It’s fitting that my first real taste of India arose in the form of this massive arched monument located just across the street from my hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers in the south part of Mumbai. The Gateway was conceived in 1911 as a means of commemorating the visit of British monarchs King George V and Queen Mary, although the final structure was only completed 13 years later. Ironically, after Indian independence in 1947, the Gateway that once welcomed British visitors to India saw the last British troops pass under it on their way out of the country for good. Today the beautiful structure remains and what was once a colonial symbol has slowly morphed into symbol of pride for the people of India.
On first glance, # 19 Laburnum Road did not strike me as anything other than a relatively large house in downtown Mumbai. However, as my excellent guide Vinay pointed out, between 1917 and 1934 this house known as “Mani Bhavan” served as the Mumbai base of India’s most beloved historical figure: Mahatma Gandhi. It’s funny how this simple fact quickly transformed my view of the place entirely. All of a sudden I found myself walking amongst history, completely in awe of the fact that this legendary leader once casually walked the same halls. Today the house lives on in the form of a museum dedicated to Gandhi’s life. The visit showed me just how cursory my knowledge of the man really was, and I eagerly drank in the details of his life as described by Vinay and the various exhibits in the house. Being of South African heritage, I was particularly fascinated to learn just how much Gandhi’s residence in Durban during his days as a barrister would go on to influence the course of his life.
And while I will stop short of adopting the cliché completely, I must admit it does contain some element of truth, especially when traveling to a new country for the very first time. So it was with a sense of curious excitement that I landed in Mumbai in the wee hours of a Tuesday night in early March. The warm humid air immediately reminded me of home but it was here that the similarities began to wane and I realized I was in for a completely unique experience. After clearing customs I met my driver as well as my travel partner/host Harpreet from our inbound partner Quo Vadis Travel. We loaded up into the vehicle and set off on the 40-minute drive to the Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, Mumbai’s most iconic hotel. The streets were eerily quiet at that hour and it would turn out that this evening’s drive would be the only one of which I could speak the words “quiet” and “calm.”
VIEW OF THE GATEWAY FROM MY ROOM AT THE TAJ MAHAL PALACE AND TOWERS
GANDHI'S MUMBAI RESIDENCE AS SEEN FROM STREET LEVEL
Over the next two days, I discovered a city teeming with the sort of urgent vibrancy found in cities like New York and London. In fact, a gentleman I met there guaranteed that Mumbai was the “fastest city” in the world. Looking back on it, I cannot say I have any grounds to disagree. Aside from the hustle and bustle, the beautiful coastal situation of the city gives it an even lovelier flavor and one cannot leave out the rich cultural history on display throughout the city. Below I have listed some of the highlights of my time in Mumbai, I hope you enjoy reading about them. I’ll be adding new installments over the next days and weeks and of course, feel free to contact me should you want to discuss how you can experience this wonderful country!
MY GUIDE VINAY AND I WITH THE BEAUTIFUL MUMBAI
COASTLINE IN THE BACKGROUND
