Post breakfast drive into the suburbs of Mumbai city with a short stop at the beautiful mausoleum Haji Ali. The serene white mosque holds the tomb of the Muslim Saint Haji Ali, who died while on a Haj to Mecca. It is said the casket containing his body, drifted on the sea currents, found its way back to Mumbai. The mosque can be reached only at low tides via a concrete causeway, and appears to be floating in the sea during the monsoon season. Continue to the temple Guruvayoor Ram Mandir, dedicated to lord Rama.
Believed by Hindus to be the most famous incarnation of God, Lord Rams’s life is recorded in the books, The Ramayana (The Journey of Rama), considered one of the world’s oldest texts, and cherished throughout India and Asia for millennia. Proceed to the Vishnu Temple, built in the South Indian temple-style, where the gopuram, or tall tower-gateway, is built over the doorway of the temple and images of the gods are crafted from black granite. Following these visits, we drive back to the city for a spiritual stop at ISKCON, amazing temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
The Lord “Krishna” often blue and playing a flute has a mischievous nature and his peasant background and legendry exploits with the milkmaids have made him of the most popular gods. We witness the prayer chanting offered for the welfare of humanity in this stunning temple. Across the street, we arrive at the Babulnath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated on the south east slope of posh Malabar Hill. Drive along-side Marine Drive, Mumbai's seaside promenade, to see its shops, restaurants, bars and throngs of people. At the northern end of Marine Drive, you will find popular Chowpatty Beach. Continue to the Afghan Church (The Church of St John the Evangelist) built by the British to commemorate the dead of the disastrous defeat in the First Afghan war of 1838.
The imposing edifice was constructed using locally available buff-colored basalt and limestone. Inside it is known for its wide gothic arches and beautiful stained glass windows. The chapel has a nave and aisle with a chancel 50 ft (15 m) in length and 27 ft (7 m) in width. Butterfield's tiles used for the geometric floor pattern were imported from England. End your tour by visiting Colaba Causeway Market, a narrow, busy street filled with shops and Indian designer boutiques. Souvenirs, trinkets and handicrafts are a highlight of this particular area and it is often referred to as a delightful visual introduction to the sights and sounds of ‘Maximum-City Mumbai’ .
Meeting/pick-up point: Pick-up at the hotel at 7.30am.
Duration: Two to three hours.
Start/opening time: At 8am.
Languages: English.