Mega City Mumbai

Mumbai the city of dream and hope is haunted by thousands of globetrotters to try their luck as the city offers a great opportunity to fulfill ones' dream and aspiration. From Mumbai Hotels to the slums of Dharavi, Mumbai is a living example city of rich and hope. The cultural life of the city is largely affected by the western influence to the presence of Bollywood industry and rich and famous people. If on one side you can see the posh people attending the premiers, page 3 parties on the other you can see a crowd of people humming to the tune Ganpati Bappa Morya celebrating the rich old tradition of the city.

Right from the beaches, parks, monuments, ports, hotels, Mumbai is all becoming a greatest tourism attraction of the recent time. And with tourism attraction roaring high, Mumbai Luxury Hotels are becoming quite popular among the masses to enjoy the best of Amchi Mumbai. The Mumbai Luxury Hotels have gained popularity and reputation because of the unmatched services and cordial guests services it offers to its esteemed guests which are rated best in the market. There are various hotels in Mumbai ranging from Mumbai Airport hotels, Luxury Hotels in Mumbai to Budget accommodation. But the Luxury Hotels in Mumbai takes the cake for its unmatched and countless services it has on platter for their honorable guests.

Apart from luxurious accommodation, the guests can also indulge in variety of cuisines these hotels have on offer. From Oriental to Asian, North Indian to South Indian, there are wide options for all taste and preference. Apart from cuisines and living space, guests can also indulge in pampering recreational activities like Spa, Yoga & Meditation classes, Steam & Sauna, Jacuzzi, refreshing pool and many more others. Some of the world class Luxury Hotels in Mumbai is The Oberoi, Hyatt Regency, ITC Maratha, JW Marriott, Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and many more alike.

Mumbai has an array of tourist attractions for world travelers. It is an important transit point of India. Mumbai is the Business Capital of India. It is the important financial and communication centre of India. The city consists the largest and the busiest port handling and third largest Stock Exchange in the world. The biggest film industry of India is popularly known as Bollywood, produces sizable number of Hindi movies every year. Mumbai city generates the maximum revenue for India. Mumbai consists of production houses, stock exchange, seaport and offices of major national and international companies. It is also called the Commercial Capital of India. Mumbai is one of the most glamorous and happening cities of India.

In 17th century, Portuguese gave Mumbai to Charles II of England as dowry when he married Catherine. The group of seven islands was leased to the East India Company who offered freedom of business and religion to persons who came and settled here. Initially a few Parsis and Gujarati came but soon a sizeable population began to thrive. Present day Mumbai is a city of migrants consists of peoples from very nook and corner of India. Mumbai is a multi-lingual and multi-cultural society.

MUMBAI TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Gateway of India: Gateway of India, 26 metres high stone archway is the first landmark of Mumbai is visible when arriving by ship. The monument is situated on the waterfront in the southern part of the city. This 16th century emblem is built in Gujarat architectural style to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India. An equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji and statue of Swami Vivekananda are installed here.

Haji Ali Mosque: The tomb of a Muslim saint who died while on pilgrimage to Mecca. It is believed that a casket containing his mortal remains floated and came to rest on a rocky bed in the sea, where devotees constructed the tomb and mosque. It can be visited only at low tide.

Nariman Point: It is the leading business center in Mumbai situated on the southern end of Marine Drive in South Mumbai; Nariman Point owes its name to Khusheed Framji Nariman - a futurist Parsi, who wished to retrieve the land from the sea in 1940.

Flora Fountain/ Hutatmas Chowk: Flora Fountain is a stone fountain in South Mumbai. Located in the fort business district, the splendid fountain was built in 1864. It is inspired from Flora - the Roman Goddess of Flowers. The Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India constructed it. This is the business centre of Mumbai, surrounded by offices, banks, colleges and shops.

Mahalaxmi Temple: An important Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess of wealth.

Mani Bhavan (Gandhi Mamorial): A memorial dedicated to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. He used to stay at House No.19 called Man Bhavan, from time to time between 1917 and 1934. He was arrested here in 1932 and taken off for one of his many prison terms. The building now contains a pictorial gallery, research library, film and recording archive and diorama on the Mahatma's life.

Nehru Science Center: The museum has children's science park and gallery. There are antique exhibits as railway engine, tramcar, supersonic aeroplane and steam lorry.

Raudat Tajera: The Dawoodi Bohra Muslims erected a marble mosque and mausoleum in the honour of their spiritual leader Late Dr. Syedna Taher Safuddin. The lavishly decorated mausoleum has four silver doors and the holy Koran is inscribed on the inner walls in gold. The air-conditioned Fatemi mosque has 17 arches.

Pherozsha Mehta Gardens: The garden was laid in 1881 on top of the reservoir, which supplies water in Mumbai. It is popularly known as hanging gardens, renamed after the celebrated barrister Pherozshah Mehta. The special feature of the garden is that the hedges are cut into animal shapes. In the evening at sunset excellent view of the city harbour and hills beyond can be seen. There is also a flower clock.

