UNESCO World Heritage Sites Of India

THE ELEPHANTA or THE GHARAPURI CAVES

(Declared UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987)

These fantastic rock cut caves from the 5th to 8th century, stand in the midle of the Arabian sea on the Gharapuri Island near Mumbai. It has five large caves dedicated to Lord Shiva and 2 Buddhists caves. The structures inside the caves are monolithic and depict various stages of the life of Lord Shiva. It had a huge sculpture of an Elephant at its entrance when it was doscovered by the British and hence they called it the eelephanta caves. 

Being in Mumbai, it has some of the finest hotel choices for accommodation and also other few more sightss to be visited. 

THE CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARA TERMINUS (VICTORIA TERMINUS) 

 (Declared UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004)

This landmark structure of Mumbai was built and designed to serve as the headquarters of the Grand Indian Peninsular railways. it still serves the railways and is the heaquarters of the central railway and the terminating station for the suburban railways. Bombay VT as it was known earlier, is a beuatiful Gothic architecture, designed by Frederick Williams Stevens and was opened in 1887, to commemorate Queen Victoria's 50th anniversary. 

The design is often cpmpared to St Pancras railway station in London and the Berlin's Parliament building. The building is beautiful with large central ribbed dome. But It is also similar to the other Italian Gothic structural building present in Mumbai, like the Elphinstone College and the Bombay University.

Many other famous sites are at a walking distance from the railway station like the architectural mavels of JJ School of Arts Building, the Municipality Building, The Times of India Building and also the Mumbai police hedquarters and The Gateway of India.

Today one was take a paid walk in tour of the station, where you get a chance to visit the historic building from the inside with its original colours and maps. Students carrying valid identity cardscan visit the building for free.

This was the very building which was brutally attacked in 2008 by the terrorist, opening a random fire inside the buidling, killing and injuring many. 

THE VICTORIAN ART DECO AND ESEMBLE OF MUMBAI

(Declared UNRSCO World Heritage site in 2018)

As mentioned above, the CSMT station had some preludes in architectural gradeur in Mumbai. building which have been allocated the UNESCO world Heritage site status in 2018 are as below:

1. The Bombay High Court: The architecture of his building is Gothic revival in the early Enslish style. built in and completed in 1878, the Bombay highcourt building is one of the oldest gothic structures in India. the buidling was designed by James Fuller and  has two octagonal towers, to the west of the central towers. The statues of Justice and Mercy are atop this building. Working started in this buliding from January 1879. 

2. The Rajabai Clock Tower: Designed by George Scott, the Rajabai Tower is modelled on the Big Ben of London. Also built and completed in 1878, the finances for the construction of this building were sponsored by Premchand raychand, a prosperous broker, with a condition to name the clock tower on his mother and hence the name " Rajabai" Tower. This 85 meter tall building also houses the library of the Bombay university. Overloking the beaiutiful Oval Maidan, one cannot mioss the chimes of the clock on a silent day. 

3. Mumbai Unversity: the main building was built in 1857. It overlooks the Oval maidan.

4. The Eros cinema: In the early 20th century re-claiming of land became common and Eros cinema stands on one such re-claimed land in south Bombay. Designed by Shorabji Bhedwar, the structure is housed in the Cambatta buildig in Churchgate. The Eros cinema, is one of the most prestigious cinema halls of Mumbai with a seating capacity of 1205 at a time. 

Mumbai is the financial capital of India. reaching Mumbai is nota problem with ample number of flights and trains plying every hour to and from the city. Accommodation is a wide range from the flagship property of the Taj Hotels, The Taj Mahal and the Oberoi towers, there are innumerous hotels from almost all the world wide hotel chains which have a hotels in Mumbai.