Where is Mumbai?
The enchanting city of Mumbai is located in the state of Maharashtra in
India. It lies on the western coast of the country. The city has been gifted
with a number of exquisite beaches along its western coast. The most famous
of all the beaches are Juhu, Chowpatty, Varsova, Manori and Gorai beaches.
How will you gain access?
The Sahar International Airport is situated at a distance of 30 km from the
city centre. The domestic airport lies at Santacruz. Mumbai, an
international gateway, is connected to all the major cities of the country.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) is the main railway station. Dadar,
Churchgate and Kurla are the other railway stations of the city. An
excellent road-network links Mumbai with all the major destinations of the
country.
What magnetises people?
» Juhu Beach
Juhu,
a suburb of Mumbai, is internationally renowned for its Juhu Beach. The
beach has the Arabian Sea on its west and Santa Cruz and Vile Parle on its
east. It is as a perfect jogging ground for the for both the locals and the
visitors. The beach gets crowded in the evenings and weekends and hawkers,
pony leaders, palmists and acrobats can be seen all over the place. The
beach is famous for the street foods like Bhelpuri, Panipuri, Shevpuri and
Chaats. At the north end of the beach, one can find the Gandhi Gram where
the Father of Nation Mahatama Gandhi used to stay during his practice in the
Bombay High Court in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Vile Parle, Santa
Cruz and Andheri are the main entrances from three sides. Juhu also houses
the famous ISKCON temple. Santacruz and Vile Parle are the nearest railway
stations.
» Chowpatty Beach
The Chowpatty beach is located at the northern end of the Marine Drive. One
can easily observe the snake charmers, self-styled gymnasts, monkey shows,
eunuchs, astrologers and drug peddlers as well. There is an array of food
stalls selling Golas, Chaat, Kulfi and Bhelpuri. In the evenings, as the
crowds begin to swell, the atmosphere is more like a carnival. The beach
also has historical links with the freedom movement. The statues of Lokmanya
Tilak and Vallabbhai Patel instantly remind of the times of the freedom
struggle. The beach is a great place to witness the grand annual Ganesh
Chaturthi Festival. During the festival, huge images of Lord Ganesha are
taken out in processions to be immersed into the sea.
» Varsova Beach
The Varsova beach lies to the north of the Juhu beach in Greater Mumbai
district of Maharashtra. The beach is a continuation of the Juhu beach.
Varsova is home to Mumbai's largest fishing community- the Kolis. The Powai
Temple, the Jain Temple, the Siddhivinayak Temple and Mount Mary Church are
the nearby attractions of the place.
Which are the nearby hotels?
Holiday Inn, a 5-star, is located at Juhu, offering banquet, international
cuisine, business centre, beauty salon, shopping arcade,
travel agency, car rentals, round-the-clock room service, health
club, swimming pool etc. At a distance of 2 km from the Chowpatty beach
stands yet another 5-star, the Taj President Hotel. The hotel offers
impressive views of the harbour and the city. Facilities provided include
mini bar, safe deposit, telephone, temperature control, doctor on call, car
rental, secretarial service, Jacuzzi, pool, sauna, business centre, currency
exchange etc.
What is the best time?
November to March is the best time to pay a visit to the beaches of Mumbai.
The weather is milder during the period.
