From high-class shopping malls to poverty, Mumbai tends to open eyes in an instant. The color and chaos of India’s financial powerhouse proves strangely endearing. Home to Bollywood and considered the country’s fashion capital, Mumbai is also the largest city in India. Jam-packed with ornate colonial architecture, mosques, temples and ancient bazaars, Mumbai dresses for every occasion.
Visitors entering Mumbai for the first time can do so as those did years ago. The Gateway to India differentiates with its mix of Muslim and Hindu architectural styles. Constructed in 1911 by the British, the basalt arch was intended to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary’s visit. Back then, the arch served as the first sight of Mumbai for many visitors.
Mumbai is home to a number of museums and art galleries worth a visit. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharj Vastu Sangrahalaya remains the city’s biggest museum. The museum holds collections of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures along with miniature paintings worth a look. The large and in charge museum was introduced to the city as a commemoration of King George’s first visit to India. Visitors will also find collections of weaponry and stuffed animals within.
For a taste of Mumbai’s art, most meander through the Jehangir Art Gallery. Mumbai’s premier art exhibition space showcases works by Indian artists. It is also home to Natesans. The Natesans boast the title of the country’s oldest licensed antique dealers.
The city’s devotion comes through a number of shrines and monuments. The Shrine of Haji Ali commemorates the Muslim saint who died while on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Rising out of the sea, the Shrine glistens in the sun. Constructed on a tiny islet just 500 meters from the coast, visitors will find a mosque and tomb in the structure. The Shrine of Haji Ali has become known for its excellence in displaying Indian and Islamic architecture.
Also just as isolating, Elephanta Island presents more ancient devotion in Mumbai. The Island is composed of rock cut temples in the middle of the Mumbai Harbor. The cave temples snake through basalt rock and impressive with their carvings. The temples here date back to times of old, from 450A.D. to 750 A.D.
Others prefer to admire Mumbai at face value. Its buildings are somewhat of a mix. St. Thomas’ Cathedral adores in a colonial style. The Anglican Church serves as the oldest English building in the city, dating back to 1676. Dressed to impress even more, the High Court of Mumbai plays out its drama inside and out. The exterior shines in neo-gothic style while the interior invites visitors to see actual public cases in progress. The building was designed in keeping with a German castle.
While Mumbai may reside on a small island, connected to India’s mainland by bridges, the city fails to isolate any visitor. Those that reach Mumbai instantly fall in the thick of the city’s well known color and chaos.
