Mumbai, India's second largest city and the richest city in India, is home to a bustling commercial center, luxury hotels, and a beautiful seaside, but also poor slums, crowded streets, and chaotic traffic. It is a city full of contrasts and charm, and every traveler who comes here will have different feelings and experiences. I spent a week here and learned more about the city's customs, cultural history, special activities, and now I want to share with you my travel story and take you into Mumbai to see a different side of the city.
Dharavi: Asia's largest slum.
The first place I went to was one of Mumbai's most famous places, Dharavi, the largest slum in Asia. It is home to a population of more than 1 million people and covers an area of about 2With 1 square kilometer, it is the most densely populated area in India. Most of the residents here are migrants who have come to the cities from the countryside in search of work, living in rudimentary mud houses with no water, electricity, sanitation and security.
The environment here is very harsh, with mountains of garbage, sewage flowing sideways, high levels of air pollution, and widespread disease and crime. People here are fighting for survival every day, they are engaged in all kinds of jobs, some are cleaners, some are waste pickers, some are hawkers, some are factory workers, they have a small income, but they are very hardworking, optimistic and creative.
I had the pleasure of being shown around Dharavi by a local guide who told me that although it is a slum, there is still a lot to admire. For example, there are many small factories here that use waste materials to make a variety of products such as leather, plastics, textiles, ceramics, metals, etc., which are not only exported to India but also to the rest of the world, generating more than $1 billion in revenue every year.
There are also many artists here, who use their talents to create a variety of works of art, such as paintings, sculptures, films, etc., whose works not only reflect their lives, but also show their dreams. There are also a number of community organizations that provide a variety of services to the residents, such as education, medical care, law, recreation, religion, etc., with the aim of making the lives of the residents better and more dignified.
When I was in Dharavi, I felt the warmth of the people here, they were friendly, curious, happy, they invited me into their home, chatted with them, ate with them, played with them, they made me feel their happiness, their pride, their hope.
I also saw the plight of the people here, their suffering, their helplessness, and they made me feel their injustice, their helplessness, their despair. I was in Dharavi and saw a microcosm of India, a microcosm full of contrasts and contradictions, a microcosm that shocked and moved me at the same time.
Taj Mahal Hotel: Mumbai's landmark.
After I came out of Dharavi, I went to the other extreme of Mumbai, the Taj Mahal Hotel, a landmark in Mumbai. It is a luxury hotel built in 1903 and is known as a world wonder as India"taj mahal"Named after the Taj Mahal, the hotel is located next to Bombay Bay, directly opposite"India Gate"The interior decoration is extremely luxurious, with the architectural style of Europe and Portugal, there are many luxury brands stationed in the hotel, this kind of place is not seen by the local people to live, let alone live, even if you enter the door, you will be stopped by the hotel's security guards, and only the local high society and foreign tourists who come here.
I stayed here for one night and experienced the high end of life in Mumbai, I stayed in a very spacious room with a comfortable big bed, a premium bathroom, a beautiful sea view, I enjoyed a hearty dinner here with a wide variety of cuisines, with an elegant ** With professional services, I attended a wonderful party here, with beautiful girls, handsome men, and a lively atmosphere, I felt the prosperity of Mumbai, the wealth of Mumbai, and the charm of Mumbai here.
When I was at the Taj Mahal Hotel, I also felt the indifference of the people here, they were polite, respectful, and polite to me, but they were also cold, very arrogant, very selfish, they invited me into their circle, talked to them, drank with them, danced with them, but they didn't care about me, didn't understand me, didn't trust me, they made me feel their vanity, their loneliness, their emptiness.
I also see the strengths of the people here, their luck, their rights, they make me feel their confidence, their joy, their satisfaction. I was at the Taj Mahal Hotel and saw another epitome of Mumbai, one full of glamour and indifference, one that made me both envious and pitiful.
India Gate: The symbol of Mumbai.
After I came out of the Taj Mahal Hotel, I went to another landmark of Mumbai, India Gate, the symbol of Mumbai. Built in 1911 on the seashore of Bombay Bay, it is a 26-metre-high and 31-metre-wide arch-like monument built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary of Great Britain to India, and later became an important site for India's independence movement, where Mountbatten, the first Viceroy of India, left India in 1948 to mark India's full independence from British colonial rule. Now, it is a popular tourist attraction in Mumbai and a place of recreation and entertainment for Mumbai, where many tourists and locals come here every day to enjoy the sea view, take pictures, enjoy the sea breeze and feel the history.
When I was at India Gate, I felt the warmth of the people here, they were friendly, curious, and open, they invited me to take pictures with them, to chat with them, to share my travel experiences with them, and they made me feel their hospitality, their confidence, their openness. I also saw the patriotism of the people here, they were proud, respectful, and awe-inspiring to Indiagate, they told me about the history of Indiagate, the culture of India, the spirit of India, and they made me feel their pride, their loyalty, their faith. I was at India Gate and saw another microcosm of Mumbai, a microcosm of enthusiasm and patriotism, a microcosm that I both loved and admired.
