Located at the seashore on the northern side of Malabar hills, Mahalakshmi temple is one of the most sacred temples in Mumbai. The temple enshrines three dieties namely Lakshmi, Kali and Saraswati. However, the principal diety is goddess lakshmi and hence the name Mahalakshmi temple.

History
Built around 1785, the history of this temple is supposedly connected with the building of the Hornby Vellard. It is said that when Britishers failed in their repeated attempts to connect Mahalakshmi area to Worli by building Breach Candy on account of ferocious tides, they had almost surrendered. The problem was fixed only by divine intervention when the goddess Lakshmi appeared in the dream of chief engineer and asked him to remove the three statues from the sea bed and establish them in a proper shrine. A search operation was launched to recover the statues and a temple was built. After this, the work on the vellard could be completed without a hitch. .

Inside
The Temple contains images of Goddess Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswathi. All three images are adorned with nose rings, gold bangles and pearl necklaces. The image of Mahalakshmi is shown riding a tiger and a demon (Mahishasur) in a tandem. Beyond the ornate gate is the shrine wherein resides the buxom goddess of Lucre -- Laxmi. The compound of this temple is abuzz with stalls selling flower garlands and pious paraphernalia.

Navaratri Festival
During Navarathri celebrations, the temple gets special loolks. Devotees from distant places throng to temple to pay their obeisance. They have to stand for hours in long queues holding coconuts, flowers and sweets which they offer to the goddess.

In India, faith is known to move mountains. Rich and poor, educated and unlettered, they Indians all converge at temples and churches and mosques to offer their destinies to the Divine. Nowhere is this more evident than at Siddhi Vinayak, a temple devoted to Ganesh, the elephant-headed God of Good Fortune. On auspicious Tuesdays, the serpentine queue of worshippers is over 2kms long. People stand for several hours with offerings of flowers and coconut, waiting patiently for a two minute "Darshan" or meeting with the Lord. The path to the divine is never easy, but it is said that those who tread it with true devotion will always have their wishes fulfilled.

India houses numerous mosques named as Jama Masjids. Among these the largest one is in Delhi. Mumbai also has one Jama Masjid of great distinction. The Jama Masjid of Mumbai has changed its location more than once in its years of existence. The original Jama Masjid of Mumbai was situated near Dongri. It was later removed and erected at Esplanade. In 1770, this mosque too was demolished by an order of Governor William Hornby which forbade the existence of any building within 600 years of the walls of the Fort. The construction of the present Jama Masjid started in 1775. After 33 years of labour only first storey of the mosque was complete. The upper storey was added in 1837. but work on it could not be completed till 1802. The Masjid is a quadrangular pile of brick and stone encircled by a ring of terraced roofed and double storied buildings. The main eastern gate leads to an ancient tank filled with about 10 feet of water. From the depths of the tank rise 16 black stone arches which support the whole of the mosque.

Walukeshwar Mandir is situated at the end of the Malabar Hill, down to Back Bay. Walukeshwar, or 'sand-Lord' shrine is among the Mumbai's ancient Hindu sites.

Legend
According to the great epic Ramayana, Rama paused here during his journey south to rescue Sita from the clutches of the evil Ravana and fashioned a lingam out of sand to worship Shiva. Folk etymology derives the name Walkeshwar from the Sanskrit name for an idol made of sand-- Valuka Iswar. As there was no water to be found for drinking, Rama pierced his arrow into the earth down to the Patal and a spring of water shot out instantly and formed the lake. The lake is, since the, came to be known as Banaganga. The Banganga tank, unremarkable hemmed in by a towering wall of apartment blocks, is believed to have been created by an arrow fired from Rama's own fabled bow.

The original Walkeshwar temple was built by the Silaharas around 1050 A.D. and is said to have contained both the lingam ferried from Benaras by Lakshman and the sand lingam crafted by Rama. Today's temple, erected in 1715 after the original had been destroyed by the portuguese, in unremarkable and best bypassed in favour of the more impressive Banganga tank, below it. The spring that feeds the tank is believed to have been created by an arrow fired by from Rama's own fabled bow.

The State Government, in recent years, has been organising Music Festival here regularly in every winter. The entire precinct is illuminated richly during his festival.

Nearby Attraction of Walukeshwar Mandir
Shri Kashi Math, Shri Kaivalya Math and Banganga Tank are the nearby attractions of the temple.

