Mumbai, Sunday plans
ELEPHANT ISLAND
Those who want to put themselves in the shoes of an authentic Sunday man, have to go to elephanta island . If it is with all the relatives, better but, if you travel alone, you can try to join one of the many families that go there to spend the day with the basket full of curry, rice, chapatis and other homemade wonders . The classic indian hospitality is felt here . Elephanta Island is a small piece of land located in the Gulf of Bombay, about 10 kilometers from the coast and an hour's journey from the ferry that departs from the famous monument Gateway of India.
The visit is interesting because the island is home to seven caves declared Heritage of humanity by unesco that contain valuable reliefs of Hindu gods from the 5th to the 8th centuries . However, the real charm of Elephanta lies in the relaxed and family atmosphere that welcomes the visitor. Hundreds of families made up of fathers, mothers, children and grandparents go there to see the ancient caves but also to eat outdoors, take a nap in the shade of a tree, let the children run through the fields without fear of being run over by a car, take photos - if it is with foreigners, better - or other country activity. Like any self-respecting tourist site, there is no shortage of food stalls -for those who forget the sandwich- and souvenir stalls where all kinds of jewelry, clothing, bags and handicrafts are sold at very reasonable prices.
Elephanta Island, a good Sunday plan in Bombay
HANGING GARDENS
Another very Sunday plan, especially for those extremely lazy afternoons , is to spend some time in the Hanging Gardens of Malabar Hill , the neighborhood of the indians of good family . The path to the gardens is a bit scary because the dilapidated colonial-style houses, the humble food stalls and the noisy traffic suggest that there is no haven of peace according to our desire to spend a Zen afternoon. But, at the top of the hill, the atmosphere changes and the traveler, without realizing it, finds himself suddenly involved in a new dimension where single-family homes predominate , the horns of the motorcycles are not heard nor are so many people seen per square meter.
Here are the Hanging Gardens, a little piece of the Great Britain more classic and punctilious in the middle of an Asian metropolis . Flowers, bushes in the shape of animals, paths of red sand that contrasts with the intense green of the grass, a spectacular sunset... This is how these gardens are, which seem to be taken from a fantasy tale . This is the right place to breathe and relax, for the elderly to put on their trainers and spend the day taking walks, to play with their children, to lie on the lawn with a group of friends with no other intention than to chat for a while. or, simply, to observe what happens around one.
Hanging Gardens, the perfect place for an afternoon of maximum laziness
DHOBI GHAT
Are the world's largest laundromat , where clothes from all over Mumbai are washed, dried, ironed and folded. A view from the platforms of the train station Mahalaxmi , which is a few meters above the ground, shows a very humble and precarious environment. But the view is deceiving: you have to go in and see up close the work that men, women and children - yes, children too - carry out daily rubbing, soaping, rinsing, hanging and ironing thousands of garments. No white has been seen as white as the sheets washed at Dhobi Ghat, neither such bright colors like those of saris stretched out under the hot Indian sun.
The facilities extend on both sides of an unpaved street: to the left it is washed and to the right it is tended. A panel located at the entrance indicates that a Guinness record : 495 people washing at the same time . You have to enter and walk through the narrow alleys where jars are piled up, little corners where robust men smooth the garments with heavy iron plates or sand patios where hundreds of garments are dried hanging from very long ropes. In Dhobi Ghat many families live with their children and a proper visit can take an entire morning, especially if the traveler is easy to deal with: without knowing how, you will get entangled talking and talking with those who live and work in these laundries.
Dhobi Ghat, the largest laundries in the world
ONE OF BEACHES
Part of Mumbai is located on a peninsula and is therefore surrounded by beaches. Not all of the coast is equipped for the use and enjoyment of wave lovers, but there are a couple of beaches where you can be. In the nerve center of the city is the chowpatty , which runs parallel to the elegant avenue called Marina Drive.
what of taking a dip is left to the taste of the consumer since there are opinions of all colors: there are those who bathe without problems and there are those who think that the water is too polluted. However, the beach gives a lot of itself: it has many beach bars in which to eat local dishes, some surf school where it is possible to rent a board by the hour, a lively family life and a spectacular sunset over the skyscrapers of the Mumbai financial district.
Another Sunday beach is Yuhu Beach , in a most exclusive neighborhood to the north from the city. It is very touristy and popular with higher caste indians and also between bollywood stars , who frequent it quite a lot. It is surrounded by high-end hotels and ostentatious shops and spa centers.
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Yuhu Beach, in the most exclusive neighborhood of Mumbai