Chowpatty Beach: It is a popular common men beach always busy and extremely busy at festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Coconut Day. There are several small kiosks selling Mumbai special snacks Bhelpuri. Apart from that you may find masseurs, pony riders, bee bee-gun shooting galleries, contortionists, snake charmers and monkey-trainers etc. There are statues of towering freedom fighters Lokmanya Tilak and Vithalbhai Patel on the beach.

Rajbai Tower: It is a beautiful structure designed by Sir Gilbert Scott. It is a majestic 79 meters clock tower in South Mumbai built in the19th century on the university campus. The clock tower commands an excellent view of the city.

Banganga: Banganga, which had been a gorge, is present in the form of water tank in the Malabar Hill area at present in the Walkeshwar Temple complex. This tank has a mythological legend behind its emergence. According to the legend, Lord Rama took halt at the point while searching for his wife – Sita around five thousand years back. As he felt thirsty, he asked his younger brother Lakshman to fetch some water for him. Then Lakshman shot an arrow in the ground and fresh water gushed out. Every year in the month of February the Banganga Music Festival is celebrated.

Film City: The Film City of Mumbai located next to the precincts of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Goregaon (East) is synonymous with the Film City of India. Film City was the dream endeavor of Dada Saheb Phalke, the renowned cine-figure of India. Indian Film Industry is the largest in the world and produces thousands of films every year. Bollywood is only next to Hollywood. The Film City is sprawled over a large area well equipped with indoor and outdoor shooting facilities. A prior permission from relevant authorities is required to access this place.

Churchgate: It is a downtown business district in South Mumbai. It imbibes its name from Churchgate Railway Station. The city center is crammed with several offices and banks. Originally the name Churchgate has been derived from St Thomas Church that is situated about 500 meters from the railway station. Nariman Point the class business center of Mumbai is just a kilometer away. The Marine Drive lies to its west is a beautifully designed avenue in Mumbai.

Mahalaxmi Racecourse: It is an elite horse racing ground in Mumbai. This oval shaped ground is situated in the Maha Lakshmi area of Mumbai. The season for horse racing is from November to February. The Derby that is held annually on the first Sunday in February is the most awaited event.

Prithvi Theatre: Prithvi Theatre is a well-known theatre of performing arts in Mumbai belongs to Kapoors - the leading actor/director families in Bollywood. Prithviraj Kapoor, a legend is the source of inspiration for the establishment of Prithvi Theatre. Shashi Kapoor, the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor, along with his wife Jennifer Kendal, worked enthusiastically realizing his father's dream of establishing it.  At present Prithvi Theatre organizes an annual drama festival that features the best plays from India.

Malabar Hill: It is a small hill in South Mumbai that consists famous Hanging Gardens, Walkeshwar Temple and Kamala Nehru Gardens of Mumbai. It is the highest point in the city center with 50 meters height presents excellent view of the foothills. It is an elite residential area of the city. Malabar Hill is a worth visiting tourist place.

Town Hall: It is one of the best imperial structures among the heritage buildings of Mumbai. It is located the fort area of South Mumbai. The pillared monument is very significant for its exquisite edifice with old wooden flooring and spiral staircases. It houses the Asiatic Society of Mumbai consists of city's largest library with a collection of 800,000 antique volumes.

Climate of Mumbai

The climate of Mumbai is warm and humid throughout the year. From November to February, the skies are clear, and the temperature is cooler. From March to mid June, the temperature is warm and humid. Mid June is the beginning of monsoon, brings torrential rains sometimes disrupt the city life completely. The average rainfall in Mumbai is 180 cms. Monsoon ends by the end of September. October is comparatively hot and humid.

It has everything to keep you fascinated for life and it is Mumbai! The city has a flavor of everything that makes up the real India. Opulence or poverty, heritage buildings or slums, swish restaurants or roadside eateries, Mumbai is home to a dizzying array of contrasts, something that makes it a city of dreams. The journey of Mumbai from an obscure village to the country’s financial capital is a long and interesting one. Who started this transformation and when is still a point to debate, yet, it remains without doubt that Mumbai is the place for all wannabes.

Charmingly located on the Konkan Coast, Mumbai is swept by gentle breezes from the Arabian Sea. Owning some fine golden beaches with swaying palms, the city has a natural charm of its own. Undoubtedly, the main charm in Mumbai is the Marine Drive. As the sun goes down, the drive gets illuminated by street lights that make up what is famously called the Queen’s Necklace. Another beach which is almost synonymous to Mumbai is the Chowpatty Beach. Best known to be the spot where Ganesha idols are immersed during the annual festival, the beach is a venue for many religious celebrations. The major draw here, however, remains the scores of small eateries that serve popular local cuisines. Another crowded breach in Mumbai is the Juhu beach, which is a rather happening place with all celebrities of the film industry Bollywood, residing around it.