It is only extra-ordinary things that excite human beings but Gateway of India not only excites but also astounds the most discerning eye. The most famous monument, it is an architectural marvel that scores over other buldings in Mumbai. Having advantages of both location and archtitectural construction, it shines every morning with morning sun of Mumbai. There is somethig magial about Gateway of India that attracts tourists in hordes. Words fail to describe and picture postcards fail to capture the exact beauty of the monument.

Pride of Mumbai, the Gateway of India occupies a special place in the hearts of Mumbaikars. It is to them what Red Fort is to Delhiites. Locale of many hindi movies, people flock to the place especially in the evening to watch bashful play of waves and feed pigeons. Besides being one of the important landmarks in the city, it is also base camp from where people start towards Elephanta island in motorboats.

Origin
Gateway of India was built to welcome King George V and Queen Marry in a style. The foundation stone was laid on March 31, 1911 and it took over 13 years to complete the ambitious project. To be precise, the construction was completed in December 4, 1924.

Architecture
Reflecting Indo-sarcenic style, the Gateway was built George witte, who was inspired from the architecture in Gujarat. The Gateway is built from yellow Kharodi basalt and reinforced concrete. The central dome is 48 feet in diameter and 83 feet above ground at its highest point. The cost of the construction was borne mainly by the Government.

This is the very heart of Mumbai, circumscribed by stately colonial buildings that stand like proud old sentinels of a bygone era. Flora is the Roman Goddess of Flowers, her pretty alabaster face continually assaulted by grime and pollution. Next to her are a pair of torch bearing stone patriots that rise from the Martyrs Memorial nearby. Flora Fountain is now called Hutatma Chowk or Martyr's Square to honour those who died in the tumultuous birth of Maharashtra State. All around the square sit Mumbai's infamous vendors selling just about everything under the blazing tropical sun -- from cheap nylon saris and ballpoint pens to herbal remedies and sexshop gewgaws. Tooting horns and traffic complete the chaotic picture, but through it all Flora manages to retain her serene composure.

A pleasant half an hour motor-boat ride from the hustle and bustle of city life brings one to the vicinities of the famous Elephanta caves located in the quiet island by the same name. This island is home to a series of seven magnificient rock cut caves which dates from the 4th-9th centuries A.D. These caves are situated at a height of about 76metres above sea-level. The most impressive of these caves has a 40 metre square main hall with two wide columnades. At the western end of the hall, there is a lingam shrine which stands guarded by stone doorkeepers leaning on dwarfs. The lingam symbolic of lord Siva is still worshipped by devotees during festivals. One of the most striking features of this cave is the 6m high Maheshmurti, the three headed bust of lord Siva depicting his three facets-creator, destroyer and protector. Besides, the cave contains a series of nine massive sculptured panels which show various incidents in the life of lord Siva and other dramatic moments from Hindu mythology. These are chiselled with immense artistic finesse.

Location
This museum falls adjacent to the planetarium, and houses a Childrens Science Park and a permanent gallery which showcases exhibits relating to the properties of life. An array of tramcar, railway engine, supersonic jet and steam lorry.

Origin
Inaugurated by late Smt. Indira Gandhi on march 3, 1977, the Nehru Planetarium soon acquired a distinct identity on the map of Bombay. It has grown into a Centre for scientific study of astronomy and for meeting of scientists and scholars for discussions and lectures, arranged periodically on various stellar and astronomical events.

It has a Mini Planetarium also, which is taken out to remote rural areas to project its shows for people and children to make them aware of the astronomical progress. These shows are highly popular and in great demand.

Programmes
The programmes arranged by the planetarium are aimed at inspiring students. These include Science quiz contests, Astro-painting, Science elocution, Astro-poetry and Astro-quiz competitions. Special arrangements are made to watch, study and photograph Solar & Lunar eclipses, and many such other events. Telescopes are installed outside the Planetarium to enable eager visitors to watch these phenomena.

Facilities
Nehru Planetarium is a large domed building Inside, various cubicles estimate your weight on each of the nine planets of the Solar System while in the domed interior, daily shows uncover the timeless mysteries of the cosmos. In the basement there is a marble-panelled auditorium having marvellous acoustic effects, a capacity of almost 1000 seats and equipped with all the state-of-art facilities.The auditorium usually arranges classical music and dance recitals, concerts and plays.

