Mumbai (Bombay)
30 & 31 January 2003
Mumbai (formerly Bombay) on the Arabian Sea is India's large port and industrial city.  
Our train arrived at Mumbai's Victoria Terminus about noon, around 24 hours after our
departure from Jhansi.  From Victoria Terminus we took a taxi (a four wheeler!) to the
Regent Hotel where we had stayed on a previous time in Mumbai.  This is a good hotel
located just a block from the luxurious Taj Mahal Hotel and the famous Gateway of India.  
Nearly all other guests at the hotel were Arabs.
In the afternoon we went on a cruise to Elephanta Island, about an hour each way.  Elephanta
Island is best known for its excavated caves with many religious sculptures.  While on the
island we bought a carved elephant, the only souvenir we purchased on this trip.
We had visited Mumbai two or three times before but did not stay there long on this trip as
we were eager to get to Matheran.
On our way to Elephanta Island, looking back to the
Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel.
An Elephanta Island cave temple.
Elephanta Temple wall carving.