Delhi | Mumbai | Calcutta   | Bangalore | Chennai

Adynamic, modern city, Mumbai, the financial capital of India and the capital of the state of Maharashtra has risen from rather unlikely beginnings. A group of seven islands of no great value, ceded to the Portuguese in 1534 by the Sultan of Gujarat, were in turn given as part of the wedding dowry of Catherine of Braganza when she married England's Charles II in 1661. In 1668, the British government leased the islands to the East India Company for £10 in gold per annum and Mumbaigrew gradually to become a centre of trade. In 1853, the first railway in the subcontinent was laid from Mumbai to Thane and in 1862, a major land reclamation project joined the seven islands into a single entity - Mumbai was on its way to becoming a major metropolis.

Today it is a lively city with a character all its own - a major industrial and financial centre - it still has an active interest in the arts and theatre. Mumbai is also the main centre of the Indian film industry.

A Touch of the Raj

Centuries of association with the British has left its imprint on the city and majestic buildings, built in that whimsical style termed Indo-Saracenic, dot the city. Gracing the water's edge at Apollo Bunder is the Gateway of India - a triumphal arch designed by George Wittet and completed in 1924 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911, for the Delhi Durbar. This was the first landmark that visitors to Mumbai saw in earlier times, as they disembarked from their ships. Among the other notable buildings of the period are the Mumbai High Court, built in the English gothic style and the Old Secretariat. The highly ornamented university building, also in the area, is topped by the 280 ft high Rajabai Clock Tower. The Mint and the Town Hall with their classical pillars and pediments date back to the 1820's. The most interesting railway station in India is also to be found in Mumbai. The Victoria Terminus (Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus) designed by Frederick William Stevens is a splendid ornate building, built in the Italian Gothic style. And finally at the heart of the city is Flora - the large bustling square with its fine fountain.

Delivering into the Past

Maharashtra is noted for its ancient rock-cut cave temples and fine examples of these early shrines are to be found at Elephanta and Kanheri near Mumbai.

The island of Elephanta is just an hour away from Mumbai by boat. The cave temples here, excavated between the 5th and 8th centuries AD, are famous for their magnificently sculpted panels. The best known is one that depicts the maheshmurti - a 5 m, three-headed image of Lord Shiva. Others include one of Ravana shaking Mount Kailash and another of Lord Shiva as Ardhanariswara.

Just 42 kms away from Mumbai is Kanheri, where the 109 Buddhist caves carved into the sides of a rocky ravine, date back to a period between the 2nd and 9th centuries AD. While many of them are just cells that were once used by the Buddhist monks, Cave 3, the great Chaitya Hall (Buddhist hall of worship) has a splendid colonnade of pillars and a stupa.

Glimpses of Art and Heritage

The Prince of Wales Museum is an imposing structure topped by a large central marble dome. Established in 1921, it houses varied collections that range from China - ware and miniature paintings to sculpture. Adjacent to the museum is the modern Jahangir Art Gallery. It has some of the best exhibitions is town and its charming Samovar Restaurant is a popular meeting point.

At the Victoria Gardens, (now known as the Veermata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan), are the Zoo and the Victoria and Albert Museum (now known as Bhau Daji Laud Museum). There are interesting collections of flora and fauna and archaeological remains here, including the large stone elephant that once stood on Elephanta Island.

In Pursuit of Faith

On a little island, 500m out at sea and linked by a causeway to the mainland, is a memorial to Haji Ali, a Muslim saint. This unusual shrine is just one of Mumbai's many interesting places of worship. At Mahim is another dargah with domes and minarets, built in 1413 to honour Makhtum Fakih Ali Paru, a scholar and saint who came from Arabia. The Jama Masjid completed in 1802 has an ancient tank adjacent to it. Alongside are the 16 black stone arches that support the mosque.

The St Thomas Cathedral (1718) in the heart of the Fort area and the Afghan Church of St John the Evangelist (1858) - built in memory of those who fell in the First Afghan War - are the most prominent of Mumbai's churches. The two major synagogues in the city were constructed in 1796 and 1847. The older one was built by Samuel Ezekiel (Samaji Hasanji), in thanksgiving for his escape from Tipu Sultan, after the Second Mysore War.

Notable among the temples in the city are the popular Mahalakshmi Temple, near Breach Candy, dedicated to Lakshmi, Saraswati and Kali, the black stone Shiva temple (1830) at Bhuleshwar, the Babulnath Temple (1780) at the end of Marine Drive, the fine Jain temple on Malabar Hill.

