Living in a city like Mumbai means the city lives in your veins. It’s the city that helps to keep me on the toes, to chase my dreams. So, when tata motors, made of great asked me to write about my favourite city, there was no second thought. It is, and it should be Mumbai.
So, how to define my city remembering the key features as drive, design and connect?
Mumbai has an indomitable spirit and the city successfully transfers this very spirit in the soul of every Mumbaikar. The drive to make the journey of life worthy enough. People of all parts of the country and even from outside India, have poured into Mumbai adding more to its volume. Sustaining successfully with a large population is not a cake walk. From morning to night, Mumbaikars are running behind their dreams, to make their life a successful one. A well-connected network throughout the city makes it possible. Most of the roads in Mumbai are in decent shape and though there is heavy traffic almost all the time ( except the wee hours in the morning) driving through the city is not a bad experience. It is rightly said, Mumbai drives you to success and makes you able enough to drive along Mumbai.
The city sprawls along in four directions, the sea reclamation has produced more land for it. Though the city has not been developed following any definite plan and architecture from the beginning, but one can see a perfect amalgamation of Portuguese, British and Indian architectural grandeur. Mumbai, after Miami, has the second largest number of Art Deco buildings in the world. The signature landmark of Mumbai, the Shivaji Terminus (formerly known as Victoria Terminus) is the prime example of a Gothic Revival structure. Crawford Market at Dhobi Talao is a Norman Gothic structure. The Bombay University, also in South Mumbai, is a splendid example of Venetian Gothic architecture. Three grand examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture, again in South Mumbai, are the Prince of Wales Museum, Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel. Along with these heritage buildings, the city also boasts of great contemporary architectural style which can especially be seen in the opulent shopping malls and sky scrappers.
Mumbai is extremely well-connected in every way with every other part of the planet. Roads, railways, metro, monorail, private vehicles, ferry service, airways, auto-rickshaws- there is no dearth of communication. One domestic and one international airport, they never keep quiet and the hustle and bustle continue with the arrival and departure of flights in every minute. Gateway of India marks the end of the Mumbaiya land in the southern part. The busiest port of the country, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port is located in the eastern part of the city.
But, above all, the railways has connected Mumbai most efficiently and, perhaps, carries the largest number of commuters each day in terms of public transport. Even, India’s first train ran between Bombay and Thane during the British period. Excellent connectivity has made the city accessible to more people thus inviting more business to it. The film industry of India, popularly known as Bollywood, is a part and parcel of the city. Mumbai is rightly known as the financial capital of India.
Everybody whoever has visited Mumbai is likely to feel the pulse of it. As a person born and brought up in Mumbai, I’m deeply connected to it. Amchi Mumbai, my city, Mumbai meri jaan!
anilasnook 