BABULNATH MANDIR This temple at the end of Marine Drive and south of Malabar hill was built in 1780.A stone lingam of Shiva is worshipped at Babulnath temple. SURYA NARAYAN TEMPLE Built in the year 1899, the temple is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God.  It is situated at Surajwadi, Panjiapol Lane, Bhuleshwar.  The temple is built of white stone and at the main entrance are carved figures of Jay and Vijay, the celestial gatekeepers.

There is a spacious hall for the reading of the Puranas (Holy Books) and galleries used by sadhus and visitors  In the inner sanctuary seated on a one-wheeled chariot, is the Sun God wearing a crown and flanked on either side by his two wives Prabha and Chhaya.  The chariot is drawn by a horse with seven heads and the driver is the Sun God’s lame charioteer Aruna.

BHULESHWAR TEMPLE

Bhuleshwar, or more properly Bholeshwar (the Pure One ) is built of black stone with an ornamental, octagonal dome.  The temple is covered with brass plate and has a red flag adorned with representations of the sun and moon.  The original structure was built some 200 years ago and the present temple structure supplanted in about 1830.  The lingam at Bhuleshwar is said to have miraculously risen to its position.  The inner shrine also contains images of Parvathi and Ganesh.

MAHIM SHRINE

The most noteworthy feature of Mahim is the shrine of Makhtum Fakih Ali Paru.  Of Arab origin, he studied and travelled extensively and was appointed law officer of Mahim.  Makhtum Fakih Ali Paru is noted for his commentary on the holy Koran.  When he died in 1413, a shrine and mosque were built in his memory.  The tomb built of stone and mortar lies not far from the sea shore.  The main shrine, or dargah, stands on a masonry plinth and has two entrances.  A large central dome crowns the shrine with four small domes, topping four minarets at each corner.  To the north of the shrine is a wooden mosque and near it an ancient step well fed by an underground stream.

JAMA MASJID

According to an old Urdu account, the original Jama Masjid of Mumbai was situated near Dongri.  It was later removed and erected at Esplanade.  In 1770, this mosque too was demolished by an order of Governor William Hornby which forbade the existence of any building within 600 years of the walls of the Fort.  The construction of the present Jama Masjid started in 1775 but work on it could not be completed till 1802.  The Masjid is a quadrangular pile of brick and stone encircled by a ring of terraced roofed and double storeyed buildings.  The main eastern gate leads to an ancient tank filled with about 10 feet of water.  From the depths of the tank rise 16 black stone arches which support the whole fabric of the mosque.

HAJI ALI DARGAH

Haji Ali built to honour a Muslim saint, stands almost 500 yards out at sea.  It is approachable only during low tide by a narrow rock causeway built above sea level.

SYNAGOGUES

Mumbai has two major synagogues, one built in 1796 and the other in 1847.  The older synagogue is said to have been built by Samaji Hasanji (Samuel Ezekiel) who joined the British army and grew to be the native commandant of the 6^th Battalion.  Serving in the Second Mysore War he was taken prisoner by Tipu Sultan.  Tipu’s mother and chief maulavi (priest) helped him escape.  In gratitude for his deliverance he built this synagogue called Shaar Harahmeno i.e., the Gate of Mercy.

ST THOMAS’ CATHEDRAL

In the heart of commercial Fort District stands St Thomas’ Cathedral.  Work on the chruch commenced under Gerald Aungier, Governor of Mumbai, in 1672 and the church was opened to the public in 1718.  Though essentially simple in structure, the interior of the church has some exquisite stained-glass windows.  The most prominent feature is the church’s tall steeple that was, till the mid 19^th century, clearly visible to travellers arriving into Mumbai by the steamship route.

AFGHAN CHURCH

Situated at the end of Colaba Causeway it was built in 1847 in honour of the soldiers who died in the first Afghan war of 1843.It is impressive with wide Gothic arches and beautiful stained-glass windows.

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