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Mumbai explored by Maharshi Patel

Hi! My name is Maharshi Patel and I live in Mumbai, India. I don't consider myself a professional photographer, but when I see a wonder of nature, I just can't help but capture it! I love the way that pictures can show emotions and stories while being able to bring a real palpable vibe to the viewer. For me, photography is all about being in the right place at the right time. I try not to stage my photos, just capture the moments in all their glory!

Maharshi Patel - Website

6:00
AM
Gateway Of India

0:00

The Gateway of India is synonymous with Mumbai. It is the city's most famous monument and the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city. The Gateway of India is a great historical monument that was built during the country's British rule. On any day you'll see hundreds of pigeons flying around this monument. In the winter, however, thousands of seagulls form a layer on the ocean around the monument. This place is always crowded, unless you visit it early in the morning! Ferry rides for this attraction are also very popular as they offer a wonderful view from the ocean: with the Gateway of India right in front of you and the Taj Mahal Palace & Taj Hotel in the background. The best time to take this ferry ride is right before sunset!

9:00
AM
Horniman Circle

0:00

Horniman Circle Gardens is a well-known attraction with a focus on reinvigorating activities. Locals living nearby often head to the gardens for their morning and evening jogs/walks. Along with the landscape, visitors can also take in the posh area that the garden is located in. There are old and new buildings like the Asiatic Library, Elphinstone Building, the Garden Cathedral, etc., in and around the Gardens. Their magnificent architecture traces its origins back to different decades, making this part of the city an ideal place for architecture buffs and photographers. Vintage & sports cars are parked around the circle every weekend, attracting lots of enthusiasts and, of course, photographers!

12:00
AM
Sanjay Gandhi National Park

0:00


Sanjay Gandhi National Park is among the rarest of national parks, surrounded on three sides by one of the densest cities on the planet—Mumbai. An amazing range of flora and fauna can be found within the park’s boundaries, providing aesthetic, historic and cultural value as well as ecological benefits to the populous city. There may be no other place like it on Earth. There are a couple of activities like the toy train ride and the boats which are fun! You can also grab a bicycle and explore the park. The dense forest and its reflection on the water is absolutely stunning! My favourite time to visit this park is in the morning since it's very peaceful and refreshing. Having such a park in a city like Mumbai is a blessing!

2:00
PM
Kanheri Caves

0:00

Deeply nestled among the tranquil surroundings of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, in Borivali, Mumbai, the caves are popularly known as the Kanheri Caves. Kanheri comes from the Sanskrit word Krishnagiri, meaning black mountain. There are 109 Buddhist caves of various sizes scattered over a hilltop and hand-carved out of volcanic rock. The entire complex is carved out of rocks, including all the paths and stairs. As the caves are located on top of the hills, there's a lovely air flow! The caves also provide a wonderful view of the entire National Park and the urban skyline beyond it.

6:00
PM
Girgaon Chowpatty, Ganesh Visarjan

0:00

Ganesh Visarjan is the last day of the Ganesh Festival. In Mumbai, it’s a day of long processions filled with pomp and splendour as the Ganesh idols are taken to the sea and immersed in the waters. The streets of Mumbai turn into a mega congregation of people, dance, music and colour. As the sun sets into the Arabian Sea, more and more Ganesh idols show up for immersion. In the fading evening light, all you see is a sea of people.

The reigning excitement and energy speak to how crowded the beach actually is. It feels like the Ganesh idols, resplendent in their charming demeanour, are showering a bounty of blessings on the devotees. The journey of the Ganesh idol from the beach to the sea is well worth experiencing. The wheeled platform on which the idol sits is pulled by the organisers. This makes the idol rush towards the sea at breakneck speeds. However, at times the idol changes direction. The frenzied crowd scatters around to get out of its way!

9:00
PM
Marine Drive
marine drive

0:00

Marine Drive is characterised by the salty-humid nip in the air and thousands of restless legs moving back and forth, while hanging over hundreds of tetrapods. Sitting by the bay, staring at the horizon, hearing the waves crash against the tetrapods, watching the sunset as the sky turns fiery orange against the deep midnight blue, I gasp at the magnificence of the bright golden Saifee hospital. I hear the calls of tea vendors and kids selling flowers while I'm squeezed among hundreds of other fellow humans. 
This is a place that bears witness to Mumbai's eclectic nature: a young woman wearing her expensive Nike shoes jogging alongside the crashing waves, as she passes by a sleeping homeless man, and myriad of other people. All somehow content in their own way. The city belongs to no one, but everyone owns a piece of Marine Drive.

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