Ah, Mumbai, the City of Dreams, in its truest sense, has always intrigued me since childhood. Mine started a year ago on a Delhi-to-Mumbai flight. As I was routing through all the flight options, I wanted to venture into those lanes that I hardly knew about. When I first watched ‘Wake Up Sid,’ it made me feel the nascent purity of the fast life that people portrayed. Thus, the price competition and such a high operating frequency allowed me to easily find an affordable flight that was available at the right time.

Fortunately, IndiGo had numerous choices and rather cheap prices, so I chose the one that would finally make my dream come true.

Hidden Neighborhoods

Bhuleshwar: A step back in time

On arrival and getting settled, I went inside the Bhuleshwar, covering the small and narrow alleys of the city in an auto-rickshaw. It robbed time from my hostel, but it was worth all the time that I had used. Perfumes from spices and incense accompanied me to the discovery of Swaminarayan Temple. That was extraordinary; its carvings were genuinely intricate, and they reminded me of my childhood visits to the temples of Rajasthan. 

I opted to retire to the local temple so that I could get a quiet environment through which I could complementarity embrace the spiritual energy of the temple. After visiting this neighborhood, I knew why I saw it on my first day.

Banganga Tank

Finally, in the actualisation of my hangout plan, I discovered the ancient Banganga Tank, which is located in Malabar Hill. While observing devotees’ worship, I seemed to be in a parallel world, wondering how it was possible to find such tranquility in the middle of the most populated city in India. This simple and historical freshwater spring took on another meaning when I learnt that Lord Ram created it using an arrow that they used.

Uncovering markets

Treasures in the “Thieves Market”

My search brought me to Chor Bazaar, where I had to negotiate the price for antiquity Bollywood movie posters and telephones. This “Thieves Market” was packed full of antiques and some rather curious items. The gramophones on the floor, the old clocks on the walls, the dolls on the shelves, and the movie memorabilia on the sofa all said something about ‘Bombay’ that reminded me of Amitabh Bachchan.

Local life

Worli Village

The next halt was at Worli Village, a part of Mumbai, to date, known mainly for its traditional fishing industry. The shots of bright boats amidst the ‘‘new age’’ steel and glass buildings were perhaps the most symbolic of the city. Many times, for food, I took fish and rice at a restaurant and other places, the tasty spirit of which was felt to be the same as it was hundreds of generations back.

Religious diversity

Afghan Church

The next day, to transform and to glimpse the beauty of old British-era architecture, I went to the Afghan Church in Colaba. I was blessed to witness the beauty of stained glass and the clean, calm environment. Originally constructed to honor British soldiers who died in the First Afghan War, this church combines the lengthy and brutal history of colonist rule in Mumbai.

Haji Ali Dargah

It was thrilling to walk on the causeway, to Haji Ali Dargah, especially during high tide. Mumbai has a very old religious history, and this is the first mosque/tomb complex in Mumbai, which was built in the 15th century. The ability to see people from across society going to the shrine was one way of being reminded of the openness of the city. Truly remarkable!

Knesset Eliyahoo Synagogue

During my walk, I came across the beautiful Knesset Eliyahoo Synagogue, with its blue-coloured exterior and fabulous interiors, which shows how multicultural Mumbai really is. More information about the Jewish population of Mumbai presented me with yet another aspect of the multiculturalism of the city.

Art and culture

Jehangir Art Gallery

Jehangir Art Gallery in Kala Ghoda allowed me to see art pieces from both established and upcoming artists in India, giving me a taste of art in Mumbai. The constantly refurbishing galleries displayed modern Indian art, ranging from classic paintings to modern artefacts. Well, I am glad I visited this, and part of me feels that I would regret it if I had not.

Bhau Daji Lad Museum

My last shopping point was Byculla’s Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum. Located in a Victorian-style structure, it exhibits the cultural history of Mumbai. Each case portrayed the city’s growth, and this included miniature clay modeling of various groups of people and maps and photographs from the past.

Some thoughts

As I packed to leave the city with my return flight being in the evening from Mumbai to Delhi I felt that there was so much more to the city and its story that I had missed. My flights to Mumbai had made the path to explore the unknown much wider than exploring more and more tourist places.

Thus, approaching Mumbai as a city with multiple hierarchies of spaces and meanings, the British and other architectural interventions were witnessed, ranging from religious places, art galleries, markets and water tanks. Right from the time when the plane touched down at Delhi from the Mumbai airport, every incident enriched my paradigm about this city.

For those who are planning to travel, know that travelling really starts as soon as you enter the plane. The city cannot be described just as Mumbai, the place, but as the ‘Mumbai experience’, which will pay back when one chooses to embrace other unknown faces of this city.

One bar which I crossed was time: centuries in just a few days; second was geography: different cultures and people; third was time-table: a day in the life of a city that sleeps not. When I got on the plane to return to Delhi, I could tell that my perspective on Mumbai had shifted immensely. The mere city of Bollywood and the corporate world was no longer the city it boasted of having; it came along with hidden gems, each with its own tale.

Conclusion

I would suggest that those who wish to visit Mumbai consider going outside the list of common tourist destinations. May it be the start of the exploration of the spirit and essence of this wonderful city. You will come back with not only pictures but also stories to tell, experiences, and respect for the many faces of Mumbai. Let IndiGo fly you to places you will never want to forget.

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