The Green Scene

Mumbai, as a major metropolis, is now a concrete jungle with just a few parks of note. Located up on Malabar Hill are the Kamala Nehru Park and the Hanging Gardens - welcome splashes of green with splendid views of the city. In the little hills around the suburbs of Borivli, is the Sanjay Gandhi National Park - with a lake and a Lion Safari Park. This little wooded sanctuary is the habitat of panther, deer and a variety of birds.

The feel of Sun and Sand

Chowpatty, a small beach along Marine Drive with its stalls selling varieties of snacks, is popular for an evening stroll. Juhu beach, 30 kms from the city, has a long stretch of sand but is crowded during the weekends. The Ramada Inn Palm Grove at Juhu has equipment for wind surfing. Beautiful unspoilt stretches of sand are to be found north of Mumbai at Gorai, Marve, Manori and Madh - ideal for a feel of sun and sand.

Access :

Air : A major international airport, Mumbai is well linked to most parts of the globe. The Indian Airlines and other domestic airlines link it to major towns in India.

Rail : Mumbai is well connected to most major Indian towns.

Road : Well connected to the rest of India. Bus services link it regularly to Goa, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Indore, Vadodara and Hyderabad.

Sea : A major port - it is linked by sea to various destinations around the world. A regular boat service connects Mumbai and Goa.

Accommodation :

Mumbai offers excellent hotels ranging from 5 star Deluxe to Budget accommodation.

Temperature :

Max Min

Summer : 33.3^ºC 22.7^ºC

Winter : 29.5^ºC 19.4^ºC

Transport :

The extensive suburban train service is a fast and economical way of getting about town. Buses, metered taxis, air-conditioned tourist taxis are also available - Conducted tours in and around Mumbai are run by the Maharashtra Tourism Dev. Corpn. and ITDC.

For further information and assistance please contact :

Govt of India Tourist Office, 123 M Karve Road, Ph 2033144, Tourist Counters at the Airport, Domestic - 6149200, International - 8325331.

Maharashtra Tourism Dev. Corpn., CDO Hutments, Madame Cama Road, Ph : 2026713, 2027764.

Express Towers, 9th Floor, Nariman Point, Ph : 2024482, 2022584.

Foreigner's Regional Registration Office, near Mahatma Phule Market, Ph : 2620446.

Bazaar Talk

Mumbai offers splendid shopping opportunities - posh shopping areas with their emphasis on exclusive clothes, jewellery, fine leather - shoes, purses, garments - and fascinating bazaars at Colaba, Bandra, Linking Road, Fashion street and Juhu with a variety of products that range from crockery and readymade clothes to antiques! Finely crafted ornaments are to be found in Jhaveri Bazzar - where there is a concentration of jewellery shops. Not far away is the brass bazaar at Kalbadevi Road. At Bhuleshwar too there are excellent bargains to be had - down little lanes, with shops spilling over with traditional copper and brass utensils and Gujarati fabric and embroidery. Not to be missed is the Chor Bazaar which offers antiques, second hand furniture, old gramaphones and bric-a-brac.

Fun and Festivity

Sports : Despite the limitations of space, Mumbai has a lively interest in sports. Various clubs and hotels offer facilities for activities like badminton, squash, tennis, swimming and riding. The Powai Lake, close to the city, is a good place for angling, while the Amateurs Riding Club at the Mahalakshmir Race Coutse is the place for people wishing to ride. The Windsurfers Club at Palm Grove Hotel on Juhu Beach has equipment on hire for water sports. For visitors interested in sailing, dinghys can be hired at the Royal Yacht Club at Colaba.

Festivals : The most colourful of all festivals in the city is the Ganesh Chaturthi (August/September), when the elephant-headed god Ganesh is worshipped for ten days. On the last day of the festival, colourful crowds take their images of the god to immerse it in the sea. Janmashtami, (July/August) - the celebration of Lord Krishna's birth, is another colourful affair. Pots of curds are strung up over streets and groups of young men standing on each others shoulders try to break them. Diwali, the festival of lights (October/November) and Christmas are also exciting festive seasons in Mumbai.

Reel life

As a major producer of Hindi feature films - approximately 150 films in a year, Mumbai is often jocularly referred to as Bollywood! `Masala' or `formula' films are the order of the day - with touches of melodrama, tragedy, song, dance, intrigue violence, sex, tears and laughter, an inevitable part of any three hour film. A visit to the studios, where these films are churned out at a phenomenal rate, is fascinating.

