Bombay: Flora Fountain

Apart from Indore where I grew up, Mumbai is a city which feels most like home to me (btw, I prefer to call it ‘Bombay’: personal choice :)). Maybe there’s an indirect bond I have to the city because I was born there.This also implies that I’ve never really ‘seen’ the city.

So, two years back, when I was based in Bangalore, I got an opportunity to visit Bombay – so, I decided to do all the touristy things of this mega-city.

The easiest way to do this is: Go to South Bombay –  it’s the real heart of the city – it’s business centre and tourist ground zero. I was walking along one of the major streets of this area when I stumbled across this majestic fountain statue..

Flora Fountain

Flora Fountain, depicting the Roman goddess ‘Flora’ (obviously!) and according to wiki, was built in 1864 and apparently is in the grand neo-Gothic style of architecture with some elements of Indo-Saracenic architecture. Well, it certainly is pretty!

Flora Fountain

The chowk (square) at which this fountain is located is known as the Hutatma Chowk (martyr’s square) and was named soin memory of the members of Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti, who lost their lives when police fired upon their peaceful demonstration. A statue of a “Martyr with a Flame” stands next to Flora Fountain.

The Hutatma Chowk Memorial

Next to it is the ‘Amar jyot‘ (meaning ‘the eternal flame) which is often used in India as a symbol for the undying memory and gratitude the country has for its martyrs.

Amar Jyot at Hutatma Chowk

Oh, on a slightly tangential note, I had heard of the Flora Fountain area before, but had no idea about the statues. This was because this area also hosts dozens of vendors selling books – both fresh and second-hand books – that are a must to browse-through because of the amazing bargains that you can score. You may also found original signed copies here, which maybe decades old – if you are anything like me, you’ll find old books charming and exotic! 🙂

Ooooh! Lots and lots of books at the Flora Fountain square!

Marine Drive, Bombay – blurred photos also tell their own stories

Bombay. My favourite city.

Bombay is special to me – this is where I was born. This is where I spent 4 years of my college life.

I must confess – a lot of people don’t like Bombay, for one reason or other – like its big population, or the very very rainy whether or the super-fast pace of life. But I love Bombay for the very same reasons – the variety that you get to see, or the pleasure you get from playing football in rain and muddy hostel grounds, or the feeling that your life is fresh and fast, moving ahead – fast and determined.

So, last year, when I got a chance to visit Bombay again, I jumped at the chance and took two extra days off, just to view Bombay from a tourist’s point of view.

If you are a tourist going to Bombay, it’s inevitable that you visit Marine Drive.  It’s a 3-km long C-shaped boulevard in the southernmost part of the city also known as the Queen’s necklace. This name always takes me down the memory lane because it reminds me of the first time I flew in an airplane – we took off from Bombay and when I looked down, I saw this string of pearls – apparently some famous road lit up in the middle of the night. The Queen’s Necklace – the Marine Drive.

But I digress. So, as part of doing the touristy things, I visited the Marine Drive as well – famous for its crowds of evening walkers, and couples enjoying fresh sea breeze, and a few moments of freedom (and cuddling) from the rush and hush of daily lives. Oh yes, not to forget, there’s Chowpatti beach at the north end of Marine Drive, famous for its Bhel Puri, Golas (crushed ice dipped in flavoured syrup) and lots more varieties of street food.

The most typical shot of any Bollywood movie - cars rushing by at Marine Drive

A familiar retreat for couples, to take a break from the hustle-bustle of everyday life

A not-so-private corner for a couple to cozy into.

Some do come out looking for solitude and love

 

There were families too - with playful children insisting on walking on the railing 😀

 

'Kala khatta' Gola at Chowpatty beach

Highway to Heaven

Or was it the Expressway to Pune? 😀

I distinctly remember that day, sometime in the fourth year of college. I think it was my first bus journey alone in India (I had traveled by bus alone in UK before, and by train in India, more number of times than I can count on my fingers). It was definitely the first bus journey alone in India which was being done in a covert manner-it’s up to you to guess the reason 😉

The reason it deserves a post is – bus journeys in India can never be ordinary. Its just not possible. And you don’t even need to be going to a small faraway village in a run-down bus. It can be a (supposedly) comfortable air-conditioned bus, but they will make sure you are on the edge of your seat (both literally and figuratively) when you are dealing with the bus operators.

Reasons (hey, I tried my best to avoid making a bulleted list!):

# 1 : Every bus ride you take, there’s a 50% chance that you are being taken for a ride.

# 2 : The bus never starts on time. If it does, assume something’s fishy going on (refer to #1).

# 3 : At times, you’ll be taken away from where you bought a ticket to some random different place in a minibus – I have no clue why – but it always seems shady – and always ends up in further delay of the departure.

But every cloud has a silver lining!

My journey to Pune had a quiet a few BIG incentives (oh no, another list!):
(in descending order of their ‘incentivising’ power)

# 1 : What’s there at the end of it: I had a very strong motivation to reach Pune and meet someone. 🙂 The bus is one of the fastest and most economical ways to go from Bombay to Pune.

# 2 : Food: The 3-4 hour bus journey always has a food-break somewhere in the middle. Ah, those tasty aloo-bondas and pav-bhajis. A good enough reason to skip breakfast before boarding the bus.

# 3 : Scenery: The road to Pune goes through lush green hills, and has a very scenic route. If you happen to be going in the rainy season, you might chance upon a cute little waterfall too.

# 4 : The in-bus movie: (this one I am afraid, is highly subjective and dependent on people’s choice and inclination) You don’t get to choose the movie – the bus driver/conductor does. And you’ve got to watch it. It’s up to you to enjoy it. 🙂

Have you travelled Bombay to Pune (or the other way round) on bus? How was your experience?