Started with a wonderful breakfast at the Trident, and then met Shamal and headed off to the famous Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai’s outdoor old fashioned laundry. Amazing to see these men knee deep in water thrashing linens on the concrete. Just watching men doing the laundry was pretty cool!
Then off to the Gateway of India, a huge arch erected to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder, when they visited India in 1911. It is the first thing you would see when arriving by boat. The monument has witnessed three terror attacks – twice in 2003 and it was also the disembarkation point in 2008 when the four gunman attached the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower.
We boarded the ferry boat for the one hour ride to Elephanta Island to view the Elephanta Caves (dedicated to the god Shiva), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shamal told us all the stories for each of the carvings of Shiva in his various forms.
Then a boat ride back to the mainland after watching the red faced macaque monkeys stealing tourists food and drinks!
Back to the hotel to shower as it was seriously hot and humid and then took a cab to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel for high tea in the Sea Room, delectably delightfully delicious!
-
- early morning view from our room
-
- Dhobi Ghat
-
- Gateway to India
-
- Taj Palace Hotel
-
- Elephanta Island
-
- In case you are too lazy to do the 180 steps!
-
- “What – no tip?”
The landing for the terrorists was further south near the fish market in colaba , called Sassoon Dock . That is how they got to the Chabad House where they killed the Rabbi & his wife !! ?
ash
Thanks for the correction – info was from our guide!