51. Feel the sufi mystism at dargahs of Haji Ali and Maqdoom Ali Mahimi.
52. Shop at the Bandra boutiques or if they are too expensive give Hill Road or Fashion Street a shot - Hill Road for sure. However, the best road-side shopping is Colaba Causeway followed by # 78.
53. Gape at famous residences: Shahrukh Khan's Mannat, Amitabh Bacchan's Jalsa - They all look the same to me and Ricky, no Shahrukh does not own an Island, he merely lives on one like other 13 million!
54. Discover the theatre scene in the city at venues other than Prithvi and NCPA: Sophia, St. Andrews, Rangsharda, Ravindra Natya Mandir.
55. Explore the Powai and Vihaar lakes - How can I ever forget the school picnics that were to these two destinations. Once considered as outskirts of the city are very much a part of sprawling township.
56. Visit the museums: Prince of Wales, Monetary, Modern Art, Mani Bhavan - these are not much to write home about and hope can be well-preserved. Mani Bhavan has something for a Gandhian and would be worth walking to the August Kranti Marg (rather what little remains of this historic site). The Prince of Wales Museum (now known as the Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vaastu Sangrahalaya) is in one of the most precious areas of the city and has a grandeur image to it. Albeit in a run-down state of preservation, least one can do is pay a nominal fee of Rs. 5 (is that even a fee??) to find some pre-historic jewels, armours and artefacts.
57. Admire the British era architecture in Fort: Churchgate station, Western Railway headquarters, High Court, General Post Office, Telegraph Office, Police Headquarters - Mumbai, considered as one of the Victorian Gothic cities of the world, has been endowed by the British with a legacy of divergent styles. Totally worth checking these sites.
58. Learn about the rock-cut architecture: Elephanta, Kanheri, Mahakali and Karla Caves.
59. Explore the churches: Gloria church Byculla, Portugese, Mt. Mary Bandra, St. Michaels Mahim, St. Thomas Flora Fountain, Wodehouse Colaba, Afghan Church Navy Nagar, Our Lady of Salvation Dadar, St. Andrews Bandra - Mt. Mary's offers the best of times during the Bandra Fair every September.
60. Check out an art exhibition: Jehangir Art Gallery Fort, Tao Art Gallery Worli, Piramal Art Gallery Nariman Point - And if you do visit Jehangir Art Gallery, it is imperative you have Aloo Paratha and Raita at Cafe Samovar.
61. Buy fish at Sassoon Docks, Cuffe Parade or Dockyard Road, Mazgaon.
62. Find the forst of Mumbai: Bombay Castle, Castella de Aguada, Madh Fort, Mahim Fort, Sion Fort, Sewri Fort, Worli Fort.
63. Buy a vintage bollywood poster in Mini market or Lamington Road - Of course! Countless argumants I used to have with my mom about my 'justification' to have these posters in my room. What was I thinking?
64. Get away to the beaches around Mumbai: Alibag, Kashid, Murud, Nagaon.
65. Travel to places overnight: Goa, Ajanta Ellora, Mahabaleshwar, Pune, Khandala, Lonavala - Each place has its own USP, some for commercial purposes too. My favorites are Panchgani and to enjoy the beach, the cleanest stretch in Ganpatiphule in those fancy MTDC tents.
66. Discover the charm of marble tabletops, bentwood chairs and Irani chai at Parsi cafes - Sometimes it can be an overdoze if you work for a Parsi conglomerate.
67. Catch behind the scenes action at a Bollywood studio - They still have the sets used in epic series like Mahabaratha and Ramyana. Also, the view atop the hills in Goregaon is simply brilliant, what with a view of the growing sky-scrappers vis-a-vis the stumbling slums.
68. Loft the ball for a six in your neighbouring 'galli' cricket but make sure you do not break any window panes - and spot how the girls outweigh the boys!
69. Silently stare at the Towers of Silence and Agiaries.
70. Shadow the dabbawalas for one full day - this sounds like fun!
71. Walk through a koliwada.
72. Ride a vintage lift in a 100-year old building - true! Also, the liftmen here are more vintage than the life itself.
73. Travel in a local train. How about the Virar fast? - Check #20.
74. Ride in a double-decker bus. Isn't Mumbai the only city where they still run them? - To ride them on the Marine Drive-Chowpatty stretch is scenic.
