Mumbai, Bandhavgarh and Maldives
Although we have been to India several times we have never been to Mumbai. We also thoroughly enjoy seeing the big cats on our regular trips to South Africa on Safari. We have decided to combine a trip to India, visiting Mumbai and also seen the Tigers in the wild. We think this will be quite a busy trip so once the India section is finished, we’re gonna go to the Maldives for a spot of rest and recreation.
Mumbai
Mumbai, often called the “City of Dreams,” offers a mix of cultural landmarks, historical sites, vibrant markets, and scenic coastal spots. Mumbai’s diversity ensures there’s something for everyone, whether you’re into history, culture, food, or just soaking up the city’s vibrant energy.
Gateway of India: is an monumental arch on the waterfront, erected to commemorate the landing of King George V for his coronation as the Emperor of India. He was the first British monarch to visit India.
Colaba Causeway: is famous for shopping and food. From cheap street clothes to fashionable boutiques, this lane, which houses old buildings from the British Raj, has it all, clothes, shoes, purses, and even jewellery in the latest designs. The street vendors sell the latest fashion at throwaway prices, which can be bargained for to a great extent.
Girgaon Chowpatty: is a public beach along the Queen’s Necklace adjoining Marine Drive and is great for an evening stroll and snacks.
Hanging Gardens: offers green space and trees amongst the heavily congested city. Along with numerous hedges carved into the shapes of animals, the gardens feature a prominent flower clock at its centre and the ‘Old Woman’s Shoe’ or the ‘Boot House’. The spectacular view of the Arabian Sea offered by the gardens is its main highlight during late evenings for one of the most beautiful sunset views in the city.
Antilla Residence: located on Billionaires’ Row, is the residence of the Indian billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani and his family. Built from 2006 to 2010 at a cost of nearly US$2 billion, it was valued at US$4.6 billion in 2023 and is the world’s second most valuable residential property, after British crown property Buckingham Palace, and the world’s most valuable private residence.
Haji Ali Dargah: is a Sufi shrine and monument to Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, a Sufi saint and a wealthy merchant from Uzbekistan and is located on an islet off the coast of Worli. An exquisite example of Indo-Islamic architecture, associated with legends about doomed lovers, the dargah contains the tomb of Haji Ali Shah Bukhari and is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Mumbai.
Mumbai New Coastal Road: on way from the airport you will pass through the iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link, a well-known cable-stayed bridge, then on to the new Coastal Road which will zip past the iconic Mumbai Landscape and the underground tunnel that passes beneath the Priya Darsahni Park.
Marine Drive: is one of the most beautifully laid boulevards in southern part of Mumbai. The C shaped area in South Mumbai, Marine Drive is also called the “Queen’s Necklace”.
Afghan Church: is an Anglican church built by the British to commemorate the dead of the First Afghan War and the disastrous retreat from Kabul. Memorials at the rear of the nave also record casualties from the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
Dhobi Gat Mumbai: is used to refer to any laundry-place or washing-place where many launderers who may be ordinary people or professionals who use the place to wash clothes and other linen.
Dharavi Slums: is one of the world’s largest slums with an area of 2.4 sqkm and a population of about 1,000,000 making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Dharavi has an active informal economy in which numerous household enterprises make leather, textiles and pottery products. The total annual turnover has been estimated at over US$1 billion.
Crawford Market: is one of South Mumbai’s most famous markets named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of the city, the market was later renamed to honour Indian social reformer Mahatma Jotirao Phule.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Area Fort: formerly known as Victoria Terminus, is a historic railway station and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways.
Elephanta Caves: located on Elephanta Island, these UNESCO-listed rock-cut caves feature intricate sculptures dedicated to Hindu deities.
Bollywood: is the heart of India’s film industry. Take a guided tour of film studios, learn about Bollywood’s history, and maybe even catch a live shoot.
Bandhavgarh
Bandhavgarh National Park is spread over the Vindhya hills in Madhya Pradesh. The national park consists of a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer area of approximately 400 sq km. The topography of the whole area varies between steep ridges, undulating forest and open meadows. Bandhavgarh National Park is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India as well as in the world. The national park was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and at present is a famous natural hub for White Tigers.
Maldives Ananea
Tucked within its’ own secluded lagoon, Ananea Madivaru Maldives blends contemporary elegance with South Asian and Indian Ocean heritage, spanning two islands connected by an overwater jetty there’s pristine white sandy beaches, a central lagoon, and a house reef teeming with underwater life.