Marine Drive - One of the most popular romantic spots in Mumbai

Marine Drive - One of the few must visit places in Mumbai. Located along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill, this place is ideal destination for lovers and couples alike. Yes, Marine Drive is one of the most romantic spots in Mumbai. Also, if you are fond of having a glimpse of the sunset then this place become must visit. The sunset view from this pace is just amazing. Tourist brochures are fond of stating it as the Queen's Necklace, because of the dramatic curve of its streetlights at night.

A quick stroll through the Marine Drive and you can discover the whole of Mumbai. To add to it, Marine Drive is also one of the most busiest roads in Mumbai, an important artery for the heavy suburban traffic heading downtown. Cars whiz continually past the two mile stretch, past huddled lovers, children and babies in perambulators. This is where most of south Mumbai comes to breathe in some fresh air.

Believe it or not, Marine Drive has one of the most art deco building alongside its sea front than any other place in the world. Miami in the United States is the only city in the world that has more art deco buildings along the seafront than Mumbai. Also, Marine Drive is home to many celebrities, mostly bollywood stars. Many hotels dot the drive, most prominent among them being the 5-star Oberoi (formerly the Oberoi Hilton Tower however reverted to the original name as of early 2008), The Intercontinental, Hotel Marine Plaza and a few other smaller hotels. Marine Drive is the preferred connecting road between the central business district located at Nariman Point and the rest of the city.

Marine Drive is also known as the Queen's Necklace because if viewed at night from an elevated point anywhere along the drive, the street lights resemble a string of pearls,forming a necklace.It is also the world's largest viewing gallery and hence has been a host to a number of events that take place along the promenade.

Hope you get enough of this fabulous place. Happy Visiting !!

Resources - Wikipedia

Shri Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai - One of the most famous hindu temples in India

Mumbai has many exciting places to visit. The city has everything for everyone. Yes, from world class monuments to funky bollywood, this city seems to rock all the times. Now, today in this post, we will be exploring something religious. We will be exploring one of the most famous Hindu temples of India which is located in Mumbai - Shri Siddhivinayak Temple.

Shri Siddhivinyak Temple is located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was originally built by Mr. Laxman Vithu and Mrs. Deubai Patil in November 19th, 1801. The original belief behind this temple is dated long back when Deubai Patil thought that there must be a temple where people's wishes would come true. Deubai Patil herself was childless and so she wanted those suffering from the same, to get rid from it and be granted a baby upon visiting the temple and praying. And so the idea to build temple, finally originated. It’s said that many people have had their wishes come true over the years. The sincerity and intensity in which devotees visit the temple is inspiring, and despite the heat and crowds, it’s definitely possible to feel the increased energy there.

Talking about the structure, the temple has a small mandap (hall) with the shrine for Siddhi Vinayak ("Ganesh that grants your wish"). The wooden doors to the sanctum are carved with images of the Ashtavinayak (the eight manifestations of Ganesh in Maharashtra). The inner roof of the sanctum is plated with gold, and the central statute is of Ganesh. In the periphery of the temple, there is a Hanuman temple as well.

The popularity of the temple can be seen from the fact that on an average day, the temple draws over 25,000 people. Every Tuesday, the most auspicious day of the week, this number swells to over 100,000 people. That is just unbelievable !! Unlike most of the other temples of India, this temple has an open door policy. Anyone can visit this temple. Religion is not a bar for anyone here.

Have a wish that you want fulfilled? Pray to the elephant headed Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, at the Shri Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai.

Ecabs Car Reservation System - The best traveling choice from Pune to Mumbai and Mumbai to Pune

We have seen in earlier posts that eCabs is the best option for those looking to travel from Pune to Mumbai and from Mumbai to Pune. It is an idea solution for those looking for better pickup services from Mumbai airport and Pune Airport. You can read more about it here - Why eCabs is the best Car/Taxi Reservation System ?

Getting ahead with the same topic, today we will see more on why you should choose eCabs over any other traveling option. There are lot many traveling options available but why eCabs exels ? What is the problem with other traveling options? Why all other services are not as better as compared to services as being offered by eCabs?

We will examine each and every thing in detail today. We well look into various other modes of transport and then compare it with eCabs finally. So, here are the comparisons -

Traveling by Train: Indian railways do not offer any airport connectivity options . Hence there are no planned trains that may help passengers reach Mumbai International Airport in time also overall travel time by train is more then by road. There is no train station for airport.

Traveling by Busses: There are few busses that connect Pune to Mumbai Airport. These bus services at present do not have correct schdules for connecting to International flights. Most of the international flights are at Night and most such busses are mainly schduled for Day time travel. This means that a passenger may have to wait for sevaral hours at airport if they use these busses.

Traveling by Car/Mini Bus: Few travel service providers offer pre-schduled mini bus and car travel to Mumbai airport. Unfortunately these services are not prfessionally operating, leading to lot of time wastage for the passengers. These services are cost effective only for the shared travel. They normally pickup passengers atleast 1.5 hours before the schduled departure time from Pune. They may wait or pickup more passengers before departing for the Mumbai airport. Normal travel time is 5-6 hours. In case you want to hire the full car , the charges are very high. Similarly at Mumbai airport pickup, they may wait for passengers from different flights before starting for Pune and may drop passengers to different far off places in Pune. At present this is the only alternative other then hiring a private car.

