Explore the culture and scenic beauty of 'Aamchi Mumbai'

Are you seeking a holiday spot where you’ll find a unique assortment of tranquility, fun, excitement and lavishness? Then Mumbai is the place to spend your holiday this season. Mumbai (earlier known as Bombay by Britishers) is the capital city of Maharashtra and the largest city in India. Mumbai was once called as Bom Bahia, meaning ‘Beautiful Bay’ by the Portuguese. The city got its name ‘Mumbai’ in 1995.

The city of Mumbai has something for everyone – be it shopping, sightseeing, fun activities, dining in lavish or budget restaurants or its vibrant culture. In fact, you will fall short of time when exploring this multifaceted city. The city is visited by several international visitors each year due to its cultural and modern beauty. The city is renowned among localities as ‘Aamchi Mumbai.’

Shopping in Mumbai:

If you don’t know from where to start your vacation in the city, visit the many popular markets of the city. Shopping is always fun and therefore a great way to commence your trip with. The popular shopping spots here are Fashion Street, Linking Road, Colaba Causeway, Crawford Market, Zaveri Bazaar, Manish Market, Chor Bazaar, Hill Road and many others. All these markets are popular for accessories, western trendy outfits, jewelries, electronic gadgets and decorative items. However, if you want to shop for traditional Indian outfits and accessories, especially for weddings, the Bhuleshawar Market, Mangaldas Market, Gandhi Market and Dadar Market are some of the renowned places for selling items at an affordable price.

Apart from market shopping, you can also opt for the city shopping malls. There are numerous popular and huge shopping complexes in the city that provide everything and anything under one roof. Some of the known shopping malls in the city are, Infinity Mall, Oberoi Mall, Raguleela Mall, Nirmal Lifestyle, Rmall, Korum Mall, High Street Phoenix, Atria Millennium Mall, Inorbit Mall, and several others.

Attractions in Mumbai:

Mumbai has numerous attractions from historical to modern, cultural to religious and natural to artificial. You will short of time but not of attractions in the city. Every season in the city is the best time to holiday. Beaches, temples, churches, malls, markets, nightlife and Bollywood, Mumbai have it all. Some of the popular attractions of the city you must visit while on a trip are the Gateway of India, Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat, Haji Ali, Bollywood, Elephanta Island, Marine Drive, Nariman Drive, Hanging Garden and the list goes on.

The city has several known beaches like Juhu Beach, Girgaum Chowpaty, Versova Beach, Madh Island, Manori Beach, Gorai Beach, Dadar Chowpaty, Aksa Beach and Marve Beach etc. Don’t miss the scenic beauty of these wonderful beaches of the city.

What to Eat in Mumbai?

Mumbai cuisine is famous for its spicy taste and aroma. Vada Pav, Pav Bhaji, Bhajiya Pav, The Bombay Sandwich, Bheja Fry, Bombil Fry, Bhel Puri, Chinese Bhel, Pani Puri, Chicken Mayo Roll, Butter Chicken, Falooda, Dhokla, Fish and prawn curry, Frankie, Kolhapuri Mutton, and Kanda Poha are some of dishes you can’t miss eating in Mumbai. The city offers food for every pocket and every taste bud. It has both luxurious and budget restaurants. Street side stalls and Chinese stalls are most famous here for tasty and affordable food.

India : Rich in Culture and Heritage

India, which is officially termed as the Republic of India is a beautiful country in South Asia. It is the 7th major country as per its coverage area and is the home to more than 1.2bn people (most populous democracy in the world). In the Indian subcontinent, the country is ranked as the largest and has great difference in culture, climate, geography, ethnicity, and language. The country is said to be golden bird where multi-lingual people reside proudly and enjoy the largest democracy on Earth.

The country has fix seasons - monsoon, summer and winter. Some parts of the country remains barren and desert-like during summers and some parts bring too chilled weather. When it comes to rain, the southwest monsoon is more important if compared with northeast, the two modes of winds that bring precipitation in the country. The southwest wind delivers rain in most parts of the country. This is how everything is set and decided for the crop to grow in perfect manner.

Major Attractions

Taj Mahal

This beautiful marble attraction is made by Shah Jahan, Mughal Emperor for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The interior of this beautiful mausoleum becomes awe-inspiring due to many different precious stones carved in each design. From outside, this attraction looks more appealing for the beautiful man-made garden-like setting.

