I love spending time in Mumbai, people are so friendly, so much to see, so much to shop and so much to eat. And above all, what if I sight my favorite bollywood Hero…..

A CITY WITH DHADKAN
Places to Visit:

• Siddhivinayak Temple – Prabhadevi
• Mahalaxmi Temple
• Haji Ali
• Mount Mary Bandra Church
• Dharavi
• Gateway of India
• Elephanta Caves
• Prince of Wales Museum
• Kala Goda

SIDDHIVINAYAK TEMPLE

Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh. It is located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Siddhivinayak is well known as “Navasacha Ganapati” or “Navasala Pavanara Ganapati”

Wednesday to Monday

• Kakad Aarti – The early morning prayer: at 5.30 a.m. to 6.00 a.m.
• Shree Darshan – morning at 6.00 a.m. to afternoon 12.15 p.m.
• Naivedhya – afternoon at 12.15 p.m. to afternoon 12.30 p.m.
• Shree Darshan – afternoon at 12.30 p.m. to evening 7.20 p.m.
• Aarti -Evening – The evening Prayer : 7.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
• Shree Darshan – at 8.00 p.m. to 9.50 p.m
• Shejaarti – The last Aarti of the day before bedtime : night 9.50 p. m. (The temple doors remain closed after shejaarti)
• The Temple is fully closed till next morning after ‘Shejaarti.

Timings on Tuesdays

• Shree Darshan – The early morning darshan: 3.15 a.m. to 4.45 a.m.
• Kakad Aarti – The early morning prayer: 5.00 a.m. to 5.30 a.m.
• Shree Darshan – morning at 5.30 a. m. to afternoon 12.15 p.m.
• Naivedhya – afternoon at 12.15 p.m. to afternoon 12.30 p.m.
• Shree Darshan – afternoon at 12.30 p.m. to night 8.45 p.m.
• Aarti – Night Prayer :Night at 9.30 p.m. to night 10.00 p.m.
• Shejaarti – The last Aarti of the day before bedtime : night 12.30 a. m. (The temple doors remain closed after shejaarti)
• Temple door are close For Ganesh Pooje, Aarti at night 8.45 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. by that time Ganesha Darshan will be posible from a far distance.

MAHALAXMI TEMPLE

Mahalaxmi Temple is one of the most famous temples of Mumbai situated on Bhulabhai Desai Road in Mahalaxmi area. It is dedicated to Mahalakshmi the central deity of Devi Mahatmyam.The temple contains images of the goddesses Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati. The image of Mahalakshmi is in the center shown holding lotus flowers in tandem.

Present Timings of Temple and Arati Schedule

HAJI ALI

The Haji Ali Dargah (Urdu: حاجی علی درگاہ ‎, Marathi: हाजी अली दरगाह) is a mosque and dargah (tomb) located on an islet off the coast of Worli in the Southern part of Mumbai. Near the heart of the city proper, the dargah is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Mumbai.

Irrespective of faith and religion, people visit the dargah to get the blessings of the legendary saint. Sometimes, especially on Fridays, various Sufi musicians perform a form of devotional music called Qawwali at the dargah.

Timing to Visit : All days of the week 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

MOUNT MARY BASILICA – BANDRA

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, more commonly known as Mount Mary Church, is a Roman Catholic Basilica located in Bandra, Mumbai. The feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated here on the first Sunday after 8 September, the birthday of the Virgin Mary. The feast is followed by a week-long celebration known locally as the Bandra Fair and is visited by thousands of people.

Opening timings

6:00 AM – 8:00 PM all days of the week except
Sunday 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Dharavi
Mumbai’s Shadow City

Some call the Dharavi slum an embarrassing eyesore in the middle of India’s financial capital. Its residents call it home.

Dharavi(Marathi: धारावी; also spelled Dharavi,[ Darravy, Dorrovy) is a slum in Mumbai, India. It is one of the largest slums in the world.

It is currently a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, diverse settlement. Dharavi’s total population estimates vary between 300,000 to about 1 million. This makes Dharavi the most densely populated place on the planet. Dharavi has an active informal economy in which numerous household enterprises employ many of the slum residents. It exports goods around the world. Leather, textiles and pottery products are among the goods made inside Dharavi by the slum residents. The total annual turnover has been estimated at over US$500 million.

Gateway of India

The Gateway of India is located on the waterfront in the Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai and overlooks the Arabian Sea.The structure is a basalt arch, 26 meters (85 feet) high. It lies at the end of chatrapati shivaji Marg at the water’s edge in Mumbai Harbour. It was a crude jetty used by the fishing community which was later renovated and used as a landing place for British governors and other prominent people. The structure was erected to commemorate the landing of their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder, when they visited India in 1911.

