After a few years' break, I returned to Mumbai in 2014 to explore the architecture and chaotic streets with a better camera. I was not disappointed.
Horniman Circle - buildings curve perfectly against the street with a private fenced-off park in the middle.
HSBC - where I can get rupees with a very low fee thanks to my global banking relationship. No need to get gouged at the airport's FX counter anymore!
Wonderful colonial architecture line the streets along the old city centre.
The streets are full of activity, with plenty of different foods on offer which I didn't dare try.
Pray - St. Thomas' Cathedral is the oldest British church in the city. Opened in 1718, it continues to offer services today.
Lonely Flora Fountain - an awful parking lot sits in front of this monument now.
Pay a beggar for some vegetables to feed your neighbourhood cow.
There are no highrises in this part of town.
I dropped by the GPO for a few cheap stamps to mail my postcards.
CST is the city's main train station, a crazy hub of activity. There are metal detectors but no security guards to enforce these checks despite a terrorist attack several years ago.
BMC occupies a wonderful colonial structure across the street from CST. There is an ugly underground pedestrian walkway to get there from the train station and I could not wait to get back above ground.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly the Prince of Wales Museum, opened its doors in 1922. The building itself was completed in 1914 but served as a military hospital and exhibition venue before turning into a museum. The museum houses about 50,000 artifacts ranging from sculptures, bronzes, paintings, to porcelain.
Completed in 1923, the Gateway of India was built to greet the British royals' visit to the India colony. The last British troops also departed from here when colonialism came to an end. Heavy security presence can be seen as the area is cordoned off from the nearby streets.
The Taj Mahal Palace was built before the Gateway of India and continues to be a venerable institution today. It got famous internationally for all the wrong reasons when terrorists captured it and sustained their fight inside for several days in 2008.
Chinese mooncakes were available for sale.
Head upstairs in the old wing for a lovely afternoon tea overlooking the ocean.
The waters just off the luxury hotel are not clean.
The Queen's Necklace fronts the ocean on the other side of town, about a 20 minute walk from the Taj. Here, the pavement is a bit more spacious and you can sit along the breakwater to watch the sun set.
I got sick for the first time in India eating at this "revolving" restaurant.
Located a bit further out from the city centre, the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum is the city's oldest and exhibits the city's history and culture. The museum is housed in a historic building of over 130 years old in the Renaissance Revival style.
Haha. I love India but it sure is dirty. I don't agree that it's the dirtiest anywhere, tho.
I think I've mentioned it on here before, but my wife's parents are Indian. They have a family flat in Neriman Point, close to where a lot of these beautiful shots were taken. I've been to India twice and always enjoyed it. The flights take forever to get there, however!