Tuesday 4 June 2013

Dhobhi Ghat, Mumbai- A strangely mesmerizing landmark of Mumbai

Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is the fastest moving, most affluent and industrialized city in India. Mumbai is part of India's beautiful west coast that runs down from Gujarat, through Mumbai to Goa, Karnataka and Kerela. The city has a natural harbour, which was developed by the British and is one of the busiest ports of India. It is home to people of all Indian creeds and cultures, a fascinating city, throbbing with life, and, for many people, the gateway to India.

This morning proceed for city sightseeing - includes a visit to the Prince of Wales Museum, built to commemorate King George's V visit to India, and was opened in 1923. It is modelled on the Indo - Saracenic design, and has sections for art and paintings, archaeology, and natural history. Also visit the Gateway of India, the principal landmark of Mumbai, was the principal port when the visitors came to India by ship. The gateway was conceived, following the visit of King George V to India in 1911, and was officially opened in 1924. Its architecture is akin to the conventional Arch of Triumph, with elements derived from Muslim styles of 16th century Gujarat. A major landmark of this vibrant city is the VT or Victoria Terminus, which was designed in Italian Gothic style by F. W. Stevens. The first train to steam out of Mumbai was from here to Thane in 1853. Drive up to Malabar Hill to the lovely Hanging Gardens and the Kamla Nehru Park from where you will get a wonderful view of Mumbai and the Arabian Sea spread out before you. Stop at Mani Bhawan, a small museum dedicated to the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi and the bustling Crawford Market.

In the afternoon you will be visiting either Dhobi Ghat or Slum Tour

Dhobi Ghat

It's a fascinating spectacle, looking down on row upon row of open-air concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own flogging stone, while Bombay's dhobis (around 200 dhobi families work together here) relentlessly pound the dirt from the city's garments in a timeless tradition. 

Known as the world's largest outdoor laundry, Dhobi Ghat is where Mumbai's traditional washerfolk -- or dhobis -- provide a wonderful service, collecting dirty laundry, washing it, and returning it neatly pressed, all for a very small fee. Stubborn stains are removed by soaking garments in a boiling vat of caustic soda; drying takes place on long, brightly colored lines; and heavy wood-burning irons are used for pressing. At the very least, it's a great photo opportunity, though most locals think it rather amusing that their everyday work arouses such curiosity. (Note that there is another Dhobi Ghat off Capt. Prakash Petha Marg, Colaba, which may be more accessible

Slum Tour : 

We think that Dharavi, the biggest slum in Asia, is one of the most interesting places to see in Mumbai. A few visitors such as Prince Charles and Bill Clinton have been to Dharavi, and it is by no means dangerous to go alone, but the beauty of Dharavi lies not on the main roads but in the small hidden alleys where thousands work and live in a number of small enterprises, where goats roam freely and where children play with carefree abandon. 

In Mumbai, slum tours are organised around Dharavi, where over one million people live. Set up by an Englishman and an Indian, the idea for a slum tour in Mumbai came from the famous Brazil tours

These tours are not undertaken to showcase poverty but sensitise and create awareness about the way of life here. A two-three hour tour costs just Rs 200 and the organisers claim the money goes for charity, which tries to rehabilitate these slum dwellers. But some people criticize that Slum tours should not be promoted as a form of tourism. It is an invasion into someone`s privacy. It takes away the dignity of the poor,

On our tours, you will see why Dharavi is the heart of small scale industries in Mumbai since we show you a wide range of these activities- from recycling, the making of clay pots, embroidery, bakery, soap factory, leather tanning, papad (poppadom) making and many others, most of which take place in very small spaces.

We also pass by the residential areas, where you really get a feel of how the people are living and you see the sense of community and spirit that exists in the area. People from all over India and from all religions live in Dharavi, and you will see this diversity- for example there are Hindu temples, mosques and churches. It is quite an adventure to pass through the narrow alleys, and you will almost certainly lose your sense of direction!

We do not believe that we should be showing places affecting the poorer members of society and profit from it. 

If you want to donate then we can make sure that dedicated NGO’s are contacted so that money reaches to the needy persons. 

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