The monument has witnessed three terror attacks from the beginning of the 21st century; twice in 2003 and it was also the disembarkation point in 2008 when four gunmen attacked the TajMahal Palace & Tower.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival Festival is an annual festival, usually around nine days long, held in late January or early February, in the Kala Ghoda area of South Mumbai, India.

From its inception in 1999, the Festival has grown in stature and popularity, attracting visitors and participants from other parts of the country, and the world. The Festival is organised by the Kala Ghoda Association (a non-profit organisation that states its objectives as “physically upgrading the Kala Ghoda sub-precinct and making it the Art District of Mumbai”) and curated by teams handling each of the sub-festivals.

The sub-festivals feature the visual arts, dance, music, theater, cinema, literature, lectures, seminars and workshops, heritage walks, special events for children, and a vibrant street festival. Entry to all events is free to all (only restricted by the size of the venues) and costs are met through corporate sponsorship. Venues include The Jehangir Art Gallery, The National Gallery of Modern Art, the David Sassoon Library, Max Mueller Bhavan, Elphinstone College, the K. R. Cama Institute, the M C Ghia Hall, and the street area of Rampart Row. Rampart Row is closed off to vehicular traffic for the duration of the festival, with the entire area becoming a street mela, with food stalls, artisans selling their creations, artists who sketch instant portraits, street art installations and the like. In recent years, the Festival has expanded beyond the Kala Ghoda crescent, with events being held in Azad Maidan and Horniman Circle as well.

ELEPHANTA CAVES

The ELEPHANTA CAVESCaves (Marathi: घारापुरीची लेणी, Gharapurichya Lenee) are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally “the city of caves”) in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves—the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the god Shiva.

The rock cut architecture of the caves has been dated to between the 5th and 8th centuries, although the identity of the original builders is still a subject of debate. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. All the caves were also originally painted in the past, but now only traces remain.

The main cave (Cave 1, or the Great Cave) was a Hindu place of worship until Portuguese rule began in 1534, after which the caves suffered severe damage.

Prince of Wales Museum

The Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), formerly Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, is the main museum in Mumbai, formerly Bombay.It was founded in the early years of the 20th century by prominent citizens of Bombay, with the help of the government, to commemorate the visit of the then prince of Wales. It is located in the heart of South Mumbai near the Gateway of India. The museum was renamed in the 1990s or early 2000s after Shivaji, the founder of Maratha Empire.

The museum building is built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, incorporating elements of other styles of architecture like the Mughal, Maratha and Jain. Art, Archaeology and Natural History. The museum houses Indus Valley Civilization artifacts, and other relics from ancient India from the time of the Guptas, Mauryas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakuta.

Timings Open to visitors between 10:15 AM to 5:00 PM on all days except Mondays

STREET FOOD OF MUMBAI

I make a special trip to Mumbai just to indulge in the lip smacking street food of Mumbai. Mainly Vada Pav, Bhel Puri, Sev Puri, Pav Bhaji, khala khatta, sugarcane juice, and so on…..

Mumbai’s Khau Galli has become an essence of the city and an ultimate paradise for food lovers. The Vada Pav, also referred to as the ‘poor man’s burger,’ is a popular street food among Mumbaikars. This batata vada sandwiched between two slices of a pav is a mouthwatering snack when served hot with spicy chutneys.

There are more than 50,000 vada pav stalls in Mumbai but some joints are a standout when it comes to serving the best vada pav in the city.

Here are five places that undoubtedly serve the best original Mumbaiyya

• Ashok Vada Pav Stall, Off Cadel Road, Kirti College Lane, Prabhadevi.
• Shree Krishna Batata Vada , Dadar, Chabildas Road.
• Aaram Batata Vada at Capital Cinema Building, Opposite CST Station, South Mumbai.
• Anand Vada Pav Opposite Mithibai College, Vile Parle West.
• Samrat Vada Pav Opposite Mithibai College, Vile Parle West.

Chat Recipes

Vada Pav is noted as the most popular street food in Mumbai. Other noted street foods in Mumbai include Panipuri, Bhelpuri, Sevpuri, Dahipuri, Sandwiches, Ragda-pattice, Pav Bhaji, Chinese bhel, idlis and Dosas, all of which are vegetarian. In terms of non-vegetarian offerings omelette-pav, kebabs and fish are found on Mumbai streets.[The amount of variety of street food is attributed to the cosmopolitan culture of the city.In the 1980s Indianised Chinese food was an emerging trend on Mumbai streets.

