Heritage Buildings around Colaba

Afghan Church

 British-built church honoring those who died in the First Afghan War & the 1842 retreat from Kabul.

Hotel Majestic

Regal Cinema (a perfect example of  Art Deco Architecute)

Mumbai Police HQ

 In 1896 the Commissioner's office moved to an Anglo-Gothic revival building, which it still occupies to this day. The Police Headquarters building is a protected heritage site. The Maharashtra Police Headquarters moved into what was known as the Royal Alfred Sailors' Home, in 1896. Construction began on the building in early 1872 and was finished four years later, in 1876. As its name suggests, it was made to accommodate 20 officers and 100 seamen. However, the building was actually conceived to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh in 1870. The Duke laid the Foundation stone during his visit.

The Maharashtra government acquired the building in 1928 to house the Bombay Legislative Council. The Police department subsequently moved in after it was vacated.

Metro House which houses the famous Café Mondegar

Hotel Majestic

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is a "Heritage Grand" class five-star hotel in the Colaba region of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, next to the Gateway of India. Historically it was known as the "Taj Mahal Hotel" or the "Taj Palace Hotel" or simply "the Taj".

Part of the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, this hotel is considered the flagship property of the group and contains 560 rooms and 44 suites. There are some 1,500 staff including 35 butlers. From a historical and architectural point of view, the two buildings that make up the hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace, and the Tower are two distinct buildings, built at different times and in different architectural designs. In 2017, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel has acquired an image trademark. It is the first building in the country to get intellectual property rights protection for its architectural design.

The hotel has hosted many notable guests, from presidents to captains of industry and stars of show business.

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

The Gateway of India

The Gateway of India is an arch monument built during the 20th century in Bombay, India. The monument was erected to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder on their visit to India in 1911.

Built in Indo-Saracenic style, the foundation stone for the Gateway of India was laid on 31 March 1911. The structure is an arch made of basalt, 26 metres (85 feet) high. The final design of George Wittet was sanctioned in 1914 and the construction of the monument was completed in 1924. The Gateway was later used as a symbolic ceremonial entrance to India for Viceroys and the new Governors of Bombay. It served to allow entry and access to India.

The Gateway of India is located on the waterfront at Apollo Bunder area at the end of Chhatrapati Shivaji Marg in South Mumbai and overlooks the Arabian Sea. The monument has also been referred to as the Taj Mahal of Mumbai, and is the city's top tourist attraction.

The Gateway of India (always a picturesque sight with the millions of pigeons around)

The Long Drive from Jodhpur to Jaipur

Shikra (Accipiter badius) with a baby Myna it's just killed

Before we left the Polo Heritage Hotel in Jodhpur, I spent some time tracing some birds and clicking pics.

Parakeet

Polo Heritage (Jodhpur)

 The long drive from Jodhpur to Jaipur was over long stretches of amazing highways and not much to see on either side except the arid landscape.

So I spent most of the time clicking pictures of the long trailer trucks with all sorts of loads, some oversized cargo too. These long trailer trucks are a bit uncommon in our side of the country.

Shahpura House

Shahpura House (Interiors)

Shahpura House (Interiors)

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Hawa Mahal (English translation: "Palace of winds" or "Palace of the Breeze") is a palace in Jaipur, India, so it is named because it was essentially a high screen wall built so that the women of the royal family could observe street festivals while unseen from the outside. It is Constructed of red and pink sandstone, the palace sits on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the zenana, or women's chambers.

The structure was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. He was so intimidated and inspired by unique structure of Khetri Mahal and he built the grand and historical Hawa Mahal. It was designed by Lal Chand Ustad in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. Its unique five-storey exterior is akin to the honeycomb of a beehive with its 953 small windows called jharokhas decorated with intricate latticework. The original intention of the lattice was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen, since they had to obey strict "purdah" (face cover). The lattice also allows cool air from the Venturi effect (doctor breeze) through the intricate pattern, air conditioning the whole area during the high temperatures in summers. Many people see the hawa mahal from the street view and thought that it is front of the palace but in reality it is the back of that structure.

In 2006, restoration and renovation works on the Mahal were undertaken, after a gap of 50 years, to give a face lift to the monument at an estimated cost of Rs 4568 million. The corporate sector lent a hand to preserve the historical monuments of Jaipur and the Unit Trust of India has adopted Hawa Mahal to maintain it. The palace is an extended part of a huge complex. The stone-carved screens, small casements and arched roofs are some of the features of this popular tourist spot. The monument also has delicately modeled hanging cornices. Like several other monuments of Jaipur, the palace is also constructed using sandstone.

Hawa Mahal (by night), Jaipur

Auto Rickshaw (similar to the Bangkok Tuk-Tuk) in Jaipur

Living the Five-Star Life!

In keeping with tradition, we met up once again, and this time decided to try out Zen, The Asian Restaurant at The Park Hotel.

Anna, Devi, Divya and I had made a pact some time ago — to try and visit a five-star hotel at least once a month and experience, if only for an evening, the lifestyle of the rich! 😄

Of course, it was less about actually living the high life and more about finding an excuse to dress up, eat something nice and enjoy the ambience of a five-star hotel. And, most importantly, it gave us another opportunity to meet, catch up and indulge in our favourite pastime — enjoying each other's company.

Zen proved to be a lovely choice, with its Asian flavours and elegant setting providing just the right backdrop for our monthly escape into the world of luxury.

Our pact may have been a little fantastical, but the friendship was very real. After all, you don't really need to be rich to enjoy the finer things in life — sometimes, all you need is good food, good company and a few good friends willing to share the bill! 😄

Some Place Else for the 3rd time!

All roads lead to Some Place Else, except if you're hungry past midnight! then the ITC Sonar Coffee Shop is a great place to hang out!

SPE after a long time

Dropped into Some Place Else at The Park after a long time. Hip Pocket was playing. Good old Rock n' Roll. The downside, now Kolkata's night life comes to a grinding halt at midnight.

The revamped Lobby of The Park. quite cool, I think!

North-East Trip: A Day in God’s own Garden – Mawlynnong