Weekend ventures

Hill stations, spectacular cave temples, fine beaches located within easy reach of the city, are perfect for weekend getaways.

Just 104 km away is the picturesque hill station of Matheran - with its pretty walks, fine vantage points and a total lack of vehicular traffic! A fascinating hill train takes visitors up to this retreat in the hills. A little further from Mumbai, in the cool heights of the Western Ghats are the charming hill resorts of Mahabaleshwar (247 km) and Panchgani (276 km). Pretty waterfalls and a lake, fine walks and trekking routes, facilities for fishing, an abundance of strawberries in summer, are some of Mahabaleshwar's many attractions. 126 km along the main line to Pune are the twin hill towns of Khandala and Lonavala - especially pretty during the rains, when the hills are a lush green and the waterfalls at their frothy best.

Lonavala is the best take-off point for a visit to the spectacular Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa caves. At Karla, 12 km away, the Chaitya Hall, excavated and carved around the 2nd century BC, is aweinspiring. The cave, 124 ft long and 46^1/2 ft wide, has a high vaulted roof which is 45 ft high. It has a colonnade of pillars within and a beautiful sun window at the front of the cave that allows the sunlight to filter through to the stupa. At Bhaja and Bedsa too, there are rock-cut Buddhist caves that are as old as those at Karla but these are less accessible.

Closer to Mumbai along the route to Goa, is the Karnala Bird Sanctuary (60 km) - the habitat of nearly 146 species of birds. Near Mumbai are also popular picnic spots at Powai Lake (27.2 km), Vihar Lake (30.8 km) and the Versova Beach (28.9 km).

The historic city of Aurangabad (411 km), the base for visits to the Ajanta and Ellora caves, Popular places of pilgrimage at Nanded 272 km), Shirdi (296 km), Nasik and Pune are also easily accessible from Mumbai.

Calcutta, vital, volatile, over-populated, the largest metropolis in the country, is also a city with a great deal of charm - a city of strange paradoxes and one that leaves an indelible impression on the visitor. Imperial edifices, teeming bazaars, gardens and golf courses, shanty towns, museums and elegant hotels, the muddy Hooghly River winding through the city, the mournful boom of boats on the river, the cantilever Howrah Bridge spilling over with traffic - these are some of the images that juxtaposed form the exciting collage that is Calcutta.

A creation of the British, Calcutta had its beginning when Job Charnock from the East India Company established a small trading post in the estuary of the River Hooghly. It grew to become the capital of the British Empire in India. Calcutta, today, is still a lively city - a centre of commerce and the arts - with civilized, sensitive people who are alive to contemporary issues and have a passionate interest in music, arts, theatre and sports.

Access :
By Air : An international airport, Calcutta is linked by several major airlines as well as Air India, to most parts of the world. The Indian Airlines and a number of private airlines that operate on the domestic routes link it to all major Indian cities.

By Rail : A major railhead, Calcutta is well connected to all parts of the country.

By Road : An extensive network of National Highways link Calcutta to all the major cities of the country.

Accommodation :

Calcutta has fine hotels in the five star deluxe, four star, three star categories and in the economy range. Udayachal, a tourist hostel run by West Bengal Tourism, offers reasonably priced accommodation.

Temperature :

Max Min

Summer : 41.7^oC 38.1^oC

Winter : 39.3^oC 9.6^oC

Transport :

The immaculate underground Metro Rail Service, Calcutta's pride, runs between Dum Dum and Tollygunge via Esplanade. Metered taxis, mini-buses, buses and trams are available as also air conditioned and ordinary tourist taxis. Sightseeing tours in and around Calcutta are operated by the Tourist Bureau, Government of West Bengal and ITDC.

For further information and assistance please contact :

Government of India Tourist Office, `Embassy', 4 Shakespeare Sarani, Calcutta 700071.

Tel : 2421402/2425813

Telex : 0212038

Fax : 033-2423521

Government of India Tourist Information Centre, Calcutta Airport

Tel : 552 8299

Calcutta

Tourism Centre

Government of West Bengal

3/2 Benoy Badal Dinesh Bagh (East)

Tel : 2488271/2488272/2488273

New Delhi

West Bengal Information Centre

A/2 State Emporia Building

Baba Kharak Singh Marg

Tel : 3732840

Madras

West Bengal Information Centre, 18 Wallajah Road

Tel : 832346

A Cultural feast

The city has always prided itself on the luminaries that it has produced in a variety of fields, including that of literature, theatre, films and the arts. Some of Calcutta's better known citizens include Tagore, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, and Mother Teresa.

