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Wednesday, April 02, 2014

B is for Bombay- The 'Mumbai I love -My city of all firsts! #AtoZChallenge

This is my entry to the #AtoZChallenge 2014. I am having loads of fun reminiscing about my favorite places in the world (among-st the very few that I have visited!) . If you want to check out the whole list I will cover through the month, check out my theme post.

Bombay or now 'Mumbai'  is the busiest city I have ever been to.
The first thing that comes to mind when I talk of Mumbai is this song[You Tube Link]:
'Ae Dil Hain Mushkil Jeena Yahan
Zara hatke zara bachke
Yeh hain Mumbai meri Jaan'
Translated roughly as
'Oh Heart, it is difficult living here
be careful, be mindful
This is Mumbai ,my love'
And to think this song was written in the year 1956. If anything, the population must have quadrupled from than to now. But the city is magnanimous by heart. There is place for everyone. Actually, there is a saying that coming to Mumbai is like buying a one-way ticket. It doesn't let you go back easily.

I came into the city with no intention of liking it. I was uprooted during my high school and brought here. Anyone can tell how traumatic that can be. But the city worked its magic and within a year , I was talking and being a Mumbaiyya.
I was talking in time. A conversation would always centre around time. Right down to the minute , absurd time like 8:19AM. No 8:20 wont work. You will be chasing the tail of the Local train at 8:20AM.

So the places that I love the most in Mumbai are:
1) Siddhivinayak Temple! Its got some magic and I am not talking religious. The place vibrates with the devotion of all the people who believe in its power.
Siddhi Vinayak Temple,Prabhadevi
2)Worli Seaface 
The Sea from Mahalaxmi Temple,Worli
3) Gateway of India: The Iconic landmark of Mumbai. 
Me! In a really bad picture quality wise!
4) BOLLYWOOD! Please ignore the name but thats the Hindi Movie Industry for you! And we are crazy about our actors and almost treat them like Superbeings and stand outside their home to catch a glimpse atleast. I did it ! Not proud of my 1995 teen self but I stood about 2 hours outside Shahrukh Khan's home. Naah! He didnt come!
Mannat-'The' ShahRukh Khan's home
5) The very famous Taj Hotel! 


6) The Victoria Terminus aka CST. Architectural Marvel it is for sure, but I swear, I never once did stand and marvel at it. I am sure if I tried,someone would push me into the station and into one of the busy locals :D
CS Terminal Station
7)My favorite place to shop is the Linking Road,Bandra. From bags,to shoes, to jewellery and clothes, if you know to haggle, its the place to shop!

Bombay cant be summed up in a blog, a few pictures and a few words. Especially for me, this is the place which game me my first crush,first job, first love, first kiss , first boyfriend, first heartbreak and first true love. I love this city. But the journey continues to the next place I love with 'C'. Stay tuned!

This is my entry to the #AtoZChallenge 2014. I am having loads of fun reminiscing about my favorite places in the world (among-st the very few that I have visited!) . If you want to check out the whole list I will cover through the month, check out my theme post.



13 comments:

  1. You have some beautiful photos there, and obviously some wonderful memories.

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  2. Hi Sirisha, one more song for you. Yeh bambai nagariya hai tu dekh babua ;p I too left a part of me in Mumbai when we moved in to Bangalore 3 years back. You can leave mumbai but vice versa is not true.

    Hey did you read B for Baby on the Way http://sinhasat302.blogspot.in/

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  3. Anonymous12:21 PM

    mumbai sounds like home now :) We adapt and learn to unlearn and relearn.
    Kudos girl
    Loved the pics.

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  4. I hope to get to India one day - it is, and always has been at the top of my bucket list, and I have done copious amounts of planning and would need weeks (...no months there!). Bombay is definitely on the list so thank you for sharing - more ideas for the pot! :)

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  5. I have never been to Mumbai, you have given me a glimpse of it :) nice writeup

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  6. One of my favourite places in the world. Used to visit every year as kids. Haven't gone back since 2001. And surprisingly, I am going this May! Talk about timing. This time, it is all about shopping ;)

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  7. Wow..wonderful photos... I haven't visited Mumbai yet..On my wish list..:)

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  8. Beautiful pictures and love how you wrote about your memories there. I know of Bollywood-reminds me of old Hollywood of yesteryear-the 1920's to be exact. people were in awe of their stars back then

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  9. Love the pictures! <3 I haven't traveled enough to have memories of different cities. I have lived in one state and three cities. (visiting from Birdcage Media with A to Z Challenge)

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  10. If I ever go to India, Bombai is where I want to visit.
    Nana Prah

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  11. Anonymous1:19 AM

    Oh! One of ma favorite city. So true! The city weaves its magic on you and never let say, 'let Go'. I miss the city but it's been tormenting me so much that I shall pack my bags in a year or so to be back:) Love ur post. Awesome Mumbai:)

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  12. You made me want to visit! Thanks for the great blog.

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  13. Hey!....the city i live...i'm so thrilled! Been living here for almost 10 years now and am so entwined by the culture, the pace the uniqueness the city has to offer, that i have made up my mind to not budge from here! I love Mumbai!

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Key down what you feel , good or bad :) I love reading it