Spotlight - 10.2019

(coco) #1

28 Spotlight 10/2019 TRAVEL


Fotos: RosaIrene Betancourt, Tuul and Bruno Morandi/Alamy Stock Photo

Day 1
6.30 a.m.
Take advantage of any jet lag by pre-book-
ing an early-morning bicycle ride in South
Mumbai (realitytoursandtravel.com offers
safe and interactive guided tours). It’s a
rare opportunity to see a relatively peace-
ful side to a city that never sleeps. South
Mumbai is home to the city’s prettiest
spots and most enduring landmarks. A
slow cycle along some of its wide roads
will take you past majestic art-deco build-
ings from the days of the British Raj, al-
lowing you a glimpse of the architectural
beauty and soul of the city that is other-
wise lost among the enormous daytime
crowds.
Head first to Chhatrapati Shivaji Ter-
minus (locals still call it “VT”, short for
“Victoria Terminus”), one of India’s bus-
iest railway stations. Admire this Victo-
rian Gothic-style UNESCO World Heri-
tage Site with tall arches, Mughal domes,
gargoyles, turrets and arcades, before an
estimated three million commuters pass
through it — every day. Take a look at the
city’s wholesale markets, Crawford Mar-
ket and the bazaars at Kalbadevi and Bhu-
leshwar, before it becomes impossible to
squeeze through the crowds.
In Bhuleshwar, stop to see Bombay
Panjrapole, the city’s oldest animal shel-
ter, which houses over 350 cows and other
homeless animals, and the Mumba Devi
Temple, dedicated to the city’s patron
goddess. End your ride at Marine Drive,
the 3.6-kilometre seaside boulevard that
defines Mumbai’s landscape.

8.45 a.m.
By the time your bicycle ride is over, the
city has already come to life. Head to
Kyani & Co. near Metro Cinema for one
of Mumbai’s most popular breakfasts.
This 116-year-old bakery is part of the rap-
idly vanishing heritage of Irani-style ca-
fes set up by Zoroastrian (Parsi) migrants
from Iran during the 19th and 20th cen-
turies. With its high ceilings, chequered
table mats and warm service, it’s a great
place to watch people from all parts of
society get their fill of classic Parsi dishes.
Dunk a soft bun maska (a fresh, soft
bread roll slathered with butter) in cut-
ting chai, milky tea infused with carda-
mom (the term “cutting” refers to the
small serving in a tiny glass, perfect for
a quick break), then place an order for
your choice of eggs. A poro (Parsi-style
omelette) or an akoori (runny scrambled
eggs with tomatoes, green chillies and co-
riander leaves) are popular choices. Don’t
leave without tasting another house fa-
vourite, the caramel custard.

11 a.m.
Take in the charm of South Mumbai’s hip-
ster district, Colaba, the southernmost tip
of Mumbai. With its iconic monuments,
trendy bistros, design stores, art galler-
ies and museums, you can easily spend
hours here. Visit the Sabyasachi store,
more museum than boutique. Sabyasa-
chi Mukherjee, one of India’s best-known
designers, is from Kolkata (Calcutta), but
his exquisitely embroidered Indian tex-
tiles, saris and bridal lehngas (traditional

animal shelter
[(ÄnIm&l )SeltE]
, Tierheim
arch [A:tS]
, Bogen, Gewölbe
bridal [(braId&l]
, Braut-
caramel custard
[(kÄrEmel )kVstEd]
, Karamellcreme
chequered [(tSekEd]
, kariert
commuter [kE(mju:tE]
, Pendler(in)
dedicate [(dedIkeIt]
, widmen, weihen
dunk [dVNk]
, eintunken
embroider [Im(brOIdE]
, besticken
enduring [In(djUErIN]
, beständig
gargoyle [(gA:gOI&l]
, Wasserspeier
glimpse [glImps]
, kurzer Blick
heritage [(herItIdZ]
, Erbe

landmark [(lÄndmA:k]
, Wahrzeichen
patron goddess
[)peItrEn (gQdes]
, Schutzgöttin
Raj: British ~ [rA:dZ]
, Britische Kolonial-
herrschaft in Indien
runny [(rVni]
, flüssig
scrambled eggs
[)skrÄmb&ld (egz]
, Rühreier
slather [(slÄDE]
, bestreichen
southernmost
[(sVD&nmEUst]
, südlichste
table mat [(teIb&l mÄt]
, hier: Tischdecke
turret [(tVrIt]
, Mauerturm, Türmchen
vanishing [(vÄnISIN]
, verschwindend
wholesale [(hEUlseI&l]
, Großhandels-
World Heritage Site
[)w§:ld (herItIdZ saIt]
, Weltkulturerbe

Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus,
completed in 1887,
was designed by a
British architectural
engineer
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