Wednesday, 1 January 2014
The Streets of Mumbai
View from our Office
Taxi drivers having breakfast
Anyone for a taxi?
Going to work on an egg or your bike?
Taj Mahal Palace Hotel - Mumbai
The hotel formerly known as the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower debuted its new name on Indian Independence Day 2010, the result of a meticulous restoration following the November 2008 terrorist attacks that nearly brought this 1903 Mumbai landmark to its knees.
The Gateway of India - Mumbai
This bold basalt arch faces out to Mumbai Harbour from the tip of Apollo Bander, an important embarkation pier in the 19th century. Derived from the Islamic styles of the 16th century Gujarat, it was built to commemorate the 1911 royal visit of King George V and was finally completed in 1924. Britain then used it, just 24 years later, to parade off its last regiment as India marched towards independence. These days, it's a favourite gathering spot for locals and a top location for people watching. Boats depart from its wharfs for Elephanta Island.
Elephanta Island - Mumbai
In the middle of Mumbai Harbour, the rock-cut temples on Elephanta Island are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and worth crossing the waters for. Home to a labyrinth of cave-temples carved into the basalt rock of the island, the art-work represents some of the most impressive temple cravings of all India. The main Shiva-dedicated temple is an intriguing latticework of courtyards, halls, pillars and shrines, with the magnum opus a 6m tall statue of Sadhashiva - depicting a three-faced Shiva as destroyer, creator and preserver of the universe.
The temples are thought to have been created between AD 450 and 750, when the island was known as Gharapuri. The Portuguese renamed it Elephanta Island because of a large stone elephant near the shore, which collapsed in 1814 and was moved by the British to Mumbai's Jijamata Uydan.