Top things to discover in Bandra, Mumbai

Bandra is often called the “Queen of Suburbs” and with good reason. One of the most popular and coolest neighborhoods of Mumbai, this western suburb is a unique amalgam of heritage and modernity and is home to some of the most popular restaurants, pubs, and shopping districts in the city. Here is something you can see and do in Bandra so you can get the best out of this neighborhood.

Admire the Street Art

The lanes in the vicinity of Ranwar village have recently become renowned for their quirky street art created by artists from all over the world. Most of it can be found on and around Waroda Road, Chapel Road, and Saint Veronica Road up to Mount Carmel Church in Bandra West. The most prominent murals on Chapel Road are the work of the Bollywood Art Project. There are also massive murals of Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna on the corner of Bandstand and Pereira Road.

Visit Castella De Aguada (Bandra Fort)

One of the fascinating aspects about Bandra is its history, which is a mix of Portuguese Catholic, British, and Indian cultures and sensibilities. The most prominent of these is Bandra’s Portuguese heritage, with Castella De Aguada or Bandra Fort being its most iconic remnant.

Constructed as early as 1534, the Bandra Fort is located at the southern edge of the neighborhood and overlooks the Mahim Bay to the south and the Arabian Sea to the west. Several conservation efforts have taken place to protect the fort since the early 2000s, and currently, the fort’s maintenance is undertaken by the Taj Land’s End Hotel, located in the vicinity. Apart from its architecture and history, the Bandra Fort is also popular for being a great vantage point to view the sunset along the Arabian sea and it also presents great views of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

Take a walk at Jogger's Park

Jogger's Park is an ideal park for early morning or evening stroll in Bandra. This is a seaside park with walking tracks. Jogger's Park is definitely a hub for locals who love to walk around in this age-old park. Visitors can find the Jogger's Park next to the Otters club across Carter Road.

Visit St. Andrew’s Church

Constructed in the year 1575, the St. Andrew’s Church in Bandra is one of the oldest churches in all of Mumbai. The Portuguese Jesuit structure has withstood a number of historical events, including a cyclone in 1618 and the Maratha invasion of 1739, during which the Church of St. Anne, an even older church, was destroyed. The church draws hundreds of devotees and visitors and was Bandra’s only major church for nearly a century after the Maratha invasion.

Go shopping

Bargain hunters definitely will not be disappointed by Bandra West. Linking Road is lined with stalls selling cheap shoes, bags, clothing, and accessories. Make sure you haggle hard to get a good price. The neighborhood also has boutiques that are worth browsing through. Go to Anokhi for gorgeous block-print textiles, Kulture Shop for groovy products by Indian graphic designers, OMO for funky Indian attire, and The Shop for boho-chic fashion and home decor.

Read more: Top 10 must-visit attractions in Mumbai, India

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November in Sri Lanka: What to do and see

Sri Lanka is a paradise of pleasant distractions and pursuits. The country offers many things to explore and discover. Every visitor to Sri Lanka can have a taste of local experience even from the simplest wayside tea kiosk or among the green bounty of paddy fields. 

Here is a guide to five things to do while traveling to Sri Lanka on November; get a feel of local entertainment, embark on a culture-voyage to the rhythmic beat of the drum, experience a spiritual carnival of piety and a journey in indulgence with nature.

• Get taste of Sri Lankan coffee

Colombo has been swept by a coffee culture that has a blend of Sri Lankan and international brands. Coffee is the most consumed beverage universally, it is not surprising that prime area of Colombo 3, 4, 5 and 7 are alight with many cosy coffee shops boasting international coffee blends and brands. The compulsory classics of espressos, cappuccinos and lattes are served in these coffee shops that often have separate breakfast, lunch and dinner menus and sweet dessert of brownies, tarts and cakes.

• Visit Gangaramaya Temple

One of the top 10 things to do in Sri Lanka is to visit the gorgeous Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. While all the temples in the country have something unique to offer in terms of art and architecture, the Gangaramaya Temple is one step ahead of them all. An epitome of artistic brilliance that has stood the test of time, this Buddhist temple reflects a fusion of Indian, Chinese, and Thai style of architecture.