India Gate

This national monument is a huge structure in Delhi, constructed in the year 1931. It’s a noteworthy attraction that gleams at night.

Qutb Minar

This is a shocking yet very interesting minaret (built in 1192) in the country standing as the tallest structure in India, but tilted at one side. This old Islamic Monument has got Arabic inscription that stands with the help of iron integration and is a world heritage site.

Adam’s Bridge
It is also called as Rama Set or Rama’s Bridge from where you can gaze the country’s magnificence below. It is a limestone shoals’ series, prominently called as the Rameswaram Island.

Essel World

This old theme park was built in 1986 with amazing counterparts – Water Kingdom. Together, they draw thousands of visitors year round. You can get highly excited and enjoy some thrilling rides/slides and other mind-blowing things to do and see.

Gateway of India

This monument was built when the country’s financial hub – Mumbai was under British Raj. It is situated on the waterfront, overlooking the Arabian Sea. You can take boat rides or can travel to Elephanta Caves by departing from the dock.

Charminar

Constructed during 1591 CE, the Charminar monument along with its mosque is a great place to explore. It is the most renowned and highly influential structures in the country.

Sundarbans

If you wish to see the world famous Bengal tigers then a visit at this major mangrove forest (single chunk of tidal halophytic) is very important. This national park is listed under UNESCO where you can enjoy some gaming.

Copenhagen: Experience Diverse Magnetisms

Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark and is also the most populous city located on the eastern coast of Zealand. It boasts a number of tunnels and bridges to connect the parts of the city. The cityscape is divided by waterfronts and promenades, making it much more fascinating for tourists to explore.

History and Climate

The city was originated as a harbor and today it boasts archaeological findings that dated back to 11th century old. According to many historians, the town dates to the late Viking age. Its excellent harbor helped the city grow until it became an important center of commerce. The city transformed itself as the nation’s capital in mid-15th century.

The city has oceanic climate and experiences unstable and variable weather patterns in all four seasons. The temperature often goes above 5 degrees than average due to low pressure systems.

Precipitation remains moderate throughout the year. Snowfall occurs especially from late December to early March. Rain occurs between January and February. Winters goes to near freezing point.

Architecture

The city houses some of the incredible architecture including the baroque church of Our Savior which is most unique and must not overlook. Just enjoy the magnificent views of the city from the top of the church which is a part of Copenhagen skyline.

Another attraction to explore is the Rundetarn or Round Tower which is a stunning piece of architecture built in 17th century. It was originally designed and built as an astronomical observatory and today displays a vast collection of art and historical artifacts. It is widely used today by tourists to enjoy the panoramic views of this breathtaking city.

Some of the great architectural works that you can explore are The Marble Church, Slotsholmen with Christianshavn and Christiansborg Palace, renaissance spires of Rosenborg Castle and dragon spire of Christian IV’s former stock exchange.

Nightlife
ffers a lively night scene with innumerable bars and clubs. Nightlife is famous for its jazz scene. Visit Copenhagen Jazz House which is among the key jazz settings in the world. Enjoy some live music on weekends.

There is Tivoli Gardens which is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world and hosts live outdoor concerts on Friday evenings. Internationally famous groups perform here. You get a range of choices to indulge in eating, drinking, and trying some roller-coaster rides.

Food

When you are in Copenhagen, you must not miss trying the traditional Danish food and Smørrebrød (open sandwiches) which are really tempting. Smørrebrød consists of several toppings including Danish brie and smoked eel on a piece of buttered rye bread. It is one of the essential parts of Scandinavian cuisine best tried at Nyhavn harbour. Just sit back, relax and watch the ship sailing.

If you feel like splashing out a bit then visit the world famous restaurant Noma which reinvented the traditional Nordic cuisine. The restaurant offers unique atmosphere with an incredible menu.

Others

Apart from amazing architecture, the city is home to some amazing parks including King’s Garden, Botanical Gardens and the largest 58 hectares park in Copenhagen Fælledparken. It also boasts three different beaches with a total of around 8 km of sandy beaches lies within 30 minutes cycling distance from the city centre. One of the beaches is Amager Strandpark that was opened in 2005 and features a 2 km long artificial island.