HAPPY DIWALI…a city goes mad!!!
We are back in Mumbai (last stop in India before we head off for Hong Kong), but this time in the more touristy southern Mumbai.
We are staying at the intercontinental hotel on Marine drive which at night is often referred to as the “queen’s necklace” due to the street lamps which are lit around this bay. However for Diwali this street is the place to light your firework fountains, firecrackers, rockets and Catherine wheels. Crowds turn out in their thousands to this wide pavement street to take their turn to light their fireworks. From the hotel Dome bar you have a unique view over the bay and the firework rockets all around, also the opportunity to light your own lantern to send your Diwali message. Photos and video do not do justice to the chaos of the 2 hours or so that the fireworks were let off, and even more surprisingly for a city which generally struggles with rubbish, there was no signs of the fireworks on the street by 7am the next morning.
The historical buildings to see in Mumbai largely relate to the colonial period with the Gateway of India being one of the top tourist attractions. The UNESCO site of Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus or Victoria Terminus as it was previously called was also worth a visit, it is the busiest train station in India with both long distance and local trains departing from here.
Other pics of the day:
Round the World 2012 / 2013 