OUR DESTINATIONS
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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Asia
- India
- Mumbai
- Colaba
Colaba
The southernmost peninsula, known as Colaba, is where most
travellers gravitate to as it has a good range of hotels and
restaurants and two of the city's best landmarks, the Gateway to
India and the Taj Mahal Hotel. The Gateway to India was built in
1911 to commemorate the visit to India of King George V and Queen
Mary. The archway is built from honey-coloured basalt in a style
derived from Gujarati architecture of the sixteenth century. In the
days of the steam liner, the Gateway was for many visitors their
first and last sight of India but today it acts purely as a
colourful tourist stop, and attracts hawkers, snake charmers, and
beggars. The neighbouring Taj Mahal Hotel was built in 1902 by JN
Tata, after he was allegedly refused entry to one of the city's
European hotels on account of being 'a native'. It has since turned
into a bit of an institution, and the streets behind it have become
a Mecca for travellers, the Colaba Causeway is the main street with
a melee of street vendors, shops, stalls and cafes. Unfortunately
Colaba was also the site of two of the 2008 Mumbai Attacks and
tourists are recommended to remain vigilant when visiting the area.
To the north of the causeway, set in beautiful lush gardens, is the
fascinating Prince of Wales Museum displaying a collection of
ancient and medieval sculpture and Indian decorative arts, nearby
the new National Gallery of Modern Art showcases Indian modern art.
To the south is the Sassoon Dock, which at dawn becomes an area of
intense and pungent activity as fishing boats arrive to unload
their catch.
Information & Facts
Language
Although English is generally used for official and
business purposes, Hindi is the official language and is spoken by
about 40 percent of the population. Urdu is the language common
with the Muslim demographic. India has a total of 22 official
languages
Money
The currency is the Indian Rupee (INR), which is divided into
100 paise (singular paisa). Major currencies can be changed at
banks, and authorised bureaux de changes. It is impossible to
obtain rupees outside India, but no matter what time you arrive in
India there will be an exchange office open at the airport. It is
illegal to exchange money through the black market and it is
advisable to refuse torn notes, as no one will accept them apart
from the National Bank. It is best to change money into small
denominations. Travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely
accepted, particularly in tourist orientated establishments. ATMs
are not generally available.