Stealth Assassin's Tour of Mumbai

[Flintlock]

There is a saying 'CHAQUE ON SON GUT' meaning every one to one's taste. I have had the opportunity of visiting Bombay ( before it became Mumbai) twice, Madras once, Agra and Delhi twice. Out of all these cities I like Delhi the best and Bombay the least!!.

I'm guessing that you must have visited Bombay in the 90s.

I'll have to agree with you on that one. Mumbai, beyond its historical centre, wasn't much to look at.

Reason could be an inherent preference to northern Indian culture and climate. Bomay had excellent night life and food but I found that except in the Rio De Janero, I didnot see the contrast between rich and poor as much as I saw in Bombay. The road from from the airport to city was lined with slum dwellers and the area around the Haji Ali was also a slum.

Mumbai has always been a city of extreme contrasts. Call it the double edged sword of being the entertainment capital of India, every poor and jobless migrant from Kerala to Assam made his way to Mumbai in search of a better future.
Add to that, a total lack of civic direction, and a maze of bureaucracy, the result was that every available inch of open land was taken up by squatters.

However, in the late 90s, things began to improve with professional developers coming into the fray.
Today things have improved somewhat, but still, every visit to Mumbai will jar your senses, with extreme affluence and extreme poverty fighting for the same piece of land.

Even the most expensive area such as Bandra and Malabar Hills were found to be dirty. The traffic was too much too bear. As a foreigner it appeared to me that I am spending most of my time sitting in a traffic jam in a taxi. I was told that locals use trains instead. Except in the top hotels where the food was excellent, I found the resturant food too spicy.

The traffic congestion was (and still is) one of the worst things about this city.
The reason is simple....the city is built on an Island, so there is no room to expand and accomodate the tens of thousands who reached this city each day.

To clear rush hour traffic, in the last decade, a maze of double-decker roads have been constructed, often with flyovers passing a couple of feet from open windows.

Local trains at rush hour are packed to crushing-limit.

I found Madras far more interesting and Delhi to be a really nice city to visit as well as for food. Taj Mahal and the Agra fort are enough to describe Agra. Even today my wife was reminding me of the promise that I have to take her to see the Taj.

Chennai...I haven't been to, but from what I've heard, its a typical working-class city.
No slums, but no highrises either.

Agra..lol...Agra is a vast slum with the Taj in the centre. Agra wouldn't even be a city, if it wasn't for the Taj.

My hon. friends, If you like Mumbai, you are welcome. I wasnt impressed and among Indian cities, give me Delhi any time.

Yes, its a matter of taste...and I prefer Mumbai over Delhi..any day...

 

[Flintlock]

More random photos...

Bandra Flyover...slums on extreme right..

JJ Flyover

Crawford Market

View attachment ba8754d3c23ccc3241ea2c155304151e.jpg

...arnd Lilawati hospital
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[vish]

Niaz, the city didn't grow on you. I agree with every observation you have made. Mumbai isn't a tourist destination if you do not intend to live like a local. If you're expecting history and comfort an relaxation, this is the last place you'd like to come to.

But what you, and this is my guess, failed to notice is the speed and we-work-like-anything attitude with which the city runs. All that matters in Mumbai is work and money. If there is a city in India that stays united, it is Mumbai.

It's a joke, and please mother-of-all take it as one, in India, in Delhi it is all about who you know, in Calcutta it is all about what your father did, in Madras it is all about what caste you are from, in Bombay it is all about who you are and what you can do.

You know the best part about Mumbai is the anonymity and the equality of opportunity that it offers, something which you can't experience as a tourist.

The next time you come to Bombay, do let me and SA know; we'll show you around.

 

[Flintlock]

More Random pics...

 

[khanz]

very nice thread enjoyed looking at all the pics thx for all the hard work you put into it
this should be a sticky !

 

[Flintlock]

Colaba Market

 

[Flintlock]

 

[Flintlock]

Mumbai Central Station



Looking south-west from Powai. Photographer's note: One can see most of Western Mumbai from here, first Powai, then Andheri, then Bandra to the left and Juhu straight in front and the Arabian Sea beyond that.
Copyright adhishm and thanks to IndiansUnite



Kandivali (E)



Street level pic...

Dhoby ghat
View attachment 575a7be2bb2823d086bf6f7ab5dabf3b.jpg

 

[Flintlock]

Kharghar, Navi Mumbai

Belapur, Navi Mumbai

..still Navi Mumbai...


DY Patil Stadium, Nerul

 

[ejaz007]

Very well done Stealth Assassin. I have always wanted to visit India. Lets see when that happens.

 

[Bushroda]

DY Patil Stadium, Nerul

I've heard D.Y. Patil stadium is the most modern in India. Waiting for the IPL final.

 

[JEFF]

Stealth, good pictures, but you have to cover various localities of Mumbai to see its charm.

 

[indiapakistanfriendship]

in Madras it is all about what caste you are from,

**** shylock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111 Vish who on earth told you that

 

[vish]

**** shylock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111 Vish who on earth told you that

Shobha De, that blob of protoplasm who calls herself a woman, said that to the New York Times.

Honestly, I meant it as a joke, and am aware that in all likelihood, the statement is all air.

Check it out: Mumbai's Moment

 

[Spring Onion]

The last time i checked you were not in india

anyway good copycating