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60 QANTAS JANUARY 2010

MUMBAI INDIA

SOUTH MUMBAI (Colaba/Apollo Bunder/Kala Ghoda/Fort)

STAYThe historic five-star The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower is as much an icon as the Gateway of India opposite, and the time-poor will find great retail ops in the hotel’s arcades. The excellent Nalanda Book & Music Shop is near the lifts. Natesan’s Antiqarts features museum-quality ancient Indian sculptures and objets (also in the basement of Jehangir Art Gallery, www.natesansantiqarts.com). Joy Shoes offers jewelled sandals, Ravissant, ravishing silverware. And there’s also Fendi, Burberry, Moschino and Louis Vuitton. Some of our destinations are an easy walk from the Taj. From INR10,900 ($254).

SHOPHeading south from the Gateway of India and the Taj, turn right for Bombay Electric (high-end men’s and women’s cloth-ing from local and international designers, striking old and new jewellery, antique photos), and a branch of Good Earth (homewares featuring stylish Indian motifs such as funky cushions with retro Rajas). Four blocks south you’ll find the must-visit Bungalow 8 over three floors of the beautifully decaying 19th-century Grants Building (covetable vintage furniture, elegant homewares, interesting clothing and extraordinary jewellery). There are also two studios in this building, Kishmish and Mosaic (stylishly detailed women’s clothes and handwoven scarves), which you can visit by appointment (22 2288 0362). In the same street is the hip

Clockwise from top left: The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower; happy Buddhas; flower market; clocks at Chor Bazaar

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MUMBAI INDIA

contemporary art space Chatterjee & Lal for edgy work in various media. Pick up a copy of the Japa Arts India art map here to see what’s on at The Guild (www.guildindia.com) and Project 88 (www.project88.in), both nearby, and Chemould Prescott Road (www.gallerychemould.com).

To check the pulse of Indian designer wear (racing), con-tinue along the waterfront to Tarun Tahiliani, the eponymous boutique of India’s couture king (extraordinary bejewelled designs). Tahiliani also co-owns the Ensemble boutiques, which showcase many of India’s top designers.

A short drive on is The Courtyard, an upmarket collection of fashion, furniture and homewares boutiques. The highlight here is stepping into the shoebox showroom of the famed Gem Palace (their main shop is in Jaipur) – it’s like a tiny museum. Exquisite stones and antique settings.

Back towards the Taj is Colaba Causeway and the tourist-filled Colaba Street Market. Along with the usual market offerings of T-shirts, bags and toys, AR & Sons has a fun selec-tion of gift cards and notebooks.

Near the Wellington Fountain is Battery Street with D Popli & Sons Jewellers, a small shop with lots of drawers of antique and contemporary silver jewellery to explore; and Essajee & Sons, a fantastic repository of old wares – and the odd bit of contemporary bling – from ceilings densely hung with glass lanterns and chandeliers, to floors stacked with old photos and prints. For souvenirs there’s always the nearby Central

South MumbaiThe Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Apollo Bunder. (22) 6665 3366. www.tajhotels.com

Bombay Electric 1 Reay House, Best Marg, Colaba. (22) 2287 6276. www.bombayelectric.in

Good Earth 2 Reay House, Best Marg, Colaba. (22) 2202 1030. www.goodearthindia.com

Bungalow 8 17 Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba. (22) 2281 9880. www.bungaloweight.com

Chatterjee & Lal 01/18 Kamal Mansion, Floor 1, Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba. (22) 2202 3787. www.chatterjeeandlal.com

Tarun Tahiliani Villar Ville, Ground Floor, Ramchandani Marg, Apollo Bunder. (22) 2287 0895. www.taruntahiliani.com

Ensemble Great Western Building, 130/132 Shahid Bhagat Singh Road. (22) 2285 4603.

The Gem Palace The Courtyard, 41-44 Minoo Desai Marg, Colaba. (22) 6638 5484.

AR & Sons 43-45 Mathuradas Estate, Colaba Causeway. (22) 2202 0334.

D Popli & Sons Jewellers Readymoney Building, Battery Street, Apollo Bunder. (22) 2202 1694.

Essajee & Sons 4 Battery Street, Colaba. (22) 2202 1071.

Central Cottage Industries Emporium 34 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg, Apollo Bunder. (22) 2202 7537. cottageemporium.in

Phillips Opposite Regal Cinema, Colaba. (22) 2202 0564. www.phillipsantiques.com

Fabindia Jeroo Building, 137 Mahatma Ghandi Road, Kala Ghoda. (22) 2262 6539. www.fabindia.net

Café Samovar Jehangir Art Gallery, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda. (22) 2204 7276.

Bombay Paperie 59 Bombay Samachar Marg, Fort. (22) 6635 8171. www.bombaypaperie.com

Chimanlals A2 Taj Building, 210 Dr Dadabhai Navroji Road (enter from Wallace Street). (22) 2207 7717.

Mahesh Lunch Home 8b Cawasji Patel Street, Fort. (22) 2287 0938. www.maheshlunchhome.com

Strand Book Stall Sir PM Road, Fort. (22) 2266 1994. www.strandbookstall.com

Indigo Delicatessen 34 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg, Apollo Bunder. (22) 6655 1010. www.indigodeli.com

Trishna Sai Baba Marg, Kala Ghoda, Fort. (22) 2270 3213. www.trishna.co.in

Central Cottage Industries Emporium; door in the Grants Building, home to Bungalow 8 (below)

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