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!

Wednesday Wanderings: Gateway of India

 Gateway of India is a monument located in Mumbai, on the waterfront at Wellington Pier (also known as Apollo Bunder). It was originally built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay, and was completed in 1924. It’s aptly named, as it would have been the first thing that visiting arricing by boat would have seen when they reached Bombay.

Gateway of India

Now, it has become a popular tourist attraction, as it’s oppositto the famous Taj Mahal Hotel and next to a ferry terminal, which takes tourists for short rides aboard shaky ferries around the pier and to Elephanta caves. You’ll find coconut-vendors, stalls for chaats (a very popular street-food item in India) and even cheap-toy-sellers (like the soap-bubble-blowing-apparatus-seller in photo below) trying their best to attract attention of young and old (who are also kids at heart 🙂 ).

Soap-bubble-blower at work!

Tequila Sunrise

I got the inspiration for this post when this Eagles song played on a friend’s car’s music system. I recalled the beautiful sunrises that I’ve seen till now – from Bombay to Bath to Bangalore.. I’ve witnessed some very spectacular ones.

The only negative thing about a sunrise is that one has to wake up really early, which can be painful at times, with the pain aggravated if the number of tourists crowding at the place is very large. I remember one of those times, it was at the Tiger Hill in Darjeeling, famous for just the view at sunrise, that I had to wake up despite the super-suhavna (pleasant) weather which entices you to switch off the damn alarm and to go back to sleep. Nevertheless, I did wake up that day, to see fog all around, and the driver promised that the fog usually clears before the sunrise. When we reached the place, the fog was still there, the air was very chilly – the cold biting, and the hilltop looked like the general coach of the Virar fast at rush hour. There were people everywhere. Every-damn-where. And the worst part, the cloud-cover didn’t disappear until it made sure that we miss the sunrise completely. The only ones who must have been happy that morning were the chaay-wallas (tea-vendors), who seemed like god-sent angels to save sleepy tourists from sleep, cold and frustration.

Nevertheless, here are a few of the beautiful sunrises that I’ve been able to capture in my camera (Each has a separate story that goes along with it, but about that, maybe some other day). Enjoy! 🙂

Golf Course, Bath, UK
A general stroll around the university campus on the day we were shifting hostels.

Vihar Lake, Powai, Mumbai, India
I and Anupom went for a walk to the hill-side in IIT and beyond..

Beach Road, Pondicherry (Puducherry), India
Fishing starts early in the day, when the seas are calm, and the catch plenty..

Beach Road, Pondicherry (Puducherry), India
A photographer lost in the beauty of sea of colours in the sky, captured in another photo..

Skandhgiri Hill, Near Bangalore, India
After a 2-3 hour long night trek, enthusiasts wait for sunrise as the skies turn into an unbelievable palette of colours and shades ..

Skandhgiri Hill, Near Bangalore, India
As the sun rises in full glory, it almost looks like its sinking into the darkness leaving a trail of golden light and warmth behind..