A devotion to the arts manifests itself in seminars, festivals, dance, music, theatre performances and cultural events that are held through the year in Calcutta. The Rabindra Sadan, a concert hall named after Tagore, Nandan, a modern theatre complex with its own film archives and Tagore House, a centre for dance, music and the arts, are the better known cultural centres in the city.

The many museums in Calcutta with their extensive collections, provide an insight into India's ancient heritage. The Indian Museum (1814), one of the largest of its kind in the country, is located on Chowringhee. It has sculpture from te ancient Gandhara period and from the Bharhut Stupa, in its archaeological collection. Other museums of note include the Ashutosh Museum, the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum and the Nehru Children's Museum. An old zamindari mansion, the Marble House, has a private collection of sculpture and paintings, which includes works by Rubens and Sir Joshua Reynolds.

A passion for sport

The two sports that evoke the enthusiasm of the Bengalis are football and cricket. During important engagements, the whole city is electrified with excitement. Many of the important stadia and sporting clubs are located near the maidan, including the Eden Gardens and the Royal Calcutta Turf Club. Other stadia include the huge Salt Lake Stadium (capacity 1,20,000) and the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

For golf enthusiasts, Calcutta has two fine 18 hole courses - the Royal Calcutta Golf Club and the Tollygunge Club. The South Club once known as the `Wimbledon of the East' has hard courts for tennis. Other fine clubs offer facilities for rowing, polo, riding and squash.

Shopping wise

Delicate fabrics, Jamdani, Tangal, Dhaniakhali saris (Burra Bazaar), exquisitely crafted golf jewellery (BB Ganguli Street), leather shoes from the famed Chinese shoemakers of the city (Bentinck Street), fine porcelain (old China Bazaar) and ovenware (Park Street) are some of the specialities of Calcutta.

Then there are fascinating markets like New Market and Dakshinapan (Dhakuria) which have shops selling everything from flowers to jewellery under the same roof. The Central Cottage Industries Ltd and the various State emporia offer a range of handicrafts and fabric from all over India.

Festive scene

With the approach of October, Calcutta takes on an added sparkle, an air of excitement, for this is the beginning of the festive season - one that starts with the Durga Pooja and that continues through to Christmas and the New Year. During the ten day `Pooja' the goddess Durga is worshipped and the victory of good over evil celebrated. Beautiful images of the goddess are created and exquisitely decorated with pith and gilt orgamentation. Each locality has its own celebration and life comes to a standstill as people throng the pandals where the drums beat as ceremonies continue through the day. Lakshmi Pooja and Kali Pooja follow in quick succession. Christmas and New Year with their accompanying festivities come soon after.

Basant Utsav, the festival of spring, Saraswati Pooja, in honour of the goddess of learning and Holi are other special festive occasions during the year.

Weekend Wanderings

Various interesting destinations within easy reach of Calcutta, ideal for short excursions include, the Sundarban Tiger Reserve, the estuarine forest in the delta of the Ganga, habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger, the estuarine crocodile, wild boar, varieties of snakes and birds; Digha (185 km), a popular beach resort with its 6 km long beach; Bakkhali (132 km0, another beach resort on the east side of the Hooghly and Diamond Harbour (51 km), at the mouth of the river with the Sagar Island close by. The university town of Santiniketan with its charming pastoral setting is also well worth a visit. Set up by Tagore, the university lays strees on man's relationship with nature. Malda and Gaur, the port and capital of Bengal in the pre-Muslim days, Vishnupur, with its splendid 17^th and 18^th century terracotta temples, Mirik and Darjeeling, scenic hill stations, are interesting excursions for those who have more time.

Eating out

Calcutta is a good place for eating out, with fine restaurants serving a rang eof cuisines - Mughlai, Chinese, Continental and South Indian. Many of the best restaurants are located around Park Street but there are excellent eating places all over the city, where good food is available at moderate rates.

Mouth-watering Bengali sweets like Rossagollas, Misti Doi and Sandesh are easily available. Ordinary Bengali cuisine, which is quite delicious with its emphasis on fish, is more difficult to find in restaurants.