• Get acquainted with Sri Lankan dance

The jingle and jangle of bells accompanied by the rhythmic and acrobatic prowess of the Sri Lankan dancers adorned with colourful costumes is another encounter with the country’s roots. The diverse dance forms of Up-country, Low-country and Sabaragamuwa have all originated from an elaborate ritualistic dance known as the ‘Kohomba Kankariya’.

Most Sri Lankans have learnt at least a few steps or dances as children and students, and the local dance traditions are very much alive as a form of leaning and entertainment, with many dance troupes and academies spread throughout the country. It is not difficult to master the movement and coordination of hands and feet in rhythm to the sound of the drum, in fact it will be another indulgence in Sri Lanka’s culture and ethos.

• Explore the tea hills

Sri Lanka is one of the most important tea producers in the world and its hill country is stunning.  Colonial towns dot the landscape surrounded by tea plantations. One of the best places to sip tea is in Nuwara Eliya and Kandy.

The vegetation is lush and green and the rolling hills make for an awesome site. Pretend you are in jolly old England for a few days.  Stay in old plantation homes, drink tea and eat baked goods.

Read more: Worth-trying dishes in Sri Lanka

• Take the train

One of the things you must things to do in Sri Lanka is to ride the trains. Sri Lanka's trains are like stepping back in time. They chug slowly along through hills and valleys. It is the slow journey that makes it special.

Looking out over the mountains and tea plantations rival any view in the world and the people that you meet on the train will be remembered forever. So if you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka make sure this makes your to do list and take the time to travel by train. It will be an experience you will remember and cherish forever.

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How to fill your daytime transit in Bangkok

If you are flying through Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) and find yourself with a layover of over six hours, it might be worth your while to pop into the city center for a taste of Thailand. Taxis make for an inexpensive and efficient means of reaching the city center in relatively little time. This should then leave you with just enough hours to fit in a bowl of noodles, a Thai massage, a tour through a temple or a peek at a palace before returning to the airport for your onwards journey.

Relax with a traditional Thai massage

While Bangkok is full of inexpensive spas and massage salons, some rather more dubious than others, Health Land is a chain that is perhaps first off the lips of Thais and expats when asked for a recommendation of a reputable, genuinely relaxing and professionally delivered massage.

The closest Health Land branch to Suvarnabhumi airport is on Srinakarin Road, around a 25-minute taxi ride away. There is also a branch in the Chaengwattana area of northern Bangkok, around a 30-minute taxi journey from Don Muang airport. Both branches are open daily from 9am until 11pm, call or e-mail ahead for an appointment in order to avoid disappointment.

Take downtown experience

If you have got long enough between flights, it is quick, easy and inexpensive to get downtown from Suvarnabhumi airport using the Airport Rail Link. Taking the train to Phaya Thai takes just 19 minutes, and from there you can connect to the BTS Skytrain in order to reach downtown areas like Siam (for Siam Paragon shopping centre), Chidlom (for Central World shopping centre), Asok (for Terminal 21 shopping centre), Phrom Phong (for Benjasiri Park and the EmQuartier and Emporium shopping centres), and the trendy coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques of Thonglor.

Walk around Khao San Road

This former rice-market has been transformed in recent years into a massive backpacker hot-spot which vies for the title of ‘backpacker capital of the universe'. During the day, shopping opportunities are endless with vendors setting up stalls that sell anything from local handicrafts and paintings to pirated CDs and DVDs. In the evening, the street transforms into a string of bars and pubs, filled with travellers discussing their adventures and misadventures. As you browse and wander, be sure to fit in a classic Thai massage and a bowl of noodles into your day’s activities – these are two of the most-essential activities on the street. Tattoo parlors, insect-frying street vendors, and bars that specialize in bucket-sized cocktails also sit among the street’s most notorious sites.

Shop at one of Bangkok’s legendary malls

Bangkok is famed for its huge shopping malls and you can visit one even if you do not have time to head all the way downtown. Numerous shopping centres are located within close proximity to Suvarnabhumi airport, allowing you to escape the airport for a couple of hours, enjoy a Thai meal, and stock up on souvenirs or treats for yourself.

Paseo mall is located just a six-minute taxi ride from Suvarnabhumi airport, and features plenty of massage salons, restaurants, and inexpensive retail outlets.

Read more: The unusual destinations you might not know in Thailand

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