Marine drive, Mumbai Overview
Marine Drive is a km long, arc shaped boulevard along the
South Mumbai coast, starting from the southern end of Nariman Point and ending
at the famous Chowpatty beach. The coast lines the Arabian sea and is the best
place to watch the sunset in Mumbai, or even to just take a leisurely stroll by
the sea any time of the day or night.
The Marine Drive is also known as the Queen's necklace on
account of its shape and yellow streetlights. It makes for a spectacular view
at night - you can go to either end of Marine Drive after sunset and see the
lights glowing in a perfect arc all along the coast. People come to walk here
in the evening to experience the brilliant sunset. It is also one of the places
people visit late at night, and you will find vendors selling chai and sutta at
all hours. The sound of the waves, a view of the Mumbai skyline and the starry
sky easily make Marine Drive one of the most romantic spots in the city.
Why People Love Marine Drive?
In the fast-paced life of Mumbai, Marine Drive instils a
sense of calm and serenity. The Marine Drive makes the Mumbai monsoons a lot
more special as the view from there is spectacular during rains. If you happen
to visit during a high tide, you will get splashes of water from the strong
waves crashing on the shores below! It is also the perfect place for morning or
evening walks. For students from a lot of nearby colleges, this is a favourite
hangout spot. It has long been an inspiration for the artists, writers, poets,
musicians and photographers, and you would find a lot of movie scenes shot
here.
Real Estate along Marine Drive
Given the splendid view, Marine Drive is one of the most
prestigious area for any kind of real-estate, either commercial or residential.
The cost here is one of the highest in the world, not just India, with prices
for a 3bedroom apartment starting from 30Cr INR and upwards! A lot of
celebrities and industrialists have been living here for a long time.
Events Hosted in Marine Drive
It is considered as the largest viewing gallery in the
world and several events have been hosted along its walkway. On the 65th
Republic Day of India, in 2014, there was a parade held along the entire
stretch of Marine Drive. An IAF airshow was held in October 2004. Bombay
Marathon is held every year in February since 2004. There are also various
beautification projects related to the Marine drive.
Known for
Spectacular sunsets, midnight musings
How to Reach Marine drive
Marine Drive is probably the most well-identified
landmark in Mumbai. You can walk to here from any of the two south-most railway
stations - Churchgate or Marine Lines (both are on the Western line). Both of
these are less than 5mins of walking distance from here. You can easily take a
cab from anywhere as well, and if you happen to be driving, it should be easy
to find a parking along the boulevard. There are also a few buses which
regularly ply via Marine Drive, for eg the famous double-decker (bus no 138)
from CSMT station or bus 123 from Churchgate.
Best Restaurants Nearby
There are several restaurants along the Marine Drive.
Some popular ones on the southern side include Pizza by the Bay, Gaylord and
Tea Center. Pizza by the Bay is ideally located for a view of the sea and the
sunset. You can finish your meal with an ice-cream from Natural or Baskin
Robbins, walking distance from there. Towards the northern end, closer to
chowpatty, New Yorker and Cream Centre are the more popular ones (both are pure
veg).
There are also quite a few upscale hotels located on
Marine Drive which have fancy restaurants, for eg Trident, Bayview or Hotel
Intercontinental.
No comments:
Post a Comment