023 in India ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

      Waking up in Mumbai was all I could hope it would be. The people, the city and the noise culminated in a wonderful experience for my soul. We spent the day on foot, going from stall to stall and sightseeing. We visited the Gateway of India, saw the Taj hotel and even patronned the world famous: Leopold Cafe that was located under our hotel rooms. It was such a fun experienceRead more

    • TravelerIndia 2019
      Day 4

      Mumbai - City of Contrasts - and Smog

      February 18, 2019 in India ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      We have just finished two exciting days in Mumbai, seeing the sights and, with some expat help, getting just a little bit off the beaten tourist track.

      It is certainly a city of contrasts. Designer boutiques and upmarket restaurants sit alongside street food sellers. Autorickshaws fight with Jaguars and Maseratis for a share of the road. We saw multi, multi-million dollar houses just a block away from the most appalling looking slums. Security is everywhere, bags are x-rayed at hotels yet motorcycle helmets are apparently optional and seatbelts are only compulsory in the front seat of a car.

      And it is certainly polluted, with brown smog ever present, although as India first timers we aren’t yet smog experts.

      On the tourist front, we took a (long) boat ride to Elephanta Island, then a (long) walk up the hill to the eponymous cave, dodging cows and palanquins, monkeys and sleeping dogs. A Hindu Temple, it was full of carvings of various Vishnus and Shivas and Ramas. Our guide gave an informed and passionate commentary about the detail in the panels, most of which went over our heads.

      We looked in at Dhobi Ghat, an absolutely enormous outdoor laundry washing by hand some thousands of bedsheets and other clothing each day. We took a quick snap of the Victoria Terminus railway station and walked briefly through the Hanging Gardens.

      Ghandi’s residence - part museum, part memorial, part library - was interesting and rather moving, the tumultuous recent history of India and his part in it quite well depicted.

      We met Steve’s mate John, and a fellow expat called Anil, for a great dinner then spent the following day with them, looking at some of the construction projects they had been involved in and generally exploring to the north of the city.

      For dinner, back near our digs, we went to Cafe Mondegar, very atmospheric and with a largely local clientele. The food and drink was delicious and inexpensive (and, as of the time of writing, safe and hygienic).

      We were very lucky to have stayed in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, on the water right next to the Gateway of India and in the news in2008 when it was attacked by terrorists. It was great to take in the atmosphere of this grand old building and pretend for a few days that we could afford to do it all the time.

      Today we move on to Varanasi and a new chapter begins.      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Arthur Basin (historical)

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