MUMBAI CITY WITH ELEPHANTA CAVES & KANHERI CAVES

At a distance of 10 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Sri Siddhivinayak Temple is a famous Hindu Temple located at Prabhadevi locality of Mumbai. It is one of the richest pilgrimage in Maharashtra, and also one of the popular places to visit in Mumbai.

Siddhivinayak Temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh and is among the must include places in Mumbai Darshan Packages. The temple was originally built by Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil on 19 November 1801 AD. The temple then was a small structure housing the black stone idol of Sri Siddhivinayak, which is 2 feet 6 inches high and 2 feet wide. The outstanding feature of this idol is the tilt of the trunk to the right side. The idol has four hands (Chaturbhuj), which contains a lotus in the upper right, a small axe in the upper left, holy beads in .....

At a distance of 18 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, officially called Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, is a cable bridge linking Bandra in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai with Worli in South Mumbai. This is one of the famous picnic spots in Mumbai.

Bandra - Worli Sea Link is an eight-lane bridge which has pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side. The bridge is a part of the proposed Western Freeway that links the Western Suburbs to Nariman Point in Mumbai's main business district. The 16 billion bridge was commissioned by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation and built by the Hindustan Construction Company. The first four of the eight lanes of the bridge were opened to the public on 30th June 2009. All eight lanes were opened on 24th March 2010.

The sea-link reduces travel time between Bandra and Worli during peak hours. Whole journey of 8 km, which earlier used to take 45 to 60 minutes, can now be completed in just 7 to 10 .....

At a distance of 3 km from Haji Ali Dargah and 7 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Nehru Science Center (NSC), Mumbai is India's largest interactive science center located in Worli. It is one of the most famous science centers of India and also one of the best Mumbai places to visit.

Nehru Science Center, first conceived as a Science & Technology Museum in late sixties, took final shape as India's largest interactive science center in 1977. The center opened its first semi-permanent exhibition `Light & Sight' in 1977 followed by the world's first ever Science Park in 1979. The full- fledged science centre was finally opened to public on 11 November 1985 by late Rajiv Gandhi the then Prime Minister of India.

Nehru Science Centre, the largest Science Centre in the country has a sprawling 8 acres of Science Park with varieties of plants, trees and shrubs. More than 50 hands-on and interactive science exhibits on energy, sound, kinematics, mechanics, transport, etc. .....

At a distance of 6 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Haji Ali Dargah is a renowned Islamic shrine nestled on a small island close to the sea shore of Worli in Mumbai. This is one of the most popular religious places in Mumbai and also one of the major Mumbai places to visit.

Haji Ali Dargah was constructed in 1431 CE, in the memory of a Muslim saint Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, who hailed from Bukhara, in present-day Uzbekistan. He came to India to spread Islam and eventually settled in Mumbai. Before death, he expressed his wish that he wanted his shroud to be immersed in water rather than being buried underground. His followers obeyed the wish and constructed a tomb at the spot where his shroud rested after floating in the sea.

Although the original dargah is more than 600 years old, its present structure was built between 1960 and 1964. An exquisite example of Indo-Islamic architecture, Haji Ali Dargah complex sprawls over an area of 5000 sq. m and consists .....

At a distance of 9 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mahalakshmi Temple is an ancient temple situated on Bhulabhai Desai Road in Mahalakshmi area of Mumbai. This is one of the most famous temples of Mumbai and also one of the top places of Mumbai sightseeing.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi who is also known as the Goddess of Wealth. This beautiful temple was constructed in 1785 CE. The temple contains images of the Tridevi goddesses Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati. All the three images are adorned with nose rings, gold bangles and pearl necklaces. The main idol of Goddess Mahalakshmi is placed on the far side of the ornamented gate and is seen on a tiger. In the month of March/April and September/October, the Sun rays of rising sun fall on the deities for few minutes.

