Treasures of Mumbai
Tour Themes
Tours in India Sightseeing Tours Family Holidays Cultural Tours Heritage ToursDestinations Covered
Mumbai Elephanta Caves Dhairavi Siddi Vinayak Temple Prince of Whales Museum Mani Bhawan Crawford Market Hanging Gardens CSTOVERVIEW
Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the capital of Maharashtra state in southwestern India. It is the economic powerhouse of India. It’s the fastest moving, most affluent and the most industrialized city in India. Yet, once upon a time, Bombay was nothing more than a group of low-lying, swampy and malarial mud flats presented to the British by its Portuguese occupiers as a wedding gift in 1661.
Mumbai is the financial, commercial and the entertainment capital of India and is home to the famous Bollwood Industry, fondly called as the city of dreams. During the mid-18th century, Bombay was reshaped with the construction of major roads and railways, the reclamation project transformed Bombay into a major seaport on the Arabian Sea.
There are several attractions in Mumbai that will leave you awe struck. A walk around the streets of Colaba or near Churchgate is enough for you get a glimpse of the colonial era buildings. Some of the monuments that give Mumbai a British look and feel are Gateway of India, Iconic Taj Hotel, High court, Hutatma chowk and Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus.
DAY 01: ARRIVE MUMBAI
Arrive at Mumbai International Airport. Following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, our representative will meet you as you exit the arrival terminal building after which you would be transferred to your hotel.
Upon arrival at the hotel, proceed for check-in.
Stay overnight at hotel.
DAY 02: MUMBAI
Morning proceed for sightseeing tour of Mumbai covering The Gateway of India, Hanging Gardens, Prince of Whales Museum, CST Station, Dhobhi Ghat, Crawford market and Mani Bhawan.
The Gateway to India is an elegant 26 mtrs stone archway, hastily erected as a symbol of welcome to Queen Mary and King George V of England on their visit to India in 1911. In the years following, artisans added decorative carvings and lovely Jharokha work (window carvings), and completed it in 1923.
Later continue to the Hanging Gardens perched above Malabar Hill. These terraced gardens provide a beautiful panoramic view of the Arabian Sea were laid out in the early 1880s covering Bombay’s main reservoir. Visit to the Prince of Whales Museum, and Mani Bhawan.
Mumbai’s biggest and best museum – The Prince of Whales Museum displays a mix of exhibits from all over India. Designed especially as a museum, construction commenced in 1905 with the laying of the first stone by the then Prince of Wales. The architectural style is known as Indo-Saracenic -- a mishmash of Moorish Spain, Islamic domes, and Victorian towers. The Museum was opened to the public in 1922. Its collection has grown to include ancient items excavated from the Indus valley, Hindu and Buddhist sculpture, miniature paintings, weaponry, and natural history (including a variety of stuffed animals
Mani Bhavan is Mahatma Gandhi’s home and Museum. This charming, 3 storied Gujarati house, painted brown and yellow, in a lovely Parsi neighborhood on Malabar Hill, was the home of Mahatma Gandhi from 1917-1934. Now overseen and maintained by the Gandhi Institute, it houses a library and a small museum about Gandhi’s life and birth.
Stay overnight at hotel.
Day 03: Mumbai
Morning enjoy a boat ride to Elephanta Island, where the 8th-century shrine was cut from the hillside and houses the "Maheshmurti," or Hindu Trinity, representing the three aspects of Shiva the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer. These caves provide an exciting glimpse of Indian sculpture dating from about 600 A.D. After the visit of Elephanta Island you would be transferred by boat to Mumbai.
Afternoon visit to Siddhi Vinayak Temple
Reckoned as the most famous, and wealthiest temple in India, Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir at Prabhadevi (Mumbai) was originally built by Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil on 19 November 1801. The temple is famous for its unusual image of Lord Ganesha that resides in the innermost wooden sanctum of the temple. The temple’s idol of Shree Siddhivinayak is carved out of a black stone with a trunk on the right. On the forehead of the deity, there is an eye, which looks exactly like the third eye of Lord Shiva.
Flanking the deity on both sides are Riddhi & Siddhi, goddesses signifying sanctity, fulfillment, prosperity and riches. And it is because of these deities, the temple is called the Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple.
Day 04: Mumbai
Today morning you will visit to Dharavi – Asia’s Largest Slum.
This tour takes you to Dharavi, Asia's largest "slum", home to nearly a million people. In spite of the grime and the squalor, Dharavi, as old as Mumbai, is an area bustling with activity, with an economy estimated to be worth US $665 million, and many rags-to-riches stories. On this tour, you can see the people of Dharavi, their homes, their work places, and get a feel of their never-say-die spirit. You also experience a wide range of activities including recycling, pottery-making, embroidery, bakery, soap factory, leather tanning, and many more. This eye-opening tour actively breaks stereotypical depictions of slums and exposes you to the drive of the residents of "Maximum City".
Afternoon is free for shopping.
In the evening you will be transferred to Mumbai Airport to board flight for onward destination
Bon Voyage!!
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