The Mumbai Diaries - The Monsoon Edition

Visiting Mumbai during the monsoons was on my list for the longest time.  I had heard a lot about how the city and the surrounding hill stations become rejuvenated with greenery, waterfalls, and freshness.  Though this was a visit to meet family, I was able to find time to explore a few areas of the city that never stops moving.

I got to enjoy the artistic energy of Kala Ghoda in South Mumbai-Colaba region.  But before that I enjoyed a drive down a new highway that I hadn't seen on my last trip that took us to the city in a jiffy, avoiding any city traffic.  It also offered us a view of the new Atal Setu that connects to Navi Mumbai.  The city is ever changing and growing with high-rises scattered profusely around the various suburbs of Mumbai.

Kala Ghoda (Black Horse) actually has a statute of a majestic Black Horse.  With many intriguing cafes, tea tasting venues, galleries, and boutique shops interlaced with old world charm, Kala Ghoda is an area to be explored at a leisurely pace. 

Savor the eclectic and slightly Irani style menu at the Kala Ghoda cafe and then shop to your heart's content at Nicobar.  The other shop amidst the elegant and high-end designer boutiques that appealed to me was Okhai.  They collaborate with thousands of Artisans across India and offer a curated assortment of sustainable fashion.  Needless to say, my bag was full when I left them!  The makeshift art gallery along the streets across from the Jehangir Art Gallery offered some interesting pieces of art, a few of which are coming home with me.

The alleys of South Mumbai took us to the famous Raju ki Chai for a clay cup of Ginger tea, and then a tasting of the famous Bun Maska at Yazdani Bakery right across the street.  I can't forget the taste of the whipped sweet butter that connected the two pieces of the soft bun as a happy filling!  The shrewsbury shortbread cookies melted like butter in our mouths.

A trip the South Mumbai is not complete without a stop at Marine Drive, where people from all walks of life like to come and spend a little time, enjoying the sea breeze, a view of the emerald necklace, and the Malabar hills.  Looking out in to the horizon, one can spend hours soaking in the calming breeze on a hot and humid summer afternoon.

The monsoons kept me cool during my short stay as sitting and watching the downpour from my sister-in-law's living room with a hot cup of kesar chai (saffron tea) that she makes with a lot of love and care, offered comfort and respite from a hectic trip that I'm currently on.