Kulfi (a type of ice cream) and gola (type of ice cone) are among the desserts and coolants found on Mumbai streets Apart from snacks, Mumbai has several juice and milkshake bars on the roadside that offer a variety of juices and milkshakes. Fresh Sugarcane juice vendors are synonymous with Mumbai roads and offer a cheap form of refreshment. Tea vendors cycle around the city, selling the beverage hot on the streets. Street vendors normally remain unaffected by general strike calls and do business all year around. Paan, a betel leaf preparation eaten as a mouth fresher post meals in India is also sold at Mumbai’s roadside stalls.

BEST RESTAURANT

• Ellipses – Colaba B-1 Amarchand Mansion, 16 Madame Cama Road, Colaba, Mumbai, Phone:022 6621 3333 Timing 12:30–3:30 pm, 7:00 pm – 1:30 am
• The Table – Fusion restaurant – Ground Floor, Kalapesi Trust Building, Apollo Bunder Marg, Colaba, +(91)-22-22825002, 22825000, 22825001 www.thetable.in
• Thai Pavillion – President 90 Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400005 Phone:022 6665 0808 Timing : 12:30–2:45 pm, 7:00–11:45 pm.
• The Pantry – Khalagoda Continental Rest. Ground Floor, Yeshwant Chambers, Military Square Lane, Kala Ghoda,Mumbai 02222678901, 02222700082
• Soam Pure Vegetarian Girgaon, South Mumbai Sadguru Sadan,Ground Floor, Opposite Babulnath Temple, Girgaon, 02233133179
• Sukh Sagar Restaurant – Marina Mansion,S. V. P. Road, Chowpatty, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400007 Phone:022 2363 6856 Hours: 10:00 am – 11:30 pm.

• Shiv Sagar Restaurant : Opposite Ramada Palm Grove, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, 022 26120370
  022 26183585

SHOPPING CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES

Mumbai is not only famous for the international fashion brands and labels, but is also home to a wide assortment of local markets, boutiques and shopping malls that sell almost everything that a local Mumbaikar needs! There are many malls in Mumbai that not only comprises of shops but food courts and entertainment zones as well. A shopper’s paradise, Mumbai is truly a great shopping destination for all.

Chor Bazaar

Mumbai’s Chor Bazaar is the pride of the city in terms of shopping. Located in South Mumbai, Chor Bazaar literally translates to ‘thieves market’. One of the oldest markets in Mumbai, the place has a fascinating history that dates back to over 150 years. Initially, Chor Bazaar was known as ‘Shor Bazaar’, which means ‘noisy market’.

Crawford Market

Crawford Market is a popular spot for buying all the household items. Whether you are planning on buying vegetables or poultry, then Crawford Market is the place to be. Crawford Market was the main wholesale market till 1966.

Linking Road

A fusion of modern and traditional, and East meets West, in one of Mumbia’s hippest suburbs. Here streets stalls contrast with brand name shops, and you’ll find an Indian roadside food vendor on one side of the road and a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet on the other. The street stalls tend to be grouped together according to the type of goods they sell. If you visit this market on a Sunday, be prepared for the crowds! Located at Linking road, Bandra.

Fashion Street

Fashion Street is one of the most widespread shopping destinations in Mumbai. With over a varied array of 150 shops, Fashion Street promises the ardent shopper a lot more junk and knick-knacks than any large mall or fashionable stores can offer. Located at Churchgate, Opposite Azad Maidan, Karamveer Bhaurao Patil Marg, M.G. Road, South Mumbai .

Zaveri Bazaar

Zaveri Bazaar is one of the most popular jewelry markets in the island city of India. One of the biggest hubs for B2B and B2C merchandizing, Zaveri Bazaar, as the name suggests, is a jewelry souk, just north of Crawford Market. Here, tourists will find thousands of small jewelry shops.

Mumbai Shopping Places

The ‘City of Dreams’ is home to several shopping areas, malls and markets, where you can buy almost anything, from shoes to posters and kitchenware to furniture! Mumbai is famous for its up-to-the-minute goods, be it ethnic clothes or the latest, designer shoes.

My Few selected designers for shopping as following

• Payal Khandwala Bungalow 7 – for Jewellery & Clothes.
• Anavila (Linen Sarees) at 1101, Sankalpita, 16th Road, Bandra West.

• Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Fashion Designer Address: Shop No. 2 & 7, Om Chambers,
  August Kranthi Road, Near Kemps Corner Flyover, Kemps Corner, Malabar Hill
  Phone:022 2367 3505

• end to end solution in Mumbai, whether its Weddings, Celebrity associations
  Mr. Ram Mishra +91.9930823550

• Ensemble designer
  Pracheen – Sarees – 51/57 Top Floor, Dontad Street, Damar Galli Mumbai – 9 – www.pracheen.com

• Ensemble: Designer Dress at Great Western Building, 130/132, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Kala Ghoda Mumbai.
• Melange Boutique Rajmahal Building, 33, Altamount Road, Cumballa Hill, Mumbai – 400026 +(91)-22-23534492, 23530288
• Aza Boutique Address: 2,1 Altamount Road, Prithvi Apartment, Near South African Consulate, Mumbai Phone:022 2351 7616

Wear luxury

Food in Mumbai

MUST EAT DELICACIES IN MUMBAI..

1. Shahi Paneer at Cream Center
2. Vada pao outside Kirti College
3. Dal Makhani at Preetam da dhaba
4. Biryani at bombay blue
5. Bun maska at Sasania bakery
6. Mava cake at Mervans
7. Dal makhani at Moti Mahal
8. Misal Pav at Dutta, old pune highway
9. Bhareli Vangi at Gypsy Snacks
10. Jaggery icecream at Bojohari Manna (Lokhandwala, Andheri w)
11. Veg lunch at Govinda Restaurant ISKON
12. Maharashtrian snacks at Prakash Dadar
13. Vodka Pani Puri at Pratap da dhaba
14. Chilli icecream at Bachelors
15. Misal pav near mamledar office thane
16. Kaapi and upma at Madras Cafe
17. Idlis at idli house
18. Dal-phulka, ganthiya sabji, masala chaas in beer bottle and bheeh at Bhagat Tarachand
19. Dal Pakwan at Jhama Chembur
20. Khicdi at Swati Snacks Tardeo
21. Pav Bhaji at Sardar Pav Bhaji Tardeo
22. Pancham puri wala near CST
23. Sizzlers at Kobe’s
24. Rustumjee’s biscuit icecream at churchgate
25. Badshahi Falooda.at Badshah Crowford Market
26. Bakery items at Oven fresh, Shivaji Park
27. Churma papad at Bhagat Tara Chand
28. Masala Papad and other chakna at Rajyog Bandra East
29. Chat at Elco Market Hill Rd
30. Dal Pakwaan at Vig, Chembur Camp
31. Chat at bikaji malad link rd
32. Rice plate at Matunga lunch home
33. Batata vada & Samosa at Krishna Dadar
34. Sizzlers at Cafe Royal Colaba
35. Malpoa at Swati snacks Tardeo
36. Sitaphal & tender coconut ice cream at Naturals
37. Bun Maska & Mava Samosa at Mervan Grant Road
38. Paani puri at Santacruz old prime focus lane.
39. Besebelle bhat at Gopal lunch home malad station west.
40. Vadapav near CTO. Fountain
41. Olive and herbs bread and brun maska at Yazdani
42. Chilled icy spicy bhel at M G Road.Mulund (West)
43. Neer dosa with garlic chutney at Ramashray Matunga
44. Samosa at Gurukripa
45. Chana powa in morning at Hanuman Sion
46. Panaki at Swati snacks
47. Jowar pita at Sohum opposite Babulnath
48. Gajanan wadapav at thane
49. Baked cheese wadapav at Sincity worli
50. Dal sandwich at mulji jetha market
51. Farali pattice at pralhad pattice center at princess street
52. Onion bread at Theobrama at colaba
53. Jain kathi roll and dahi ke kofte at Fortune Deli thane
54. Chocolate cake at Goriawala’s near Cumbala hill hospital
55. Veg falafal near august kranti maidan
56. Panipuri at tarabaug near Charni Road
57. Masala Papad at kalbadevi
58. Patalbhaji pav and Ola Vatana Pattice at Vinay Health Home Thakurdwar
59. Kalingar Kalakhatta sharbat opposite CST
60. Bheendi Bhajiya at Ramlal near Mulund Station West
61. Fruit cake at Sabina Wadala
62. Multigrain bread sandwich at Moshe’s Palladium
63. Tansen and kismet halwa at Mohanlal S.Mithaiwala
64. Piyush at Adarsh Dadar
65. Kanji Wada.at Kalbadevi near cotton exchange
66. Idli chatni at sukhsagar chowpatty
67. Grill sandwich at Bhulabhai Desai Road
68. Whole wheat baked chips at American Express Bakery
69. Pure milk peda of Tribhuvan Dairy Ghatkopar

Textiles in Mumbai

• A N Choudary
  Naseer Printers
  6/A, Ali Umer Street, Opp. Null Bazar Police Chowki, Mumbai, 400003.
  23473200/ 23461131/9820038449
  [email protected]
  Note:Novelty Creators in Textiles Printing Arts(Specialist in Pure Silks).

