Cool Neighborhoods to Explore in Mumbai

Today we want to share with you something special:

Explore these nostalgic, cool Mumbai neighborhoods to uncover the city's heritage and diversity!

Mumbai, the financial capital of India, is the proverbial melting pot of cultures. To the casual visitor, the city may seem like a mass of untamed urban sprawl. However, many different immigrant communities have left their mark since the British acquired the seven Bombay islands from the Portuguese in the 17th century and began developing them.

Fort

The fort district in southern Mumbai is named after Fort George, which the British East India Company built there in 1769. Although the fort was demolished in 1865, a small part still remains. The British settled within the fort's walls, and the neighborhood was the heart of the city before much of it was destroyed by fire in 1803. It has some of the best Victorian Gothic buildings in the world, including the station of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train, past City Hall and institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange. Also of interest are the historic restaurants, houses and temples belonging to the Parsi community.

However, the coolest part of the Fort district is undoubtedly the Kala Ghoda (Black Horse) Arts Venue, named after an equestrian statue of King Edward VII. This attractive cultural center is full of art galleries, museums, boutiques and some of the most popular restaurants in the city. The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is held there every year in February.

Colaba

Bordering the fort, Colaba was one of seven islands, separated by swamps, that originally made up Bombay. Its main street, the Colaba Causeway, was built by the British East India Company in 1838. It followed rapid development in the neighborhood and has now become the city's unofficial tourist district. Two of the most notable landmarks are the Gateway of India and the opulent Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel. In contrast, Colaba also has one of the largest and oldest wholesale fish markets in India at Sassoon Dock.

The neighborhood continues to have an old-world feel, with colonial and Art Deco architectural styles prevailing. However, its cool quotient has grown in recent years with the opening of a host of new hangouts, hotels, and hipster boutiques. These include Effingut Pub, Colaba Social, Abode, and Clove The Store. The iconic Leopold Cafe (opened 1871) and Cafe Mondedar (opened 1932) have also remained popular.

Matharpacady Village

The village of Matharpacady, isolated from the streets of Mazgaon, is a historic district that has been home to the city's East Indian Catholic community for nearly 200 years. Mazgaon was another of the seven islands of Bombay. It became a modern, cosmopolitan suburb of the city in the late 17th century after it was linked by the land reclamation process and the Mazgaon docks were opened. Most of the village's residents were linked to the shipping industry. Entering the serene village is like entering a living museum, where ancient Indo-Portuguese mansions of wood and stone have been beautifully preserved amid modern apartment towers. The neighborhood really comes alive for Christmas.

The informative Matharpacady walk without footprints is recommended for sightseeing and ends with a tea at an East Indian house.

We hope you enjoy watching this video about Famous Places to Visit in Mumbai

Source: Ratekut Travel

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