Prince of Wales museum is a distinctive Raj-era building on the Mahatma Gandhi Road. The museum houses a superb collection of paintings and sculpture. The collection is so vast that one needs a full day to see everything and several visits to get into the details of each and everything. The foundation stone was laid in 1905 by the future King George v, then Prince of Wales. The design of the museum was carried out by George Wittet-the architect of Gateway of India.

Architecture
A classic work of artist, the museum is the epitome of the hybrid Indo-Saracenic style, it is said to be an “educated” interpretation of fifteenth and sixteenth-century Gujarati architecture. The building is topped by a massive Moghul-style dome. The central hall, overlooked by a carved wooden balcony, provides a snapshot of the collection inside. There are beautiful Moghul paintings, Jade work, weapons, miniature clay figures from the Mauryan and Kushana periods. Two sculpture gallieries on either side of the hall open onto the front garden. The one on the right side houses the museum’s natural history, which contains a large collection of stuffed birds, fish and animals.

Rich Collection
The main sculpture room on the ground floor displays some excellent fourth-and-fifth century heads and figures from the Buddhist state of Gandhara. There are vital Hindu sculptures like seventh century Chalukyan bas-relief, sensuously carved torso of Mahisasuramaraini, the goddess Durga with tripod. There are mysterious seal moulds and antique Jewellery. The main attraction however is the sperb collection of Indian paintings including that of Gita Govinda. On the second floor, there is a huge collection of porcelain, jade and ivory items. There is also a collection of weapons like swords, daggers belonging to Mughal Warriors. Textile room showcases brocaded saris, turbans, shawls etc.

Also known as Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, the Hanging Gardens were built in 1880 and renovated in 1921. These gardens are popularly known as Hanging Gardens, because of their location on the slope of a hill. The terrace garden looks south from Malabar Hill towards Colaba, and affords a panoramic view of the city or a breathtaking sunset. It is built over three reservoirs, which store 30 million gallons of water pumped here for cleaning before being supplied to the town.

This large protected area of forested hills on Mumbai's northern outskirts is best known for the 109 Kanheri Caves which line the side of a rocky ravine in the centre of the park. They were used by Buddhist monks between the 2nd and 9th centuries as viharas (monasteries) and chaityas (temples). The most impressive is cave 3, the Great Chaitya Cave, which has a long colonnade of pillars and a 5m (16ft) high dagoba (pagoda) at the back of the cave. There's also a Lion Safari Park inside the park.

Mumbai's second largest lake is Tulsi Lake. It is one of the lake which supplies Drinking water to the Mumbai City. Its overflow level is measured at 139.17 metres. The Powai-Kanheri hill ranges serve as the catchment area for rain water which feeds the lake. It meets part of the city's water requirement, especially to the South Mumbai region.

Tulsi lake is situated 32 km. from Mumbai, near Borivali National Park in northern Mumbai. It is the northern most lake in Mumbai.

Within easy reach of Bombay by car are several picturesque lakes. Powai Lake, 25 miles from Bombay, is a quiet stretch of water by the side of a motor road. It can be approached via King's Circle, Sion, and Kurla. or through Santa Cruz and Andheri. Lake Powai is smaller lake of the two, and is situated a little west of the campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), one of the premier institutions of science and technology in India.

The famous beach of Chowpatty is the only beach that adorns central part of Mumbai. Situated at the end of Marine drive, at the foot of Malabar, this vast expanse of sand and sea is the hub of human activity. The beach is sought after by political, religious and other social groups to perform functions. The beach is equally popular with youth and those who are seeking fun and relaxation irrespective of their age.

During the day, the place gives a deserted look. There is not much action to catch during daytime. During daytime it is flocked by idle groups who come to have a sleep under its stunted trees. But as the sun starts backward journey, the place starts getting filled with people from all walks of life. It virtually turns into a fair ground in the evening.

In the evening one can see kids screaming on Ferris wheels or taking pony rides, wayside astrologers making a quick buck, monkey shows, self -styled gymnast demonstrating amazing yogic postures etc. The place gets lined with kiosks selling ice-cream and Bhelpuri-signature dish of Mumbai. The sight of selling meals on wheels makes one remember scenes from Hindi movies, which have depicted these scenes beautifully.

Who knows that you may catch a live film shoot or any bollywood personality as the place is haunted by film crews.

