Culture of Bombay. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Location on the map:   Facts: » St. Thomas Cathedral is a Christian church built in 1796. It was consecrated in the name of Apostle Thomas. He came to India to propagate the faith in Christ.
» The building was built by the British. Before that, the ruler in Bombay had intended to build the House of God for the English community.
» The construction lasted 40 years.
» You can see a lot of statues in wall recesses. The walls are decorated with bas-reliefs in Eastern style. There are high narrow windows. You can see figures of saints on stained glass windows. The vaulted ceiling is upheld by stone columns with arched soffits. The walls in the main halls are covered with carved panels.
» In the inner space, you can see stone sculptures. There is the preserved picture of the first bishop lying in the bed.
» The roof is tiled. There are also patios with fountains inside.
» In the territory of the cathedral, there are preserved memorial heave marble slabs with plates in honor of the dead British subjects.
» After some time, the magnificent tower was constructed. There is a clock on it. The first worship took place at Christmas. The cathedral was built in the center of the former fortress.
» The last reconstruction was paid by the United Nations Convention.

Location on the map:   Facts: » “Mumba” means “the Great Mother of everything”. This is the name of the goddess, the local incarnation of Devi. The temple was built and named after her. This is also the name of the city, Mumbai (previously, Bombay) and, as the legend says, of the woman who encouraged the construction of the temple.
» The Mother Goddess defended salt miners and patronized anglers. They were the main group in the city.
» There is the two-meter statue of Mumba in the temple. It is made of black stone. Its head is decorated with a silver wreath. There are golden rings on the fingers and toes and a precious necklace on the neck. The figure is dotted with orange and yellow marigold leaves.
» The idol is surrounded by other goddesses. One of them is riding a peacock. Near it, there is the statue of the simian creature and the god of wisdom and wealth.
» The sanctuary is modestly decorated. There are almost no decorative elements. The rectangular temple is built of white stone. There is a tower in the tower of the pyramid at the top. There is a flag atop. Massive vertical ledges are the foundation of the construction.
» The entrance to Devi’s room is guarded by a sculptural tiger. The goddess rode it.
» Unlike the interior, the exterior of the temple impresses with plenty of intricate elements.
» Mumba has been revered since the 15th century.

» The hotel called “Taj Mahal Palace & Tower” started to be built in 1898. It opened its doors in 1903.
» The building is famous for the visits of the Royal family. Here, banquets were held for Indian high society. August 1947 is a historic date. The political freedom of India was proclaimed exactly in the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower.
» The hotel is an architectural monument, as it is characterized by the combination of different styles. The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower features many elegant arches, domes, and balconies. Columns upholding the dome are made of onyx. The massive doors are decorated with carved paintings. The interior impresses with rich design. It is decorated with many semi-precious stones. The floor is covered with a home-made carpet. In the rooms, there are crystal chandeliers and antique pieces of furniture.
» It was the first time when modern lighting appeared in the building.
» Historic objects and valuable pieces of art are displayed.
» The rooms are cleaned 8 times a day. The walls in bathrooms are covered with Italian tiles.
» The convenient location of the hotel (on the embankment) attracts many tourists.

Location on the map:   Facts: » Mumbai Central is a railway station that links a range of cities. It is considered as an architectural monument because it was built in the colonial era, in the period of the British rule in India.
» The English started to build the railway from Bombay so far into the country in the middle of the 19th century.
» The building itself was constructed in 1876. It was completed at the date of the 50th Anniversary of Victoria’s reign. The construction lasted 9 years.
» The railway station is still open for tourists. It is the final destination point of the city Bombay Railway. This is the only railway, by which you can travel from one district to another.
» Not so long ago, the railway station received the name of the national hero of the 17th century, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, or CST.
» It features a mixture of different architectural styles: New Gothic, Italian, and Indian. With its exterior, the building resembles a luxury palace but not a strict state institution.
» It is also characterized by carved wood, sculptures, railings, and grids decorated with patterns. The walls are faced with ceramics. There are many towers and arched hallways.