The smell of the sea, perspiration, yellow black cabs in every scene and colonial architecture. Mumbai, is always exciting.
Every summer vacation I’d head to Mumbai for the first 10-15 years of my life. From the dry, dusty weather of Indore to the moist and sweaty embrace of the nation’s film and financial capital. Every year I’d be just as eager and excited to see all those familiar sights and take in that peculiar smelly air of the Megapolis. After 3 or so years I finally had the chance to visit the city once again and give that famed part of the city, Fort, a once over. Known now more for its make shift shops and road vendors than for the colonial architecture and history, the Fort Area is worth a visit, especially if you are comfortable behind a lens.
The Ballard Estate housed the Bombay port authority and many shipping company offices in the hay day of the British Raj. Today it is heritage precinct and home to the Reliance Center, the registered office of one of India’s largest business groups.
You can just see behind the picture above, the Ballard Bunder Gate House which now houses a Naval museum. Its showcases the maritime history of the port of Mumbai from the early 20th century.
A quick walk from here takes you the Horniman’s circle a garden renamed after Benjamin Horniman, the editor of the Bombay Chronicle at the time of Indian Independence. On the way you cross the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Monetary Museum.
The evening ended finally, as good Mumbai evenings should, on Marine Drive.