Mumbai has done well in trying to preserve it natural beauty too. Even as the urban jungle has grown manifold, the population has still kept pockets of greenery within the city. The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a testimony to this fact. It boasts of being the most visited National Park in Asia and the largest National Park within city limits in the world. The park has within it an ancient art preserve too. The Kanheri Caves are age old caves which were carved out of the rocks there. An important archaeological site, Kanheri Caves is a major tourist attraction. Another green spot on the face of Mumbai is the Hanging Garden or the Pheroze Shah Mehta Garden. This is located on the upscale Malabar Hill area and is definitely a pleasant place to spend some relaxed time.

The charm that the city holds is further enhanced by the architectural wealth it possesses. An architectural wonder and an amazing colonial structure is the Gateway of India, a Twentieth century ceremonial gateway erected for Queen Victoria, the then Empress of England. Fort St. George, the fort within and around which the city of Mumbai thrives is a formidable structure. Beautiful with ancient Victorian and Gothic buildings, the place is still a major financial and commercial hub. The Prince of Wales Museum can be a treat for architecture maniacs and culture buffs. A fine collection of ancient odds the place is a must-visit for all tourists. The most precious gem in this treasure called Bombay is undoubtedly the Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus (originally Victoria Terminus). A world heritage structure, it is a monumental building and a protected site. The magnificence and splendor of the structure can make anyone take it for a fine palace or a royal structure.

A cosmopolitan city in its true sense, Mumbai is a melting pot for people from various cultures and different walks of life. It is this feature of the city that has given it some of the finest religious places in the country. One of the most revered sites for followers of Islam is the tomb of Haji Ali. A white structure located in the middle of the sea, the place can be accessed only during low tide. According to the belief, Haji Ali was a wealthy merchant who erected this mosque. While on his trip to Mecca he died and his body miraculously flowed back to this point where his tomb stands now. The most noted and highly revered temple in Mumbai is the Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, most definitely the favourite god of the city. The richest temple in the city, it is patronized by big politicians and most celebrities. A huge number of Churches, Parsi Agiaries, and even a few Jewish synagogues are present in the city, representing its multi-cultural dimension.

The more flamboyant side of Mumbai can be seen in Bandra and Colaba areas. These areas afford the most lavish markets, the swankiest of pubs and the classiest of restaurants. Kemps corner, Breach Candy, Fashion Street and Colaba Causeway are some of the best places to either hangout or simply shop till you drop. The urbane spirit is thoroughly felt throughout the city though. The best and largest of malls can be found towards the suburbs of the city.

To accommodate the huge number of travelers and tourists who arrive here, there are huge number of hotels in Mumbai. From simple to the most luxurious ones, you get it all here. There are also a number of serviced apartments as well as classy business hotels that cater to the needs of thousands who stay here.

There are several World Cities that are classified as being of supreme importance to the entire planet. Washington, New York, and Los Angeles are good examples. Another world city is Chicago, often referred to as the Windy City. It is a place where people love their sports, outdoors, and cars. It is a unique place with some of the tallest buildings in the world, a thriving arts community, some of the most beautiful beaches, and other areas in the entire city.

It is only natural then that when people want to talk Chicago, they group with others who have an interest in discussing the Windy City, its sports, cars and politics. However, finding those people can be difficult, unless you just want to stand around the streets and talk to people about this particular city.

Some people have attempted to find groups through churches or organizations that will advertise at either coffee shops or the local library. The ones that have been able to know where to look on the Internet have been able to really dig deep into the events that are part of the deep Chicago culture. This has been even more profound with the Windy City being considered as both a transitional city from the Eastern and the Western United States, and also as a global hub to all over the United States and also the European Union. The global hub is one thing that only two cities in the Central United States can truly claim, Atlanta and Chicago.

With the many cultural groups and ethnic oriented organizations, Chicago has developed a lasting need for those that are willing to build a city infrastructure that can provide not just information on the city, but also on the many options that a person can have in this metropolis and the respective Chicago community.

Despite not being one of the mega-cities of the world, Chicago has a strong base in sports, industry, and also in various world consumer bases. Unlike many larger cities, Chicago has proven that a large city can develop a personality and not sell itself to the corporate domination. The one irony in this though is the depth of topics that can arise in the individual aspects of the Chicago community. It is truly one of the few cities that have shown a unity and also a type of tension that can about only in well-formulated words.

In the sports world alone, there are many that are discussing the Windy City and its magnitude of teams. As one of the few cities to have had sports dynasties and also hard luck cases, it is one that has brought forth a huge level of attention in the national and global media.

With the importance that the virtual world has taken in the world, it is no surprise that many of these topics have surfaced in many forms. Whether it is the professional sports that have made a blockbuster trade or a scandal of a political leader, few cities have been able to compete with Chicago in the media limelight.

To truly know any location a person really needs to speak to the individuals of the place. This is where many of the social gatherings on the Internet have developed a number of focal points for the many members of the Chicago community and also those that have traveled through this majestic city.