Just like New York and London, Mumbai has been a popular destination for tourists who like exploring cities and their urban culture. Mumbai’s unique geographical feature, of being a natural port, has attracted the attention of adventurous explorers, sea-faring merchants and imperial monarchs. It’s fascinating to know that Mumbai (then named as Bombay) was part of Portuguese colonial rule in 1534, which then got transferred to the British throne as marital dowry of Catherine of Braganza, who married King Charles II, in the year 1662! Back then it was a collection of 7 Islands on which native fishermen and farmers dwelled in anonymity. Later, when it was given on rent by the King to the British East India company for their business activities, the city evolved into a flourishing business town that reflected the British essence and aesthetics that eventually laid the foundations of the heritage urban landscapes of today’s South Mumbai.
The pick up point opposite The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
Thousands of tourists’ flock Mumbai, particularly to visit South Mumbai to see the charm of colonial legacy of the city. The most popular tourist spot of South Mumbai is ‘The Gateway of India’. It is an arch-monument which is iconic of Mumbai’s identity on the world map. It was built to commemorate the arrival of King George V for his coronation as the Emperor of India in December 1911. The arch is made of basalt rock which is designed as per the Indo-Islamic pattern and has been inspired from Gujrati architecture of the 16th century. The grandeur of the monument is instantly felt as one admires the waters of the Arabian sea that is visible beyond the arch. Many tourists naively conclude their South Mumbai tour thereafter. But very few are aware that one more way to admire the charm of South Mumbai is by sailing in a yatch beyond the Gateway of India!
Sailing between the lines’ of Mumbai!
In recent years, sailing, as an adventure sport, has become one more experiential activity that adventure seekers wish to pursue. Recently Oyster Sailing Company invited me to experience one such sailing trip, which they have been professionally operating for the past 12 years. The pickup point was Gate No. 5 of Wellington Pier (formerly known as Appollo Bunder), which is just opposite ‘The Taj Mahal Palace’ hotel. A small boat picks up the tourists from the shores and then transfers them into the yatch, which is anchored far away in the calm waters of the Arabian Sea. Then begins a ‘mini’ 90 minutes voyage which is a total contrast to Mumbai’s ‘noise’ and ‘crowding’ identity of the ever-hustling megalopolis that it has turned out to be in recent years. The yatch which I boarded was a MacGregor sail yatch that can accommodate 6 people onboard. Its interiors were well made and to my surprise it had a small functional washroom too! It was fun to watch the yatch’s sails making the best of the wind above, for it to cut through the water below. The most mesmerizing moment of the sailing trip was seeing the charm of the sun setting on one side and the view of Mumbai’s skyline on the other.
The interiors of MacGregor sail yacht
Besides Mumbai, Oyster Sailing Company have operations in Goa, Kerala and Chennai too, where sailing trips are customized as per tourist’s budget and experiential preferences. The price ranges from a minimum of Rs. 3000 and maximum to Rs. 60000 and above, depending on the type of yatch and number of hours one wants to sail. Apart from the Indian rainy seasons, approximately spanning from June to September, the sailing services are operational throughout the year. Foreseeing the growing trend of people wanting a sailing experience, the company had been an early bird in crafting personalized experiences for couples proposing marriage, family birthday/anniversary celebration, corporate parties, casual get-togethers on yatchs of different types, sizes and capacities. The company’s CEO, Amrin Ansari and her team makes sure that safety measures and operational protocols are strictly followed while sailing so that people return back with beautiful memories of sailing beyond the monumental arch of ‘Gateway of India’.
Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal hotels is a perfect backdrop to capture the essence of South Mumbai’s Wellington Pier!
Photo Courtesy: Shraddha C. Sankulkar