This is an article about a city I have lived in and visit occassionally.

I recently had a memorable trip to Mumbai, the capital port city of Maharashtra in India. It is a multi-faceted place – India’s city of dreams and aspirations for millions. It is also a city of extreme contrasts – gleaming high-rise buildings existing alongside huge shanties and slums. I stayed near Hiranandani,Powai which is a beautiful and well-planned township in the northern suburbs. Originally a wilderness which people generally avoided, Powai today is a bustling locality with many high-rise apartments, green parks and broad avenues with offices, banks, restaurants and other commercial establishments. Strolling along Central Avenue, Hiranandani in the evenings is a pleasure, with fashionable crowds thronging the neon-lit streets. I also wanted to have a glimpse of Marine Drive at sunset. So I boarded a local train from Andheri which took me all the way down to Marine Lines station. The local trains are the lifeline of Mumbai and the most efficient and economical way to get around the city. During peak hours the trains are packed and commuters have to squeeze themselves in and out of them. At Marine Drive I walked along the promenade waiting for the sunset which was fast approaching. Marine Drive is also called the ‘queen’s necklace’ because the string of lights on its curve appear like a glittering necklace at night. I sat on the edge of the promenade watching the high-rise buildings overlooking Mumbai’s fine natural harbor and inhaling the tangy salty air. The setting sun cast a golden glow on the waters of the Arabian Sea. I decided to go on the Mumbai Darshan which takes you on a daily sightseeing trip covering all the important spots of the city. The Gateway of India is a must-see for visitors to Mumbai. The colossal stone structure was designed by George Wittet, a Scottish architect, who also designed other Mumbai landmarks like the Prince of Wales Museum and the King Edward Memorial hospital. Following India’s independence, the last of the British troops in India left the country passing through the Gateway of India. Across the Gateway stands the Taj Mahal hotel, the scene of the infamous terror attacks in 2008. The hotel was built in 1899 by Jamshetji Tata. There is an interesting story about how the hotel came to be built. After Tata was refused entry into a British hotel because he was a native, he decided to build a grand hotel of his own to outshine the British one. Both the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel incorporate the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture developed by British architects in India. Close by is the Colaba Causeway, a paradise for shoppers and bargain hunters.Crowds thronged the sidewalks sheltered from the hot sun by awnings. The area has many good theatres and restaurants including the Leopald cafe, which was one of the sites of the infamous 2008 terror attacks.I enjoyed a delicious lunch of beef steak with mushrooms followed by chocolate cake.. The Mumbai Darshan took me on other interesting spots like the Prince of Wales Museum, today known as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya, which has a fine collection of Indian and foreign paintings and sculptures. I also visited the Pherozshah Mehta Gardens also known as Hanging Gardens and the Kamala Nehru Park which has an interesting shoe-shaped structure called the ‘Old Woman’s Shoe”. It has a castle-like appearance with a gabled roof and windows. The gardens offer a beautiful and panoramic view of the city. The trip finally ended at Juhu beach at sunset. Crowds thronged the beach which is full of fast food stalls offering everything from Vada Pav to Bhel Puri. A fitting end to catch the spirit of a bustling and vibrant city