Mumbai Film City: India's Dream Factory.
After I came out of Indiagate, I went to one of the most interesting places in Mumbai, Mumbai Film City, the dream factory of India. It is a 520-acre film production base located in Golegaur, a suburb of Mumbai, which is the center of the Indian film industry and one of the largest film production centers in the world, producing more than 1,000 films a year, more than Hollywood.
There are a variety of studios, props, costumes, makeup, lighting, sound, special effects and other equipment, which can simulate a variety of scenes, such as ancient palaces, modern cities, future space, and even foreign landscapes, and there are also many actors, directors, screenwriters, producers, photographers, editors, ** They use their talents to create a wide variety of films, such as song and dance films, comedy films, action films, romance films, thrillers, sci-fi films, etc., which are not only loved by Indians but also popular all over the world, and some films have even won international awards, such as "Slumdog Millionaire", "Let's Wrestle!".Dad", "Three Fools Make a Mess in Bollywood", etc.
When I was in Mumbai Film City, I felt the creativity of the people here, they were friendly, warm and funny, they invited me to visit their studios, watch their shoots with them, learn their songs and dances with them, experience their films with them, they made me feel their passion, their talent, their fun.
I also see the dreams of the people here, they are very loved, very focused, very dedicated, they use movies to express their thoughts, their emotions, their ideals, they use movies to affect their society, their country, their world, they make me feel their dreams, their struggles, their meaning. I was at Mumbai Film City and saw the last epitome of Mumbai, a microcosm full of creativity and dreams, a microcosm that surprised and moved me at the same time.
Mumbai, a city full of contrasts and charm, a city that I will never forget, a city that has given me new knowledge and experiences. Here, I saw the gap between the rich and the poor in India, the cultural diversity of India, the historical changes in India, the social reality of India, the artistic creation of India, the national spirit of India, and the life of the people of India. Gave me such an unforgettable trip.
If you also want to travel to Mumbai, I give you some practical advice:
Transportation: The traffic in Mumbai is very congested, it is recommended that you try to avoid rush hour travel, you can choose the subway, bus, taxi, motorcycle, etc., you can also experience the local characteristics of the rickshaw, but pay attention to safety and hygiene.
Accommodation: Accommodation in Mumbai** varies widely, with options ranging from a few hundred to tens of thousands, you can choose according to your budget and preferences, it is recommended that you stay in the city center or close to the seaside for sightseeing and relaxation, as well as enjoy Mumbai's nightlife.
Food: Mumbai's cuisine is very rich, with a variety of Indian cuisine, but also from all over the world, you can taste a variety of flavors in street stalls, restaurants, cafes, bars and other places, it is recommended that you try local specialties of curry, cheese, scones, salads, desserts, etc., but pay attention to hygiene and spiciness, if you are not used to the Indian diet, you can also choose some international dishes, such as Chinese, Japanese, Italian, burgers, pizza, etc., but ** will be higher.
Attractions: Mumbai has a lot to offer, with a wide variety of historical, cultural, religious, artistic, nature, and other topics that you can choose according to your interests and time, it is recommended that you visit at least a few of the following places:
Mumbai Cathedral: This is a Catholic church built in 1718, it is one of the oldest churches in Mumbai and one of the most beautiful churches in Mumbai, the exterior of the church is Gothic, the interior is baroque, with exquisite stained glass windows, frescoes, sculptures, bell towers, etc., the church is surrounded by a quiet garden, which is a suitable place for prayer, meditation, and relaxation.
Mumbai Museum: This is a museum built in 1872, is the largest museum in Mumbai, and one of the most important museums in India, the appearance of the museum is neoclassical, and there are various exhibitions inside, covering Indian history, culture, art, nature, science and technology and other fields, you can see ancient cultural relics of India here, Indian folk art, Indian animal and plant specimens, Indian scientific inventions, etc., the museum is surrounded by a beautiful garden, which is a suitable place to study, appreciate, and take pictures。
Mumbai Beach: This is a beach located in Mumbai Bay, it is the liveliest beach in Mumbai and the most interesting beach in Mumbai, the length of the beach is about 6 kilometers, the color of the beach is golden, the color of the sea is blue, there are various activities on the beach, such as swimming, surfing, sunbathing, sand sculptures, kites, horse-drawn carriages, Ferris wheels, etc., there are also a variety of snacks on the beach, such as ice cream, fried fish, roasted corn, coconut water, etc., there are many people on the beach who come here every day to enjoy the sea breeze,** Sunset, feel life.