• Anika Jain Churiwala
  Aneehka (pret/ couture)
  Santracruz (W), Mumbai,+ 919004044332
  [email protected]
  www.facebook.com/aneehka

• Anu Singh
  15, Punam BLD, 67, Nepeansea Road,
  Mumbai, 40006
  Off ph: 23630712/ 23671968
  Mobile: 9820122163/
  9322518150
  [email protected]

• Archana Mehta
  Om Creations Trust
  Asst. Project Co-ordinator
  Anand Niketan, King George V Memorial Project, Dr. E.
  Moses Road, Mumbai, 400 011
  +91(22)2497-2294/9892156020
  [email protected]
  www.omcreationstrust.org

• Gopi Vaid
  98, 3rd foor, haines road, gandhi nagar, worli
  Mumbai, 400 018
  +919820433339
  [email protected]
  Hand crafted apparel and
  accessories.

• Jitu Gupta
  Gupta Juice Center
  A-Block, Dhanraj Mahal, C.S.M. Marg, Gateway of India,
  Mumbai, 400 001
  22023124/9930594836.

• Juilee Bendkhale
  Zuilee
  Unit no.4A, 1st Floor, Viral House, Sunmill Compound,
  Opposite Phoenix mill, Lower parel- West
  Mumbai, 400013
  +919867706719
  [email protected]
  www.milee.in

• Mehra Carpets
  CRYSTAL 79, DR. ANNIE BESANT RO.otD, WORLI, MUMBAI, 400 018
  24932254 / 24932998
  [email protected]
  www.mehracarpets.com

• Nauka Shah / Nandini Mehta
  Studio ENNEN
  Naju Mansion, 1st floor, Flat no.3, Room no. 2, 54, Wood
  House Road, Colaba
  Mumbai, 400005
  022 22151832 / 022 22151761

• Neeta Parekh
  MYSTIQUE Accessories
  63, Vinod Villa, 8th Road, JVPD Scheme, Vile Parle
  Mumbai, 400049
  9821216570
  [email protected]

• Nipa Badiani
  301, Kalyandas Udyog Bhavan, Century Bazaar Lane,
  Prabhadevi.
  Mumbai, 400025
  24227199/9820357735
  [email protected]

• Pallavi Kanoria
  Sahachari Foundation
  Founder Member
  Kshitij, 28th floor, 47 Nepean Sea
  Mumbai, 400 006
  +91(22)2363-3815/+919820024278
  [email protected]

• Pallavi Swadi
  COOICOO
  A-6 Ananta, Rajabally Patel Road, Breach Candy
  Mumbai, 400026
  +919819659126
  [email protected]
  www.coocoo.in

• Paras Modi
  SVA
  Head Office: Unit No.113, lst Floor, Sun Industrial Estate,
  Sun Mill Compound, Lower Parel (W)
  Mumbai,400013
  +91(22)6609-9363
  [email protected]
  www.svacoutute.com

• Sabyasachi Mukherjee
  Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
  Director General
  159-161. M. G. Road. Fort
  Mumbai,400 023
  +91(22) 22844484
  [email protected]
  www.themuseummumbai.com

• Shobha Sapat
  13 VENUS, ALTAMOUNT ROAD
  MUMBAI, 400 026.
  23517885 / 23531210/9821210995
  [email protected]

• Trupti Bellad
  TRUPSEL
  5/9, Grants Building, 2nd floor , Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba
  Mumbai,400005
  022-22028010/9320224782
  [email protected]

• Veerali Raveshia
  Loka Verve
  Founder and Creative Head
  Casablanca Plot No. 130, 11th Floor, Gulmohar Cross Road
  No.10, Vile Parle (West)
  Mumbai-400049
  (91) 22 26212222/ 23/24
  [email protected]
  www.lokaverve.com

• Bharatiya Stree Mandal
  45, Banganya Road, Walkeshwar
  Mumbai, 400 006
  23633150/9892075330

• Raghav Gupta
  JIWA (Concept Cafe
  Off Linking Road, next to The Den, Khar
  Mumbai
  9320299480