1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
VT Station 1894
VT Station (CST) 2010
This is the same VT station (Bori Bundar as it was called in 1800 or CST-Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, as it is called today) from where first train to Thane started by Lord Dalhousie on 16 April 1853. The station was designed by Frederick William Stevens, a consulting architect in 1887-1888. He received INR16.14 lakh as payment for his services.This Station is still standing tall and symbolizes mumbai even today.This station has its own significance as you see its architecture. It serves as a station for both local trains as well as long distance trains. You will see thousands of commuters everyday coming and leaving this station.
CST was declared as World Heritage in 2004 by UNESCO (United Nation Education,Scientific and Cultural Organization)
because of following reasons-
1.Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) exhibits an important interchange of influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture, and from Indian traditional buildings. It became a symbol for Mumbai as a major mercantile port city on the Indian Subcontinent within the British Commonwealth.
2.Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is an outstanding example of late 19th century railway architecture in the British Commonwealth, characterized by Victorian Gothic Revival and traditional Indian features, as well as its advanced structural and technical solutions.
2. Marine Drive
Marine Drive 1930
Marine Drive 2010
Marine Drive is a 3-km stretch in South Mumbai also known as Queens Necklace because of its C-Shape. If viewed in nights it gives a feel of Diwali night. At the northern end of Marine Drive is Chowpatty Beach. This is a popular beach famed for its Bhel puri (local fast food). The road links Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. Marine Drive is situated over reclaimed land facing west-south-west. The bay is part of the Arabian Sea. The cool breeze from sea freshens up the mind and body of people sitting along Promenade. Driving along marine drive is a great experience. Lot of big Hotels and Offices are located along Marine Drive primarily Hilton Towers, Air India Building amongst those.
3. Asiatic Hall
Asiatic Hall 1833
Asiatic Hall/library 2000
Asiatic Society was founded by Sir James Mackintosh on November 26, 1804.It was formed with the intention of "promoting useful knowledge, particularly such as is now immediately connected with India".The library of the Society has over a hundred thousand books out of which 15,000 are classified as rare and valuable. It also has priceless artifacts and over 3,000 ancient manuscripts in Persian, Sanskrit and Prakrit, mostly on paper but some on palm leaf. The numismatic collection of 11,829 coins includes a gold coin of Kumaragupta I, a rare gold mohur of Akbar and coins issued by Shivaji. Its map collection comprises 1300 maps.
The collection of the Society include:
1.One of only two known original copies of Dante's Divine Comedy.
2.The manuscript of Vasupujyacharita (1242), a Sanskrit text on the life of the Jain Tirthankara Vasupujya
3.The manscript of Shahnama of Firdausi (1853), written in Persian
4.The Aranyakaparvan (16th century) manuscript contains illustrated text from the Mahabharat and is written in Sanskrit.
5.Five Buddhist caskets excavated in the ancient port town of Sopara near the suburb of Nala Sopara.
With its old parquet floors, spiral staircases, wrought iron loggias, and exquisite marble statues of forgotten city fathers, the colonnaded Town Hall is perhaps the most regal and elegant of Mumbai's heritage buildings.
4. Oval Ground
Oval Ground 1975
Oval Ground 2010
The Oval Maidan is a large Grade I recreational ground situated in South Mumbai, India. It is named because of its oval shape and is situated just south of Churchgate. It is a popular recreation ground and most popular sports being played there are cricket and football (soccer). The ground measures 22 acres (0.089 km²) in area.To the north of the ground, a cricket academy, the Elf cricket academy, run by former Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar operated for a few years.
5. Gowalia Tank Maidan
Gowalia Tank
Gowalia Tank Maidan (now also known as August Kranti Maidan) is a park in central Mumbai where Mahatma Gandhi issued the Quit India speech on 8 August 1942 decreeing that the British must leave India immediately or else mass agitations would take place. The call mobilised the citizens to a huge Civil Disobedience movement as the British refused to grant independence till the War was over.
The closest suburban railway station on the Western Railway line is Grant Road.
The Gowalia Tank was initially used to bathe cows. Go - Walia comes from the marathi word Gaie (cow) Wala (owner of the cattle). The cattle owners would bring the cows to be bathed in the waters of the tank. The Maidan that exists over there presently was built over the tank, which still exists underground. Gowalia Tank was also a very prominent tram terminus. Trams would start and finish there and one could travel to the Prince of Wales Museum in one anna (six paise).
The Maidan is now a popular playground. Cricket is the popular game although the monsoon season is primarily for football and volley ball. The ground has been split into 5 smaller grounds. The largest one is the playground, with one playground for children, one garden for promenades which is frequented by senior citizens and one ground is used by the Fellowship School. The last park area houses the Smarak or martyr monument which is a white marble tower that cradles a pink lotus atop it.
A central road cuts through the maidan grounds and connects the August Kranti Road with Hughes Road. The ground connects Tejpal Road and Laburnum Road, Alexandra Road and August Kranti Road.
To explore more visit Mumbai......................!!