Unexplored Mumbai

Enjoy a walking tour of the Banganga, a sacred water tank surrounded by 400 year old Temples.



Good Day Everyone,

Good Friday today! We enjoyed hot cross buns for breakfast! The Easter Egg display has just been arranged in the Atrium Foyer.


Here are some views from 'unexplored Mumbai'. This tour was not for the faint hearted as it was a very hot day!


Part of an ancient temple complex, the water is believed to come form the Ganges. On occasions thousands of people turn up for a ritual swim. In the narrow streets, you will find a local barber and blacksmith, together with residents going about their daily lives.

Amidst a bustling city of modern buildings and sky scrapers, Mumbai still has pockets that retain their old world charm.

This is part of an old temple - a blend of old and new - part of this 400 year old temple has a satellite dish attached to it! Good reception here!!!

Part of the Banganga complex.

As you can see it was very quiet probably because of the heat.

The ducks were taking a ritual swim..................

In the surrounding narrow streets there were some examples of very old houses and this doorway with it's guardian statues caught my eye.

Wash Day! It is called dhobi - and a dhobi waller is the person who does the washing. No twin tubs or front loaders here................

The big stone vats that they do the laundry in. How they know whose laundry is whose I do not know!!!!

This lovely young lady was waiting to take her laundry to be done - note her beautiful anklets.

This little boy - his eyes were completely ringed with kohl - a black cosmetic which is worn to protect the eyes from bright sunlight and evil spirits. He was busy sweeping the front of his house with a typical broom.....................

This is the Indian version of fast food - this chap was deep frying battered vegetables. A lot of the Indians in this community are vegetarian.

As we said earlier - here is the local barber.

This was on the edge of the Banganga - this small temple has a statute of a sacred cow. The devotees had temporarily left in order to seek shade.

This is Kotachiwadi, an area where a community of Christians have managed to preserve their traditional homes and culture. In the fresco above you can see a blend of Christian Icons combined with Indian Images - i.e. the elephants and the lotus the Virgin and Child are standing in.

In the narrow streets, you will see picturesque houses, built in typical Portuguese style with carved balconies and small gardens.

This gives you a good idea of how narrow the streets are - you would not believe that all the hustle and bustle of Mumbai was only yards away from this secret haven.

Looking into the garden of one of the houses you can see the typical Mosaic floors.

Passengers on Arcadia stopped at a local home which was more than 150 years old and had been lovingly restored.

The upstairs floor which the owner uses as a studio where he designs fabrics. In this lovely airy house we were served tea, cold lemonade and a wonderful selection of cakes - all of which were most welcome.

Wherever you are I hope you are all set for the Easter Holidays - we will be in Aqaba on Easter Sunday!! Large numbers will be off to visit the Rose-Red City, half as old as time.

All good wishes,

James.

Only mad dogs and English men go out in the noon day sun.

Noel Coward.