Mahalakshmi temple is adorned with intricate designs and is structured in the most exquisite manner. The main doorway leading to the temple complex is luxuriously ornamented .....

At a distance of 5 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Station, Sri Babulnath Temple is an ancient temple situated on a small hillock at the end of the Marine Drive near Girgaum Chowpatty in Mumbai. It is one of oldest temples in Mumbai and also one of the popular pilgrimage places to visit in Mumbai.

Sri Babulnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The main Shivlinga and idols in the temple were originally consecrated in the 12th century by the Hindu king Raja Bhimdev of the region. Over a period of time, the temple was buried and lost. The idols were discovered (unearthed) in 18th century. When rediscovered, 5 original idols were dug out, which were that of the main Shiva Linga, Ganesh, Hanuman, Parvati and one more. Out of this, the first four are in the temple. The fifth one was immersed in the sea because it was broken when it was dug out in the 18th century.

The temple was patronised by Hindu merchants and Gujarati community in 1780 CE. A bigger temple was built .....

At a distance of 7.5 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and 2 km from Sri Babulnath Temple, Hanging Gardens, also known as Perozeshah Mehta Gardens, are the beautiful terraced gardens that are situated on the western side of the Malabar Hills in Mumbai. These gardens are one of the best sites in Mumbai and also one of the top Mumbai visiting places.

Established in the 1880s, this garden was designed by Ulhas Ghapokar to protect a nearby reservoir from getting polluted. These gardens are named after the famous lawyer, Perozeshah Mehta, who is also the father of Mumbai's Municipal Charter. These terraced gardens located just opposite Kamla Nehru Park.

The garden has a vast area and well-laid pathways. The colourful flower clock at the center and numerous animal-shaped hedges are the unique features of this park. One can also enjoy spectacular views of the Arabian Sea from the Hanging Gardens. Its well-maintained pathways are perfect for a jog or stroll around the park.

Situated .....

At a distance of 4.5 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Chowpatty Beach, officially known as Girgaon Chowpatty, is one of the most famous beaches in Mumbai adjoining Marine Drive in the Girgaon area. This is a popular beach which attracts people of all age groups and also one of the top tourist places in Mumbai.

Chowpatty Beach has been an important center for many celebrations over the years, including Ganesh Chaturthi. During this festival, thousands of devotees gather at the beach to participate in the immersions of the Lord Ganapathi idols in the Arabian Sea. Another popular festival that is held here is Ramlila, which lasts for a period of 10 days. Processions, energetic dance performances and beating of the drums are an integral part of this festival.

The beach is not as famous for activities like sunbathing or swimming as for its street food. Every evening, the beach is crowded by people of all ages, along with food kiosks, ferries and balloon sellers. .....

At a distance of 5 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Marine Drive is a 3 km long beautiful road in southern Mumbai of Maharashtra. This is one of the most visited places in Mumbai city and also one of the top tourist places in Mumbai.

It is a C-shaped six-lane road along the coastline of Arabian Sea, forming a natural bay. This road links Nariman Point to Babulnath, and is situated at the foot of Malabar Hill. Officially, it is named as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road. Marine Drive is also referred to as 'Queen's necklace', because the street lights make the road look like a string of pearls and create an illusion of a necklace, when viewed at night from any elevated point along the pathway of the drive.

Promenade is the main attraction of Marine Drive. The view of the sunset over the Arabian Sea from Marine drive is magnificent. The palm trees along the promenade make it more attractive. To the north of the Marine Drive is the Chowpatty Beach, which is famous among .....

At a distance of 42 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Kanheri caves are located inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park to the north of Borivali in the outskirts of North Mumbai in Maharashtra. These Caves are considered one of the top tourist places in Mumbai.

