The Mount Mary cathedral in Bandra has a very peaceful vibe and gives you a small glimpse of the sea. The Versova fishing village has got great character, and is wonderful if you want to see how the fisher-people live and what their culture is like, especially when giant trollers with fish are brought out, provided that you can bear the stench. If you are a gardening enthusiast like me, there are two beautiful horticultural shops near the zoo in Byculla which have fantastic produce for growing your own herbs, basil, rosemary, thyme at home.
I love the South Indian hub around Matunga where you get the most amazing filter coffee at Ramashray and fabulous banana chips fried right outside, the fish in Gomantak in Dadar, Sindhi food in some other part of the city, the Parsi cafes in South Bombay, and the different pockets of civilisation spread across the city.
More than anything, Mumbai is made of its people – the vendor who sells chiwda in Dadar, someone you’re buying fabrics from in Mangaldas, or a woman selling gajras at the traffic signal – and all of these people bring a texture to the fabric of the city and that’s what makes it really special.
Check out Ratanshis Agro – Hortitech in Byculla East at Doctor Baba Saheb Ambedkar Road, Byculla East, Byculla. Call them on 02223723296 or visit between 9.30am and 6.30pm.
You can have a look at Nachiket Barve’s collection here and visit his studio {on appointment} by calling 022 – 67535602.
