Tue, Apr 18: Mumbai

Today is our city tour by daylight. The neighborhoods we traveled through were very diverse...

and, as usual, the traffic interesting.

We are back along the Queen’s Necklace for views during the day.

The drive included a large stretch of beach where people go to play in the sand but not the water.  Apparently the water is too dirty.

Also saw the Mosque by day.

The drive through the city took us by a number of heritage buildings dating from the British presence during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. 

We saw a Jain Temple.  Jainism is one of the main religions in India with very strict rules about the preservation of life.

We also stopped by the Dhobi Laundry.  This was established by the British so they would have a place to send their laundry.  There are about 100 families that work the laundry and there are 827 laundry tubs.  The laundry is all done by hand and hung to dry.  During the monsoons they have to hang the laundry inside of their small homes. 

---------------------------------------------

Watch a video of the laundry

---------------------------------------------

At the Hanging Gardens (so named because it is on the top of a hill) we saw a photo shoot of a young engaged couple.  At one point they asked to have their photos taken with all of us. 

We also got a good look at the Billion Dollar house.

Before lunch we paid a visit to the Mani Bhavan home which Mahatma Gandhi's Mumbai headquarters from 1917 to 1934.  It included many photos of Gandhi and his extensive book collection.

After lunch we transferred to the airport.  Billion Dollar house from the bridge to the airport.

Our flight to Aurangabad left the gate on time and then set for an extensive period of time on the tarmac waiting for clearance to take off.  The temperature inside the plane was extremely hot.  We were all wilting.  Once we took off it was a short flight to Aurangabad...

India from the air

where the temperature was over 100 when we got there. 

Aurangabad from the air

We have a lovely hotel, the Lemon Tree, with a great pool.  Unfortunately we traveled light to Aurangabad and had left our swim gear in Mumbai.  So no chance for a swim.