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Gateway to India
Nothing reinforces your sense of having arrived in the city quite as emphatically as the Gateway of India, Mumbai's defining landmark (at the end of C. Shivaji Maharaj Marg, near the Taj Mahal Hotel). Designed by George Wittet (who also designed the Prince of Wales Museum), the 85-foot yellow basalt gate was intended to commemorate the 1911 visit of King George V and Queen Mary. Unfortunately, it was not finished until 1924. In 1947, the |
last British troops departing from India marched away through the arch
Kanheri Caves
The Buddhist Kanheri Caves are spread out over the hills in a virtually unspoiled forest overlooking the northern suburb of Borivli. Most of the caves, which date from the second to the ninth century AD, were used by monks for shelter and meditation during the four months of the monsoon season. To enjoy the blissful peace and quiet that attracted the original occupants, avoid visiting on weekends. To reach the caves, catch one of the many trains on the suburban line from Churchgate Station to Borivli East. The trip takes about 50 minutes
Elephanta Island
The rock-cut temples on peaceful Elephanta Island are thought to have been carved between 450 and 750 AD. These holy places survived Portuguese vandalism and remain equal in size, beauty, and power to the caves at Ajanta and Ellora. The main cave contains large sculpted panels, including an astonishing 18-foot depiction of Shiva in his roles as creator, preserver, and destroyer. |
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