Previously we wrote about how Dubai was a city of the future - now we have discovered that a new super fast bus service between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is being planned which will see passenges on board superbuues capable of speeds of 25 km/h slashing the journey time between the two cites to half an hour.
In the animation you see how the electric-powered bus manoeuvres around ordinary roads in the UAE cities but once out of town accelerates to Formula 1 racing speeds.
Mumbai has been called the Las Vegas of India, the city that never sleeps. It is a place of diverse cultural sceneries, with traditional Indian temples, Islamic mosques and colonial grandeur, all set in a bustling modern, confident city.
Mumbai is a vibrant, exciting destination full of cultural tours and entertainment hotspots. You are just as likely to come across a lively disco, as you are a peaceful, ancient shrine.
Central to any visit to Mumbai is the Gateway to India, the 85’ basalt monument is a classically constructed archway at the spot where British ships traditionally docked and was the landing point for governors and dignitaries. Built in 1924 to celebrate the visit by King George V it also serves as the starting point for ferry tours to the Elephant caves and boat trips around the bay.
The Elephanta Island
The Elephanta Island across the Mumbai Harbour is home to seven caves, five Hindu and two Buddhist. The Hindu caves are dedicated to the Elephant god Shiva and contain many wonderful sculptures and carvings. The other caves on the island contain Buddhist Stupa monuments. The island mosque at the tomb of Haji Ali also attracts many daily visitors touring the bay
Taking a tour around the city you will encounter many of its diverse incarnations, from 10th century temples and traditional Indo-Saracenic styles to the Colonial designs of the Portuguese and British, who brought Gothic, Victorian and Art Deco structures to the city. The successful, modern Mumbai has also added equally striking buildings to emphasise its current economic standing.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the Gothic fronted main railway station of Mumbai, complete with arches, buttressing and stained glass windows the building was built in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Silver Jubilee. Lit by many bulbs at night this Unesco Heritage site is a famous landmark at the centre of Mumbai’s commercial centre. Other iconic Mumbai buildings include the Rajabai Clock tower on the campus of the University along with the highly decorative and opulent Taj Mahal Hotel opposite the Gateway to India.
Indian artistic culture is also on display in various galleries around the city including the contemporary National Gallery of Modern Art, the Jehangir Art Gallery and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya, formally the Prince of Wales Museum. It is a place of constant festivals and events; and where the Bollywood film industry also has a strong presence.
Nariman Point, the Juhu Beach and Chowpatty beaches are popular spots with both tourists and locals, especially at night the beachfront comes to life as families bathe and play, vendors wander around selling food, spices and gifts. The festival of Ganesh chatturathi is a busy time, when many travellers journey to Chowpatty to celebrate.
Another reason for taking a trip to Mumbai is to try the vast array of foods, spices and vegetables. Mumbai is full of world-class restaurants, cafés and street stalls. One of the biggest markets in the city is the Crawford Market, which stands 50ft tall with an awning ceiling. Here you will find the widest collection of food in the Mumbai area, it is a place full of the fragrances of Indian cooking.
In a city of 14 million you are bound to find something that will please, entertain and amuse you. Mumbai has plenty on offer for all of its guests.
