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ELEPHANTA ISLAND
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the rock-cut caves at Elephanta Island is a worthy day trip from the bustle of Mumbai. The hour-long boat ride departs from the Gateway of India, reaching the island the Portuguese named for a stone elephant found on its shores. Visitors must climb a vast staircase to the 9th century caves, the path lined with a flurry of vendors selling trinkets and souvenirs. But if the hike is too much, climbers can pay locals to carry them in a chair for a few rupees. The six square mile island is the home to about 1200 locals mainly involved in growing rice, fishing and repairing boats.
CHOWPATTY BEACH
Bring a little appetite to Chowpatty – loads of kiosks selling Mumbai’s favorite snacks like Bhelpuri and Kulfi are a must for first timers. Then frolic with a wealth of entertainers like masseurs, snake charmers, contortionists and monkey trainers. Chowpatty also has historical significance for the city, as a place where the masses gathered for political meetings before India’s independence. And at night, be dazzled by the “Queen’s Necklace” – a theatrical view of street lamps that light up Marine Drive along the beach.
COLABA CAUSEWAY
Capture a piece of Mumbai at the city’s largest marketplace for a reasonable price. Trinkets, shawls, food, antiques, clothes, shoes, jewelery, and art can all be found in this shopper’s haven. Developed in 1838 and renovated again in 1861 and 1863, it became a commercial hub with the opening of the cotton exchange in 1844. By the early 1950s the causeway gradually became known as the city’s most fashionable shopping center.
CHOR BAZAAR
Mumbai’s famous outdoor market is not exactly a haven for thievery, as the name chor may suggest. The bazaar is simply a beautiful congregation of people who come to browse, hunt and bargain for second-hand treasures.