Mumbai landmarks not to be missed

Gateway of India & Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

The Gateway of India is the most famous of the Mumbai sights and thus the most important landmark of the city. It took thirteen years (1911 to 1924) to build this basalt triumphal arch. This 26 meter high Arc de Triomphe without a roundabout or this Brandenburg Gate on the Arabian Sea was designed to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary's first visit to Mumbai. Later it served primarily as a place for the solemn entry into Indian soil by viceroys or Bombay governors. The Gateway of India also gained historical importance due to the fact that it left the last British battalion for home in 1948, symbolizing the end of British rule and India's independence. Nowadays only tourist ships leave from here in the direction of the Elephanta caves - one of the Mumbai sights, which I describe to you in the following point No. 2 of this article. A neighbor of the Gateway of India is the world famous Taj Mahal Palace Hotel .

Since we are talking about a luxury hotel here, unfortunately none of the 240 rooms fell into my price category. I am neither Mick Jagger, Prince Charles nor a member of the Beatles, who all already stayed here. I have to learn to accept that. The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel was opened in 1903. The most famous Indian entrepreneur in British India, Jamsetji Tata, had it built after a humiliating experience: despite his success and wealth, he had been denied access to a British hotel in Bombay. Tata's answer to this was the construction of the Taj Mahal Hotel, the most exclusive and largest hotel in India. The hotel's legendary status today should prove that Tata was able to achieve its goals.

Elephanta caves

The Elephanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. They include several cave temples, most of which are dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and are located on Elephanta Island in the port of Mumbai. The images of Shiva carved into the rock inside the six caves are among the masterpieces of sculpture in Hinduism. Unfortunately, they have not survived the varied history of Elephanta Island without damage. This is not surprising. Read also traveltargets for complete information.

The island has since been used as a military base. A cannon shot that struck the main cave in 1712 thus falls into the “blame for yourself” category. Thanks to Shiva, restoration work began in 1890. The main cave is relevant for tourism. You can buy tickets for the crossing to the Elephanta Caves right next to the Gateway of India. The boats also start from there.

Victoria Terminus

The Victoria Terminus (officially Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or Mumbai CST in honor of the founder of the Maratha Empire of the same name since 1996) is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai. The train station was built from 1878 to 1888 to celebrate Queen Victoria's 50th "service" anniversary, which is where the original name comes from. For some time now, the Victoria Terminus has been one of the busiest train stations in India and therefore - without question - the world. For me, the Victoria Terminus is one thing above all: from the outside, the most beautiful station building I have ever seen.

If you miss this neo-Gothic masterpiece in Mumbai, I honestly don't know what actually drove you to Mumbai. (If it was the Indian food and chai, then I will exempt you from the otherwise obligatory visit to the Victoria Terminus.) By the way, a look at or in the main post office (India Post Office) behind Victoria Station is worth a recommendation. The immediate neighbor of the Victoria Terminus is the Municipal Corporation Building of Greater Mumbai , in German: the city hall of Mumbai. Due to the stylistic similarity, this building with the striking tower dome looks like an offshoot of the Victoria Terminus. In fact, both buildings were built at the same time. The Municipal Corporation Building was pounded out between 1884 and 1893, so that its construction period at times overlapped with that of the Victoria Terminus.

Crawford Market

You will find Crawford Market less than a kilometer north of the Victoria Terminus. This is a huge market, which is hidden behind historic walls. Fresh vegetables and fruits dominate the market building, which has been filled with life since 1871. But imported foods such as cheese or homemade chocolate are also offered here in the chaos of exotic smells and crowds typical of India. Beyond eating, the architectural highlights of the building attract the masses.

Of particular interest here are the stone fountains in the middle of the market, the wall paintings by Indian farmers on the outside and of course the clock tower, which is decorated with Victorian carvings. It is not for nothing that the Crawford Market has established itself among the most popular Mumbai attractions for tourists. The disadvantage of this popularity is that ominous helpers pounce on arriving tourists at the main entrance to impose these market leaders. The side entrances give you the opportunity to avoid such a spectacle. If the tourist-oriented Crawford Market is no longer original enough for you, the surrounding bazaar district is ideal for a stroll.

Rajabai Clock Tower

The area east of the Oval Maidan Park was particularly worth seeing for me. Mahatma Gandhi Road , as it should be in Mumbai, is lively and is shaped by the magnificent main campus of the University of Mumbai . Founded in 1857, the University of Mumbai is one of the three oldest universities in India. On average, the university, including the associated colleges, has 500,000 students. The most famous graduate is Mahatma Gandhi.