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We focus on the tales behind the city’s famous colonial buildings, not just the dates and facts…
Explore Mumbai’s colonial history on this half-day tour, led by one of our local storytellers. We focus on the tales behind the city’s famous colonial buildings, not just the dates and facts. These landmarks are woven into Mumbai’s past, set against a backdrop of modern Indian culture; people still work at the BMC building and thousands of travellers pass through the Victoria Terminus Station every day. It’s living heritage and a vital part of understanding our city.
The tour starts at the Victory Arch, the Gateway of India, which was built to commemorate King George V. We continue to key sites like the high court and Yacht Club, which are examples of stunning colonial architecture with stories to tell. At the police headquarters, which used to be the Royal Alfred Sailors’ Home, you’ll learn about its connection with the film Alien – the film director Ridley Scott named the spaceship Narcissus after a boat in one of Joseph Conrad’s books, which was set in Mumbai.
Highlights include the Regal Cinema, where you’ll hear about the first Bollywood film that came to Mumbai and visit Watson’s Hotel, which hosted Mark Twain and was the city’s first iron cast building, located in the Kala Ghoda art district of Mumbai. Guests love meeting the Dabbawalas, the couriers who deliver over 500,000 lunch boxes in the city per day, with a staggering 99 percent accuracy despite the fact that they still work without any kind of technology – they’ve have been praised by the likes of Richard Branson.
Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Malcolm, who's travelled extensively in India. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember.
Freephone an expert 01306 744 656