The name of these caves has originated from the Sanskrit word Krishnagiri, meaning black. These are the must-include places in Mumbai tour packages, especially for history buff.The Kanheri Caves constitute a group of rock-cut monuments chiseled out of a massive basaltic rock. The caves demonstrate the Buddhist influence on the art and culture of India. These caves were formed between the 1st century BC and 10th century AD, with the earliest rocks comprising 109 tiny rock-cut cells. Most caves were named Buddhist Viharas in ancient times and were meant for living, study, and meditation. The .....

At a distance of 17 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island or Gharapuri in Mumbai Harbour. The Caves, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Mumbai's oldest historic site and also one of the best Mumbai tourist places.

Among the prime places to visit as part of Mumbai Packages, the identity of the creators of Elephant Caves is disputed. It is believed that the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas were behind the creation of the caves and sculptures. The island was ruled by the Chalukyas and later by the Gujarat sultanate. It was later handed over by the Gujarat Sultan to the Portuguese in 1534 AD.

The caves are known for beautiful Hindu temples and sculptures. The Elephanta Caves were named by the Portuguese after they saw a statue of an elephant on the island. The statue .....

At a distance of 4 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Gateway of India is a national heritage monument located at the waterfront in Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai, facing Arabian Sea. It is considered to be the most famous monument in Mumbai and also one of the main tourist places visited as part of Mumbai Darshan.

The Gateway of India was erected to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder, when they visited India in 1911. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, the foundation stone for the Gateway of India was laid on 31st March 1911. The final design of George Wittet was sanctioned in 1914 and the construction of the monument was completed in 1924. The Gateway was later the ceremonial entrance to India for Viceroys and the new Governors of Bombay.

The architecture of the Gateway is a combination of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles; the arch is of Muslim style while the decorations are of Hindu style. The gateway is built from yellow .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and 1 km from Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum, is one of the premier art and history museum situated on the southern tip of Mumbai on the Crescent Site near Gateway of India. The Museum is one of the most significant museums in India and also one of the best Mumbai places to visit.

The Prince of Wales Museum was built in order to honor and commemorate the visit of King George V to India. Although the idea for a museum was initiated in 1904, the foundation stone was laid down by the Prince of Wales in 1905. The Museum was designed by a prominent architect, George Wittet and was erected on this site in 1915. Initially the museum was used as a military hospital and a 'Children's Welfare Center' during the First World War. In 1922, it was transformed into Prince of Wales Museum and was renamed after the founder of Maratha Empire, Shivaji in 1990s.

The .....

At a distance of 1.6 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Jehangir Art Gallery is situated behind Prince of Wales Museum at Kala Ghoda near the Gateway of India in South Mumbai. It is one of the most prestigious art galleries of Mumbai and also one of the popular tourist places in Mumbai.

Built in 1952 AD, the art gallery was founded by Sir Cowasji Jehangir at the urging of K. K. Hebbar and Homi Bhabha. The entire cost of this mansion was donated by Cowasji Jehangir. It was designed by G.M. Bhuta for G.M. Bhuta & Associates, while the building was designed by Durga Bajpai. At present, the gallery is managed by the Bombay Art Society.

Located in the famous Fort area of Mumbai, the Jehangir Art Gallery is a wonderful attraction for art lovers. It has four exhibition halls and serves as both an auditorium and an art gallery. A huge variety of modern Indian art is displayed here. There are also many temporary exhibitions from all over the world. The complex also encompasses .....

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, is the most important train station & historical landmark situated in Dadabhai Naoroji Road in Mumbai. Declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 2nd July 2004, it is one of the famous places of heritage in Maharashtra, and also one of the top tourist places in Mumbai.

The Terminus is the 2nd World Heritage Site of the Indian Railways after the Mountain Railways (of Shimla, Darjeeling & Ooty) which was inscribed in 1988, and the first functional administrative building to be put on the World Heritage list. Headquarters of the Central Railways, this station links Mumbai to the rest of India. It is one of the must include places in Mumbai tour packages.

Designed by Frederick William Stevens, a British architect, Victoria Terminus .....