75. If you have made it to a penthouse in Mumbai, you might as well enjoy the view.
52. Shop at the Bandra boutiques or if they are too expensive give Hill Road or Fashion Street a shot - Hill Road for sure. However, the best road-side shopping is Colaba Causeway followed by # 78.
53. Gape at famous residences: Shahrukh Khan's Mannat, Amitabh Bacchan's Jalsa - They all look the same to me and Ricky, no Shahrukh does not own an Island, he merely lives on one like other 13 million!
54. Discover the theatre scene in the city at venues other than Prithvi and NCPA: Sophia, St. Andrews, Rangsharda, Ravindra Natya Mandir.
55. Explore the Powai and Vihaar lakes - How can I ever forget the school picnics that were to these two destinations. Once considered as outskirts of the city are very much a part of sprawling township.
56. Visit the museums: Prince of Wales, Monetary, Modern Art, Mani Bhavan - these are not much to write home about and hope can be well-preserved. Mani Bhavan has something for a Gandhian and would be worth walking to the August Kranti Marg (rather what little remains of this historic site). The Prince of Wales Museum (now known as the Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vaastu Sangrahalaya) is in one of the most precious areas of the city and has a grandeur image to it. Albeit in a run-down state of preservation, least one can do is pay a nominal fee of Rs. 5 (is that even a fee??) to find some pre-historic jewels, armours and artefacts.
57. Admire the British era architecture in Fort: Churchgate station, Western Railway headquarters, High Court, General Post Office, Telegraph Office, Police Headquarters - Mumbai, considered as one of the Victorian Gothic cities of the world, has been endowed by the British with a legacy of divergent styles. Totally worth checking these sites.
58. Learn about the rock-cut architecture: Elephanta, Kanheri, Mahakali and Karla Caves.
59. Explore the churches: Gloria church Byculla, Portugese, Mt. Mary Bandra, St. Michaels Mahim, St. Thomas Flora Fountain, Wodehouse Colaba, Afghan Church Navy Nagar, Our Lady of Salvation Dadar, St. Andrews Bandra - Mt. Mary's offers the best of times during the Bandra Fair every September.
60. Check out an art exhibition: Jehangir Art Gallery Fort, Tao Art Gallery Worli, Piramal Art Gallery Nariman Point - And if you do visit Jehangir Art Gallery, it is imperative you have Aloo Paratha and Raita at Cafe Samovar.
61. Buy fish at Sassoon Docks, Cuffe Parade or Dockyard Road, Mazgaon.
62. Find the forst of Mumbai: Bombay Castle, Castella de Aguada, Madh Fort, Mahim Fort, Sion Fort, Sewri Fort, Worli Fort.
63. Buy a vintage bollywood poster in Mini market or Lamington Road - Of course! Countless argumants I used to have with my mom about my 'justification' to have these posters in my room. What was I thinking?
64. Get away to the beaches around Mumbai: Alibag, Kashid, Murud, Nagaon.
65. Travel to places overnight: Goa, Ajanta Ellora, Mahabaleshwar, Pune, Khandala, Lonavala - Each place has its own USP, some for commercial purposes too. My favorites are Panchgani and to enjoy the beach, the cleanest stretch in Ganpatiphule in those fancy MTDC tents.
66. Discover the charm of marble tabletops, bentwood chairs and Irani chai at Parsi cafes - Sometimes it can be an overdoze if you work for a Parsi conglomerate.
67. Catch behind the scenes action at a Bollywood studio - They still have the sets used in epic series like Mahabaratha and Ramyana. Also, the view atop the hills in Goregaon is simply brilliant, what with a view of the growing sky-scrappers vis-a-vis the stumbling slums.
68. Loft the ball for a six in your neighbouring 'galli' cricket but make sure you do not break any window panes - and spot how the girls outweigh the boys!
69. Silently stare at the Towers of Silence and Agiaries.
70. Shadow the dabbawalas for one full day - this sounds like fun!
71. Walk through a koliwada.
72. Ride a vintage lift in a 100-year old building - true! Also, the liftmen here are more vintage than the life itself.
73. Travel in a local train. How about the Virar fast? - Check #20.
74. Ride in a double-decker bus. Isn't Mumbai the only city where they still run them? - To ride them on the Marine Drive-Chowpatty stretch is scenic.
75. If you have made it to a penthouse in Mumbai, you might as well enjoy the view.
