The city that never sleeps.....

Which is the first city that comes into your mind when you read the above line? It might be different for each of you depending on where you've been brought up or hail from.

As for me and several others like me, it's Mumbai and will always remain Mumbai! Today I'm going to share with you all, the beauty of Mumbai through my eyes and perspective.

Mumbai, earlier known as Bombay remains one of India's prime metro city right from the time of the British Raj. A clear look through old Mumbai and you'd feel like you were almost in London! A clearly visible structure is the Gateway of India, situated in Colaba, which was built in 1924 to honour the welcome of King George and the then Queen; and stands tall and magnificient even today.

Today Mumbai is commonly compared to Shanghai city,booming with a large population, with folks from all over India, all having a dream in their eyes and yet never to sleep to fulfill those dreams! It's the contribution of all these hardworking beings, which has eventually led to Mumbai becoming India's financial capital.

So what is it, according to you, that makes Mumbai, "Sapno ka sheher"? Is it the lifeline of Mumbai, the local trains? Or The Mumbaikar's favourite "vadapav"? Not just these, but Mumbai comprises of distinct flavours from all aspects of life & heritage entwined together. I have had the good fortune of listening to stories about "Bombay" from my Parents as well as grandparents, all of whom have been brought up here. They have endless stories of how Bombay was, how did it grow to be what it is today and what makes it their favourite city!

The beauty of Mumbai comes out even more during it's festivals, where people irrespective of their caste or religion come together as humans to share celebrations and festive fervour. When it's the 10 day Ganesh festival, we come together to welcome the Lord with praying hands and bid goodbye to him with heavy hearts. During "Navratri", we come together to worship the Mother Goddess, Diwali is all about lights and lamps and during Ramzan, we celebrate and pray with our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Mumbaikars will complain when it rains and floods, but will wake up and go to work with the same spirit the next day! They will crib in the rush of the local trains and snarl and swear at the never ending traffic jams, but will take the exact same transport the next day!

For us, it's not Dominos or McDonalds, but "khau galli" and vadapav that touches the heart!

We love the sunset at Marine Drive and the salty air of our beaches!

If you go on to ask a Mumbaikar what makes Mumbai his/her city, they can go on an endless debate and tell you why it's THE BEST CITY!

Wherever I come or go, I will always look forward to come back & smell the familiar scent that I call home, I call Mumbai meri Jaan!