Mumbai, India

Sun. & Mon., Mar. 20 & 21,2011     89 degrees                   6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Band playing on dock when we arrived

 Mumbai Harbour is the premier port on the west coast of India.  Its fine harbor, about 14 miles long with a general width of about 5 miles, lies east of Bombay Island.  It has over 50 berths, with modern equipment for handling general cargo vessels, container ships and tankers; it also has numerous anchor berths.  Most of Mumbai is at sea level and the average elevation ranges from 33 to 49.5 feet.  Mumbai sits on a seismically active zone owing to the presence of three fault lines in the vicinity. 

Mumbai (formerly Bombay) – premium port of India located on the Arabian Sea.  Ancient yet modern, fabulously rich yet achingly poor, Mumbai is India in a microcosm.  Most populous city in India and 2^nd in the world with a population of 21 million.   The name was officially changed from Bombay to Munbai in 1995.

Bombay can be considered so different from the rest of India that it could be another country.  The rest of the country views Bombay as the city of opportunity.  It tantalizes millions with prospects of wealth and success.  Bombay is a place to build a better life. For the traveler, Bombay is both disturbingly eye-opening, and incredibly exciting.  Here in the heady sun and breeze of the Arabian Sea you can bargain in street bazaars, browse in exclusive boutiques, take a horse-drawn ride past stately old Victorian buildings, get lost in the stone-carvings of the 7^th C. Elephanta Caves, watch the sun rise over the Gateway of India, and stroll at sunset along Marine Drive’s endless waterfront promenade.

On the first day,  we took a shore excursion “Panoramic Mumbai”.  Today is a “Holi” holiday, and the young people decorate themselves with brightly coloured paint.  We are docked at Ballard Pier – Indira Dock – 2 miles to town.  We drove by the Victoria Terminus (railway station), Marine Drive past Chowpatty Beach, Nariman Point and to Malabar Hill.  Drove past the Jain Temple (most ancient tiny sect and best decorated temple).  Stopped at Taj Hotel and had a drink.  Walked across the street to take pictures of the Gateway to India.



Taj Hotel



Gateway to India



2 days in Mumbai - folkloric show in the evening

Second day in Mumbai, we took a shore excursion “Mumbai’s Religious Beats”.  We began our trip by going to the Babulnath Temple.  Climbing the steps to the temple gives a panorama of south Mumbai.  Rows of flower hawkers and very poor homes along road to temple.  Bought an offering to give to Shiva.  I was given my offering back as well as a flower and sweet.  We next stopped at Gandhi’s ashram when he stayed in Mumbai.  This is now a museum of his life.  It includes a library, Gandhi’s belongings displayed in his room, colourful dioramas and moving letters from the fight for independence.  Next to the Siddhi Venayah temple where they worship Ganesha.  Black stone idol, with Riddhi & Siddhi (wealth) on each side.  Stopped at the dhobi ghat’s where they wash the people’s clothes.  The clothes are picked up at their home, washed and ironed and returned in a week.  Our last stop was at the Mahalakashmi Temple where thry worship a female goddess.

 

Babulnath Temple



Gandhi's Ashram



Gandhi







Gandhi's room

After departure from Mumbai we set out on a westerly course heading directly for the Gulf of Oman, the body of water which lies at the entrance to the Persian Gulf.  This leg of our voyage takes us across the Arabian Sea which is part of the Indian Ocean.  During this time of year the northeast Monsoon prevails, bringing dry weather with few clouds.