Traveling by Private Car: Private car is available easily for Airport Pickup or Drops from Taxi stand or from travel agents. The only problem is that all travel agents will charge you for return fare, which means that you are paying for 2 journeys where as you use only one. This significantly increases your international travel cost and many people are looking for other suitable options. Security is one of the major concerns for the passengers using private car travel. On Pune - Mumbai Express you are at the mercy of the cab driver.

And finally, Traveling by eCabs - eCabs is a service that provide you a private cab for Pune to Mumbai AIrport or return journey and charge you only for the one way travel. Our rates are nearly half that of other private car operators. We offer highly secure and managed service that ensure timely pick-up and drops with minimal waiting time. You can call our call center to book a car immediately, in most situation you can get a cab within short time at airport or in City. We can pickup you form your home and drop you at the airport.

The complete journey is tracked and managed by our call center executive form remote location. In case of emergency or breakdown, our call center executive will arrange a new car for you within short time to avoid reaching late at airport.

Our technology allows you to save time, reach airport on time and have a enjoyable and tension free journey. Our call center also keep detailed information about the flight timings for your assistance.

Aurangabad Places | Ajanta Caves | Ellora Caves | Aurangabad Historical Monuments | Aurangabad Tourist Places | Tourist Attractions Aurangabad

The City of Gates - Yes, it is the picture that comes to one's mind immediately when we hear about Aurangabad. Today in this post we will explore this historical city of monuments.

Aurangabad is a hugely popular tourist destination in Maharashtra. And the reason why it so famous?? It is because of the world famous Ajanta-Ellora Caves - One of the most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian architectural heritage. Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, the famous Ajanta and Ellora are cave shrines cut out of rock. The Ajanta caves have been designated as the World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will come to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come. A set of 29 caves, Ajanta is among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, cave paintings and sculptures. These caves comprise Chaitya halls or shrines, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas or monasteries, used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings. The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves depict incidents from the life of lord Buddha and various Buddhist divinities.

The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 km north of Aurangabad. Sculptors, inspired by Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, created elaborate rock carvings. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas or halls of worship, Viharas or monasteries and Hindu and Jain temples.

Apart from Ajanta and Ellora Caves there are many more attractions in this tourist hub of Aurangabad. Some of the most popular attractions are -

Bibi Ka Maqbara: Situated about 3 km. from the city is Bibi Ka Maqbara, the burial place of Aurangzeb's wife, Rabia-ud-Durrani. It is an imitation of the Taj at Agra and due to its similar design, it is popularly known as the Mini Taj of the Deccan. The Maqbara stands in the middle of a spacious and formally planned Mughal garden with axial ponds, fountains, water channels, broad pathways and pavilions. Behind the mausoleum is located a small archaeological museum.

Panchakki (water mill): Is a 17th century water mill situated at a distance of 1 km from the city. An intriguing water mill, the Panchakki is famous for its underground water channel, which traverses more than 8 km. to its source away in the mountains. The channel culminates in a mesmerising 'artificial' waterfall that powers the mill. The beauty of the mosque housed in the inner enclosure is enhanced by a series of 'dancing' water fountains.Bhadkal Gate built by Malik Ambar in commemoration of his victory against the Mughals.

Gates in Aurangabad: One of the things that makes Aurangabad stand out from the several other medieval cities in India are its 52 'gates' each of which have a local history or had individuals linked with them. Not many people are aware of the fact that Aurangabad is also known as the 'City of Gates'. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary from Majnu Hills, Aurangabad.

Aurangabad Caves: Situated at a distance of 5 km, nestled amidst the hills are 12 Buddhist caves probably dating back to 3 A.D. Of particular interest are the Tantric influences evident in the iconography and architectural designs of the caves. One is also treated to a panoramic view of the city as well as the imposing Maqbara from this point.

Ellora-Ghrishneshwar Temple: Is half a kilometer away from the Ellora Caves, and 30 km. from Aurangabad. The present structure is an 18th century temple that presents outstanding architecture and carving. This place forms one of the five Jyotirlinga sites in Maharashtra where Lord Shiva is worshipped. The Ahilya Devi Holkar temple nearby is a must-see.

Khuldabad: Is a walled town lying at a distance of 3 km. from Ellora. It is also termed as the Karbala town and forms the holy shrine of Deccan Muslims. It is believed that the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb was buried here.

Pitalkhora Caves: Lies peacefully nestled in the Satmala ranges of the Sahyadris, at a distance of 78 kilometres from Aurangabad. There are 13 cave sanctuaries embedded in this region. These monasteries date back from 2nd century BC to 5th century AD. Rich carvings with elaborate details can be seen in these monuments.

Daulatabad fort: Earlier known as Devgiri, is situated at a distance of 13 kilometres from Aurangabad. Also termed as the city of foutune, it houses a stupendous 12th century fortress well placed atop a charming hill. This invincible fortress boasts of a 5 kilometer sturdy wall and an intricate series of ramparts.

Well, these are just a few of the most popular attractions in Aurangabad. There are many more popular attractions.

Resources -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurangabad,_Maharashtra