The capital of Karnataka and a vibrant cosmopolitan city, Bangalore is a amajor industrial and commercial centre noted for its scientific and research institutes. The capital also of the fast growing Indian software industry, Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of India, Despite its phenomenal growth, it still remains a gracious city - A "no worry, no hurry town" where one can set one's own pace.

At an altitude of nearly, 1000m above sea level, Bangalore's climate is salubrious and the vegetation, luxuriant, Verdant rain trees, flowering gulmohur, cassia and jacaranda, add grace to the boulevards and parks. Nothing about the city is obtrusive. Its people, like the climate, are given to moderation. The buildings merge softly into the green environs to create a most delightful townscape.

How to go :
Well connected to all major, cities in the country by air and rail, Bangalore is well linked by road.

When to visit :
With a moderate climate ideal for travel, visits can be made right through the year, although April and May are rather warm.

Where to stay :
Hotels range from luxury through first class, to moderate and inexpensive accomodation. Some of the hotels in Bangalore are : Hotel Ashok, Taj Residency, Windsor Manor Sheraton, The Oberoi, Holiday Inn, Gateway Hotel on Residency Road, Comfort Inn Ramanashree, West End Hotel.

For further information contact :

Government of India Tourist Information Counter, 48, Church Street, MG Road, Bangalore - 560001. Tel : 5585417 Telex : 0846 - 8446.

Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, 1st Floor, "F" Block, Cauvery Bhavan, KG Road, Bangalore 560009, Tel : 2215489.

Tourism Information Counter, Bangalore Airport : Tel : 5268012, Railway Station : Tel : 2870068.

Remarkable Retreats

Few cities in India, of comparable size are as pleasing to the eye as Bangalore. Right in the midst of all the bustle of this sprawling metropolis are fine gardens. Two of the best known are the Lal Bagh and the Cubbon Park - large parks noted for their lush beauty.

The Lal Bagh, which car laid out by Hyder Ali in 1740, is beautifully landscaped. Spread over an undulating 240 acres, the park has a variety of plants and trees from all over the world. Some were imported during the time of Tipu Sultan-Hyder Ali's son. The Glass House, a splendid conservatory built at a later period, is the venue of the annual flower, fruit and vegetable shows.

The Cubbon Park conceived by the British, covers an area of 300 acres and is exquisitely laid out. The Public Library in the park is known as much for its collection of books as for its Gothic architecture. The Attara Kacheri, the imposing red brick High Court building, built in 1864 and the magnificent Vidhana Soudha, the state legislature, stand on the fringes of the park.

Cultural inclinations

Bangalore is a lively city with a rich cultural life. There are festivals of dance and music, theatrical productions, race meets, scientific conventions, art exhibitions, seminars and talks, throughout the year. The Ravindra Kalakshetra and the elegant Town Hall, built in a classical Greek style, host important cultural events. The Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, built imaginatively in the shape of a violin, pays tribute to Shri T Chowdaiah - that famous exponent of the violin.

35 km from Bangalore, at Hesaraghatta, is Nritya Gram or the "Dance Village". This is a centre that imparts training to residential students in seven different dance styles and two martial art forms, from the various parts of India. The architecture and landscaping of the Dance Village is rustic and is designed to blend in with its surroundings. The Hesaraghatta Lake near the village is an added attraction.

Delectable Treats

To sample some of the best vegetarian fare in India, one must come to Bangalore. The breakfast dishes - soft idlis (steamed cakes), crisp dosas (fried pancakes), both made from fermented rice, served with coconut chutney and steaming sambar, are particularly celebrated. Other specialities which include the delicious bisibela bathrelished piping hot, uddina vadas, bondas, upma and sweets like kesari bath, Mysore pak and payasam make a Bangalore breakfast the high point of the day.

The Karaga Festival

Bangalore's lively Karaga festival is celebrated in March/April at the Dharmaraya Temple. The Karaga, an earthern pot that symbolizes the goddess Shakti, is taken out in procession at night. The pot which is decorated with flowers is carried on the head by a member of the Thigala community. He has a sword in one hand and a staff in the other. Among the colourful crowd are devotees known as Veerakumars who also brandish swords. They go to the Sampangi Tank, 20 km away, where the pot is immersed.

Tamil Nadu Government Tourist Information Centre, Domestic terminal, Madras Airport : Tel: 2340569. Department of Tourism Government of Tamil Nadu, Panagal Building, Saidapet - 600015. Tel : 459488/451694.

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