Mumbai Darshan
Mumbai is synonymous with Bollywood and so a stroll down the 'Walk of Stars', at the Bandstand Promenade in Bandra, is a must. The path features brass plates embossed with the handprints and signatures of famous Bollywood stars such as Anupam Kher, Asha Parekh, Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Sunil Dutt and others. You can also plan a visit to Film City in Goregaon or to Mehboob Studio in Bandra, to experience first hand a Bollywood shoot. Take an early morning walk along Marine Drive, also known as Queen's Necklace, or in the night when you can see the entire line of street lamps lit up. You can start at Girgaon Chowpatty and go all the way to Nariman Point. Other must-visits include the Gateway of India, The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Prince of Wales Museum), Siddhivinayak Temple, Makdum Miyan ka Darga, St. Michael's Church, Mount Mary's Basilica, Jehangir Art Gallery and Haji Ali Shrine. For those interested in architecture, you can get lost in Mumbai's colonial architecture as well as a combination of Indian and colonial architecture. Head to Crawford Market for its blend of Norman and Flemish architectural styles (you can also do a bit of shopping while you're there), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus, which is a UNSECO World Heritage Site) for its Victorian Gothic Revival Architecture and Ballard Estate for its Edwardian Neoclassical architecture.
For a taste of the unusual in Mumbai, visit the Nipponzan Myohoji, a Japanese temple in Worli.
The Jewish synagogues and the miniature replica of the Gateway of India in one of the quaint old bylanes of the six-foot-wide Bhendi Gali in Gamdevi.
Picnic spots
Pic Courtesy: Shraddha Bhargava
From amusement parks to island escapes, Mumbai has something for everyone. If it's a day with nature that you seek, visit Sanjay Gandhi National Park, where you might be lucky enough to see deer crossing the street or peacocks on parade. The Buddhist Kanheri Caves are just a few of the many attractions at the Borivli National Park, officially known as the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which sprawls over 104 sq km in North Mumbai.
You can also visit Aarey Milk Colony, one of the world's most modern milk colonies; go boating in Chota Kashmir and chatter over sandwiches in the Picnic Spot garden or spend a lazy afternoon at the Kamla Nehru Park and Hanging Gardens at Malabar Hill, in South Mumbai.
If you're spending a day out with kids, there are several amusement parks like Esselworld, which has been a staple on school picnics since its launch in 1986. The Water Kingdom section added in 1998, and 34 major rides as well as coin-operated games, make it a favourite with kids, both young and old. Go-karts, roller coasters, giant wheels and a water park are some of the major attractions at Tikuji-Ni-Wadi, in Thane, while at Snow World at Phoenix Market City in Kurla kids can pick a tire and slide down a snow-slide or get cosy in an igloo.
You can also head to Kidzania, an interactive kid-sized city with paved roads, cars and buildings, where your tiny tots can discover career opportunities or learn to manage money and Imagica, a theme park on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway that has 21 attractions including Bump it Boats, Tubbby Takes Off, Loch Ness Expplorers, Alibaba Aur Chalis Chorr and Mr. India–The Ride as well as an educational programme that informs students about several topics including Mughal history and Indian mythology.
You can also spend the day at Gorai and Manori, just off the coast of North Mumbai, on the north-western edge of the island of Salsette or at the island of Elephanta on the other end of an hour-long ferry ride across the Arabian Sea, heading north-east from the Gateway of India.
For the foodies
Pic Courtesy: Rajneesh Londhe
From street food to upscale restaurants, there's something for everyone. If it's Mumbai street food that you want to try, head to Elco Arcade in Bandra, Mohammed Ali Road and Nariman Point as well as to Blossom's in Ghatkopar. Street foods like chaat–pani puri, sev puri, ragda pattice, dahi batata puri...–sandwich, dosas, roadside Chinese, bhurji pao, kheema pao, tandoor yummies, peanuts, fruit stalls, ganna juice, coconut water, cutting chai, vada pav are a must.
Plan a meal at one of the old Irani restaurants of Mumbai like Kayani Bakery, Sassanian, Britannia and Cafe Universal. Don't forget to visit micro breweries such as White Owl, The Barking Deer and Gateway Brewery or The Tasting Room and Cafe Ivy if you love wine. You will also find a wide variety of cuisines from Italian to Japanese to cater to your every whim and fancy.
Try the metro and the trains
Pic Courtesy: Swapnil Sakhare
Forget the airports, the metro is the new place to people watch! Take a metro ride from Ghatkopar to Versova. It will take you just about 20 minutes to travel from one end of the city to the more-happening part of Mumbai.
And if you're interested in some arm-wrestling, a ride on a Mumbai local is an absolute must. If you're in the women's compartment, you'll also have some free entertainment watching them argue, fight for seats, gossip and talk about how drunk they were last night...
Shop till you drop
Pic Courtesy: Prashant Jadhav
Shopaholics could have very well entered paradise when it comes to shopping in Mumbai. Colaba Causeway, Fashion Street, Linking Road and Hill Road are the places to be for street shopping. From shoes and belts to clothes and jewellery, you'll find everything you need on these streets. If it's the comfort of the AC and no traffic jams that you seek, spend a day at one of the several malls in Mumbai; Inorbit and Infiniti Malls in Malad, R City Mall at Ghatkopar, Phoenix Market City in Kurla, Oberoi Mall in Goregoan or High Street Phoenix at Lower Parel, where you'll find international brands such as Zara, Mango, Accessorize, Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, Aldo, Charles and Keith and more.
Dharavi is known for its leather jackets, bags and other leather products.
With inputs from Pooja Bhula and Rama Sreekant
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