Built on land reclaimed from Back Bay in 1920, Marine Drive runs along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point past Chowpatty Beach to the foot of Malabar Hill. It's one of Mumbai's most popular promenades and a favourite sunset-watching spot. You certainly won't be loitering on the sea wall long before you're engaged in conversation, even if it's with someone offering to show you how well their monkey can breakdance. The promenade is lined with decaying Art Deco apartments just begging for a paint manufacturer to prove what their product can do to brighten up an area. Tourist brochures are fond of dubbing it the Queen's Necklace, because of the dramatic curve of its streetlights at night. It's less spectacular during the day, though there are plans afoot to beautify the area.

Bollywood owes much to Juhu as the beach has been the favorite location for scores of Indian films. Juhu has the specialty of being the largest as well the most frequentlyvisited beaches in India. Climate being uniform that is warm, except during monsoon rains from June to September, Juhu is a wonderful resort for the tourist.Film personalities have been obsessed by the place and as a consequence the beach has been the dwelling place for many film stars of India.


Juhu is about 18 kms north of the city centre and reaching there is not a difficulty. Juhu is the symbol of family beach and a large number of locals and tourists visit the beach. The birth of Indian Airways has a direct connection with the beach. Jamshedji Tata, one of the leading industialists of India used the beach as the landing strip of his flights when he was stationed here and made serious efforts to develop the area in and around Juhu which were turned down by the government. The same man later initiated Indian Airways.


Juhu is the best place to bring the entire community (Mumbaikars - residents of Mumbai) on common social grounds and much interaction takes place amidst the natural ambience provided by the beach. Children, adults and aged, locals and tourists all make up the population that inhibits the beach especially on weekends. Swimming and sun bathing however is a bad idea in Juhu. On weekends the variety show is for real; there are horse rides, acrobats and other performers, there are kulfi and bhelpuri stalls and without doubts a large crowd.


The beach was in news in mid 2005 following the diamond rush. It is believed that high tides had brought with it colored crystals called Ámerican diamonds' and people next day joined in great numbers for the treasure hunt. The American diamonds were for sure recovered but their worth goes no more than 10 rupees.

The beach is lined with luxury hotels, appartment in the south and many five star hotels are prevalent in this area. The beach is bound in the north by Versova beach which is also a beautiful resort. Versova homes Mumbai's largest fishing community.

Other advantages provided by the beach include - 24 hour coffee house one of which is state run, the famous Prithvi theatre and meditation centres. Pritvi theatre was built to develop the professional (primarily Hindi) theatre and hosts over 400 performances a year by some 50 groups.Some other attractions include ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) also called 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' temple. It is a holy place to worship, meditate and have spiritual experience.

Essel World has a special place in the hearts of Mumbaikars and also people across the country. This is beacuse it is the oldest amusement park in the city. Many people from contemporary age have grown alongwith Essel World. Though being one of the first amusement park, it is new in style and concept. Essel world is an international-style theme park and amusement park that has defined the parameters of modern fun. It constantly adopts new progressive technologies to redefine itself.

Location
Located just a few kilometres outside city limits at Gorai, it is situated on a green landscaped, island on an area of 64 acres. It can be reached by ferry from Gorai creek or Marve beach. Alternately one can drive down by Western Express Highway, take the Bhayender turn and reach Gorai Island.

Offers
EsselWorld offers over thirty four thrilling and scintilllating rides, games and amusements. Exorbitant entrance fees in itself acts as a deterant to over-crowding. The place offers low budget monsoon packages and special deals on weekands. Different recreational options in Essel World include the standard roller coaster and adventure themes, plus a water world section where kids can literally run amok.

Spread across 30 acres and enveloped in lush green landscape, Fantasy land is a fun-zone where you can feed your senses and get animated. Situated in Jogeshwari East, it is a modest amusement park offering themes and games for children. It is a place of indulgence for people of all ages. The park has first thrown open to public in the year 1992. Over years, the park has diversified its services, adding innovative entertainment and sporting attractions.

Sources of Entertainment
It offers a range of international rides and games. An Italian merry-go-round in porcelain finish. A Dragon that clocks to and fro like a pendulum, swinging scores of people at one go. A Master blaster with a dozen arms that lift you high up in the air and then lower you suddenly. A Slam Bob in which boats surf the air at great speeds. A grand Slam where you crash your car into another and walk out smiling. And topping all these and other rides is the Roller Coaster (Ze Ulta Fulta Express) the only one of its kind in India. It takes a full 360 degree turn in the sky, leaving you suspended in mid-air. .

Besides these rides there are also coin operated games, pedal boats in an artificial lake and horse rides.

