Mumbai, INDIA
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An archipelago of seven islands gifted by Portuguese colonizers to the King of England, as dowry in the 16th-century, ended up with the British East India Company and one of India’s greatest maritime centres was born. Over time, the British built a fortified urban centre, complete with trappings like a customs house, warehouse, quay and court. The ensemble of colonial architecture that had its roots in the imperial past lends Mumbai the status of one of the finest Gothic Revival cities in the world today.
During the British Raj, Bombay (‘good bay’ as the Portuguese named it) was studded with an array of Gothic, Victorian, Indo-Saracenic and Art Deco colonial architecture. The surprising fact is that the city has the largest collection of Art Deco buildings outside of the United States. The embellished, etched and engraved buildings of Mumbai’s historic centre are still a visual delight and rich with stories.
An appropriate starting point of the day tour is the Gateway of India, a victory arch commemorating the 1911 royal visit by King George V. Interestingly, the last British parade was held here before India was declared an independent nation. The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on the opposite side is a landmark in itself, with its Indo-Saracenic style combining Victorian Gothic, Romanesque, Edwardian elements and an elegant Moorish dome. Learn the story of its construction by Jamshedji Tata, founder of the Tata business empire, after he was refused entry to British hotels for ‘whites’ only. Continue to the Royal Mumbai Yacht Club, the Police Headquarters, the NGMA (National Gallery of Modern Art) and the City Museum.
Explore Kala Ghoda, the art centre of Mumbai, which also has leftovers of Sassoon and Jewish history. The area is home to Watson Hotel, the first iron cast building in the city, where Mark Twain once stayed. Cross the Session court and the High Court to see the Raja Bhai towers, Big Ben of Mumbai, where Gothic meets Asian influences. Wait for the British tunes that chime every 15 minutes.
In the Horniman Circle precinct, you will visit St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai’s first Anglican Church, with grand marble memorials of imperial heroes. Among the fascinating heritage of the area is the building housing Asia’s oldest newspaper. Sip tea at a traditional bakery and witness the Mumbai Dabbawalas (food distribution men) in action.
Finally, reach Victoria Terminus Station, now in Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai's main train station and the busiest train station in the world. The ornate building is tagged a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being a rare example of blended western and Indian architecture. Gothic arches, Mughal domes, turrets, arcades, carved pillars and stained glass come together in an opulent symphony.
Transport: Walking Tour 
Activity level: Easy to Moderate
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Private Knowledgeable guide, Entrance fee (if any) Cycle & Helmet. 
Exclusions: Meals. Personal Expenses and Souvenir. 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Gateway of India 
End of tour location: CST Station Duration: 2 Hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹2520 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹2,520 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!