Prior to visiting India, Mumbai did not really attract me in any way, and thus I had only half a day for sightseeing in the city. After having breakfast at the Grand Hyatt, I hired a taxi for 4 hours to bring me around town. As I mentioned in my previous post, the Grand Hyatt Mumbai is located in the northern part of town near the airport, while Mumbai's city centre is located in the south by the bay with waterfront views. Luckily for me, the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link that connects and shortens the route between the 2 areas was complete. However the mistake I had was that I did not negotiate on the pricing of the cab to include toll fees and the driver wanted to jack up the price by more than twice the toll fee was. Fortunately I spot the rates which was written in English as well.
Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link
There was a queue for the sea link, but this stop meant I could savour the skyline of Mumbai from this vantage point. The real traffic begins past the sea link and my smart driver had to stop and fill up for natural gas. I know I was not rushing for time, but it still costed valuable time and the cab I was on is not exactly the cleanest. From the gas station, there was still another 20 minutes drive through Mumbai traffic which is really slow but we did pass the first point of interest being Haji Ali Bay. Located in the middle of this bay is the Haji Ali Mosque and is also the tomb to a wealthy Muslim merchant. What is unique about the mosque is that it can be accessed only during a low tide as the pathway linking the mosque to the mainland is submerged during a high tide. The white-washed walls of the mosque also cuts a fine silhouette against the blue sky and water of the bay.
Driving along Haji Ali Bay
From the Haji Ali bay, there was still some time before we reached the Gateway of India as we passed several high end mansions along Pedder Road like the Jindal Mansion and caught a glimpse of the skyscraper residence of Mukesh Ambani also known as Antilia. This part of town is probably where the moguls of Mumbai live in and thus resulting in the city to have some of the most expensive real estate in the world.
Mumbai's infamous traffic on Pedder Road with Antilia, Mukesh Ambani's residence in the distance
From Pedder Road, my hired driver went past Marine Drive and passing through what is known as the Queen's Necklace and this area is supposedly beautifully lit up at night and certainly looks impressive in the day as well. There is a waterfront promenade along this stretch of the bay with a view of Mumbai's skyline.
Promenade with a view of Mumbai's skyline
Gateway to India and Taj Mahal Hotel
Gateway to India Monument
Other sights to take note in the area besides the Taj Mahal hotel and the Gateway itself would be the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha kingdom in the 17th century. Many of Mumbai's major venues have been named after him including the airport and the main railway station.
Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji
The next sight on my trip to Mumbai was the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or CST for short. This is the major railway terminal in Mumbai and was known formerly as the Victoria Terminus. The station facade itself is a sight to behold and its gothic influences blends in very well with the rest of the buildings in this area. Inside the railway station itself, one can see the hustle and bustle of an Indian city and experience all the sights and sound of passengers rushing to and from their train.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The short visit to Mumbai gave me a glimpse of the financial center of India where the business moguls reside and the pace of urban development in this city seems to mirror the growth of the Indian economy. On the way back, I asked the driver to stop by the Marine Drive so I may get down and take a photo of the city skyline from the promenade. If I had more time, I would definitely explore the waterfront area as well as the various colonial era architecture in this city.
Mumbai waterfront along Marine Drive
Comparing Mumbai to Delhi is like sizing up Shanghai to Beijing. And I would say that for first time visitors, a visit to the historical capital of Delhi would provide a richer history of the country since that is where all the major sights are located at. However seasoned travellers and urbanites might enjoy the financial center of Mumbai much more due to a good mix of sights and luxury along with a more impressive city setting by the bay.
Haji Ali in black & white