MUMBAI

THE GATEWAY OF INDIALocated on the waterfront in Apollo

Bunder area in South Mumbai

The Gateway is a basalt arch 26 metres (85 ft) high.

Design is a combination of both Hindu and Muslim architectural styles

The main idea behind the construction of the Gateway of India was to celebrate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay. Sir George Sydenham Clarke, the then Governor of Bombay, laid down the foundation stone of the monument in March 1911.

However, his plan was approved in 1914 and the reclamations at Apollo Bundar got completed in 1919. Designed by George Wittet, an architect, Gateway of India took approximately 4 years (1920 to 1924) to get fully completed.

Started 31 March 1911 Completed 1924 Inaugurated 4 December 1924 Height 26 m (85 ft) Cost 2.1 million rupees (1911)Architect George Wittet

HAJI ALI TOMB & MOSQUE

Is a mosque and dargah (tomb) located on an islet off the coast of

Worli in Southern part of Mumbai. An finest example of Indian Islamic

architectureThe dargah contains the tomb of

Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.

The Haji Ali Dargah was constructed in 1431 in memory of a rich Muslim merchant, Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari , who gave up all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca.

On Thursdays and Fridays, the shrine is visited by at least 40,000 pilgrims

JUHU BEACH

Juhu is a suburban neighbourhood of western Mumbai. It is famous for its sprawling beach, the Juhu Beach. It is surrounded by Arabian Sea in the west, Santacruz and Vile Parle in the east. Juhu is one of the more affluent areas of Mumbai.

Many Bollywood stars own bungalows in Juhu, famously including Amitabh Bachchan, Amrish Puri, Ajay Devgan, the Deols and numerous other stars. Industrialist Adi Godrej, Musician Khayyam, Lalit Modi, Media Expert Niranjan Parihar, Financial Advisor Bharat Solanki and Chairman of Montex group Raman Jain also have their bungalows in Juhu.

ELEPHANTA CAVES

Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the city of Mumbai (Bombay), 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 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. This cave was renovated in the 1970s after years of neglect, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork. It is currently maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India .

MARINE DRIVEMarine Drive is a 3-kilometre-long

boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai. It is a 'C'-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast, which is a natural bay. The road links Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. Marine Drive is situated over reclaimed land facing west-south-west. The bay is part of the Arabian Sea.

The official name for this road, though rarely used, is: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road. It was earlier known as Sonapur to local Marathi people.

THE HANGING GARDENS

The Hanging Gardens, Mumbai, in Mumbai, India, also known as Ferozeshah Mehta Gardens, are terraced gardens perched at the top of Malabar Hill, on its western side, just opposite the Kamala Nehru Park.

They provide sunset views over the Arabian Sea and feature numerous hedges carved into the shapes of animals. The park was laid out in 1881 over Bombay's main reservoir, some say to cover the water from the potentially contaminating activity of the nearby Towers of Silence

THE KANHERI CAVES

Through the meandering paths of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, you can reach the staircase that leads to Kanheri Caves of Maharashtra. Located in the picturesque surroundings of Borivali, Kanheri Caves have a distinctive aura about them.

These caves remind one of the other rock-cut caves, which have been the seat of Buddhist monks at different times. Abode of monks during the 1st to 9th century, these caves are rather simple and partially adorned.

The term Kanheri has been derived from a Sanskrit term 'Krishnagiri', which means 'black in color'. And these caves have been chiseled out of a gigantic basaltic rock. Indeed, Kanheri Caves is an excellent illustration, which portrays rise and fall of Buddhism in India.

Most of them are small cells, which are cut into the ends of a hill and each of them has a stone platform to serve as a bed. There is one congregation hall that is supported by massive stone pillars.

Majority of the caves are monasteries, intended for living, study and meditation. All of them have elaborately carved sculptures, reliefs and pillars and encompass rock-cut stupas for worship. The unique figure of Avalokiteshwara captures the attention of everyone.