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West India - The
Warm West
After the vibrant atmosphere of Mumbai, allow the
palm-fringed beaches of Goa to warm your spirit in the sun and
relax your mind. Or meditate in cool and ancient Buddhist caves
tunnelled out of solid rock on the craggy hillsides - a dramatic
contrast from the colourful fairs and festivals in unspoiled
Gujarat. The choice is once again tremendous in this land that
offers everything.
Mumbai -
Gateway of India
There is a powerful life force at work in this thriving,
modern commercial city, with its plateglass skyscrapers and hectic
colorful street life. The pace and confusion is vibrant, with
businessmen hurrying to work, hooting traffic, fisherwomen in
their bright sarees and ‘tiffinwallahs’ hurrying with their metal
containers to deliver the businessman’s lunch direct from his home
to his office. After relaxing on Chowpatty beach under the cool
evening sky, sipping refreshing milk from a large green coconut,
you will start to love Mumbai. You will feel ready to visit the
elegant and world famous Taj Mahal hotel for a delicious snack or
drink while watching the sunset over the many boats in the harbour.
In the luxury and quiet of a hotel room, sightseeing can be
planned. Consider a visit to the lofty Hanging Gardens next door
to the intriguing Towers of Silence; or maybe win a million at the
beautiful Mahalaxmi Racecourse, one of the finest in India. A
glamorous day visiting the famous Mumbai film studios can be
arranged, and perhaps a chat with one of the many film stars.
Relive the ancient stories of the Hindu gods sculpted on the walls
of caves at Elephanta. This well known island, where monkeys
scamper across your path, is a short and pleasant boat ride from
the famous landmark in Mumbai - the Gateway of India. When ready
to leave this city of tycoons, commerce, skyscrapers and film
stars, prepare for adventures of a very different kind which await
at its doorstep.
The Magic
Around Mumbai
There is so much choice and so many wonders to see around
Mumbai. Northwest lies Gujarat, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi,
the father of the nation. The region is famous for exclusive
garments and hand made silk saris, and for being the last refuge
of the Asian lions, found deep in the Gir Forest. Join in with the
village people in their brightly coloured costume rejoicing in one
of the many festivals and fairs that abound in this state.
Ahmedabad, the principal textile city of the country, is well
known for the Sabarmati Ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi, where
his ideals of peace and non-violence are still promoted; visitors
are welcome. As Jawaharlal Nehru observed, this great man of
indomitable spirit was certainly ’not of the common clay that all
of us are made of. Mahatma Gandhi’s birthplace can be seen at the
fishing village of Porbandar. A greater and even more ancient
wonder awaits east of Mumbai in Maharashtra, where the thirty
Buddhist caves at Ajanta which are cut into the steep face of a
deep rock gorge sit in silent contemplation. Feel the aura and
power left behind by the Buddhist monks living 2000 years ago.
Compare them with the dynamism and energy radiating from the huge
Hindu caves in nearby Ellora. Imagine the workers carving a way at
solid rock on the hillside to form the thirty-four Hindu, Buddhist
and Jain Caves with the stories of their religions and beliefs
etched onto the walls. Stay at one of the cool and relaxing hill
stations such as Matheran or Mahabaleshwar, popular with the
inhabitants of Mumbai. Take an evening stroll around the peaceful
Bund Gardens in pleasant and airy Pune. All these adventures will
entertain and fascinate in the magic and beauty around Mumbai.
Goa - Sun,
Sand and Sea
 Relax
and experience the idyllic peace that only India can give in sunny
Goa. If you have ever dreamt of a warm land of space and light,
where the beaches stretch for silvery miles, where the glittering
sea always beckons you, where the people are always smiling, where
the succulent juice from a bite of ripe pineapples or papaya drips
on your hot skin as you luxuriate lazily on the white sand, then
Goa, a fascinating blend of Latin and Indian cultures, will be a
place where the wish to linger will be overpowering.
Decide when to sit in the shade under the palm trees sipping the
feni, or lemonade, or when to return to the hot sand to deepen
your tan, or when to swim in the cool refreshing water. What a
problem.
As well as being a place for relaxation, Goa is also lively and
modern, with many westernstyle entertainments. there is a choice
of luxurious hotels with plenty of night life, or simplicity and
tranquillity in one of the inexpensive, clean and comfortable
rooms with their own charm, right on the beach. The Portuguese
influenced food is mouthwatering. Choose massive fish steaks fresh
from the sea or a wide and delicious choice of both continental
and Indian dishes. Panaji, the capital, is an easy-going town with
Portuguese styled cafes, whitewashed churches and overhanging
balconies; a delight after your journey. 0ld Goa, east of Panaji,
was once the capital of the eastern Portuguese Empire. Now, it is
little more than a fascinating small village surrounded by huge
convents and churches dedicated to the zeal of Christianity,
including the Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the
famous Basilica of Bom Jesus. The mortal remains of St. Francis
Xavier, who spread Christianity among the subjects of the
Portuguese colonies, are entombed here. Which beach to choose from
along the 100km long coastline of silvery sand. Possibly Colva
with its warm turquoise sea and fishermen hauling in their nets by
hand in the clear morning light as they chant an ancient sea song;
or maybe sophisticated Aguada, with its jet-set beach and
sixteenth century fort. Try the experience of a full-moon party at
Anjuna, or mingle with the variety of people in Calangute selling
handicrafts, jewellery and modern fabrics. Enjoy the old
Portuguese fort in Chapora, surrounded by secluded and sandy
beaches and dense green coconut palms. Visit all the beaches or
just adopt one and make it your home. Wild boar and sambar in
their natural habitat in the hills of the Western Ghats can be
seen in Bondla, one of the Goan wildlife sanctuaries. In addition,
the region is justly famous for its many colourful festivals,
including Mardi Gras, celebrated with Christian fervour.
There are so many delights in Western India and so many glorious
choices; from the vibrant life of commercial Mumbai to the home of
the indomitable Mahatma Gandhi then down to the peace and magic of
sunny Goa - the choice is yours. |