Lure for gourmets
There are Indian, Chinese and American fast food restaurants to lure gourmets. These offer choicest cuisines taht taste really good. An interesting fact that makes one happy is that senior citizens are allowed free on proof of age. A real hallmark of a concious society.

Location
Water Kingdom is located just next to Essel World, Gorai, Mumbai. To drive down the Water Kingdom, take the Western Express Highway, after Dahisar Check Naka turn left on to the Bhayandar Road. Easy to follow road signs will bring you to Water Kingdom. parking space is also available in Water Kingdom.

Water Kingdom
Water Kingdom is said to be Asia's largest theme water park. The Water Kingdom has several enchanting attractions including the world's biggest wave pool, heart stopping rides 'n' slides, river adventure cruises and much more. The several food kiosks in the park and the McDonald Family restaurant, makes it the ideal getaway for the entire family.

Enchanting Attractions of Water Kingdom
The Wet Atlantic-The world's biggest wavepool
Misphisly Hill-12 hi-speed thrilling rides
Brat Zone-geysers, button-operated water games, jets for kids
Goofers Lagoon- The perfect place to relax and simply soak around
The Drifting River -A never ending loop of slow flowing water - just keep drifting
Adventures Amazonia -Go rafting down 3 'rapid rivers'

You can visit the water kingdom in 11:00- 19:00 hrs, Entry fee: below 4 yrs. - Free, 4-12 yrs- Rs. 22/- and 12-60 yrs. Rs. 275/- (fee includes unlimited rides)

This is one place that is quite famous for encompassing one of the architectural heritage of Maharashtra state. Though being fastest growing industrial town, Aurangabad has been able to retain its past glory. Aurangabad boast a rich heritage with artistic and cultural influences with several dynasties since its first stone age inhabitants.

A tourists will not feel secluded in this city as you will be surrounded by amicable people. Carrying forward the charm and mannerism of Nizam, the people of Aurangabad are courteous, polite and extremely helpful.

Tourist Attractions

Panchakki :
This is one of the major attraction of Aurangabad. Literal meaning of Panchakki means Water wheel and is considered a marvel of engineering. The water mill is driven by water and is brought through earthern pipes from the river 6kms away. Located close is the shrine of a saint, Baba Shah Muzaffar, who is a spiritual guide to Aurangzeb.

Bibi Ka Maquara :
Bibi Ka Maqbara is an excellent example of Persian Architecture with an enchanting look. Better known as " Poor Man's Taj Mahal", Bibi ka Maqbara is an excellent example of Persian Architecture.

Himroo Factory :
This traditional factory, situated in the old town near Zaffar Gate, produces hand-woven Himroo shawls from cotton, silk and silver threads. This art, known as Kam Khab, is considered to be a cheaper alternative to the prized brocades of silk and gold thread. The Himroo shawls and saris can be found in many showrooms around the market area of Aurangabad.

Situated on the Western part of Maharashtra, Khandala is a hill station which is located at a height 625 m on the Sahyadri mountain range. Blessed with bounteous beauty, Khandala is a scenic resplendent which is worth watching.

Blessed with natural beauty, Khandala is a picturesque destination to explore. Founder of the first Maratha empire, Chattrapati Shivaji, ruled the area around Khandala. Later it came under the Peshwa ruler, who founded the second Maratha empire. Finally, Khandala was taken over by the British when they defeated the Peshwas.

Tourist Attraction in Khandala

Ryewood
This is one of the beautiful garden which is situated near Lonavala. The park has an old Mahadeo temple in the park. The place got its name after an English officer Mr Rye, which stayed in the place for quite some time. Initially it was under the care of civil dept. In 1959, Ryewood was transferred State Government's Forest Department. This garden has plenty of the place for children's play.

Shivaji Park
Better known as the playground which was converted into garden in the year 1956. There is statue of Shri Shivaji Maharaj in this park.

Sakur Plateau:
Located at a distance of 4miles, Sakur plateau is at a height of 1000 feet. The plateau is on the way to Ambavane village. It encompasses thick forests and is sparsely populated.

Rajmachi Park
This park falls amidst Mumbai from Lonavala. The park gives a spectacular view of the surroundings. On the Eastern side there are two towers of Raimarchi fort which can be seen at the bottom of the huge valley. Rajmachi Park has a restaurant and a temple. Rajamachi Park has a children's park and host a regular bus service from Lonavala bus station.