9 a.m. Pose with Bollywood stars in a coastal neighborhood
The laid-back suburb of Bandra has Portuguese bungalows, Bollywood studios and the full wattage of star homes along with fans hoping for a glimpse. The best bet for encountering Bollywood stars is on the Technicolor, larger-than-life murals in the area’s charming lanes. See a pistol-wielding Dharmendra, from the iconic 1975 movie “Sholay,” opposite the Subko cafe on Chapel Road. Next to it is a triptych of Bollywood’s dancing divas — a feathered Helen and a bejeweled Waheeda Rehman and Asha Parekh. (Ranjit Dahiya, the artist behind many of these murals, also teaches workshops.) Stroll on to Waroda Road (past a moody depiction of the celebrated actor Irrfan Khan) to reach the brightly colored Veronica’s, an all-day cafe that has become something of a living room for Bandra’s young set, who come for creative bites like chicken-and-cheese-filled breakfast momos (395 rupees), potato waffles (350 rupees) and babka stuffed with chorizo (275 rupees).
10:30 a.m. Slip into ancient forests and Buddhist caves
Leave the chaos of the city behind, driving north to reach the entrance of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, a 40-square-mile preserve where deer, monkeys and the occasional leopard roam. From inside the park, minivans drive visitors about 10 minutes through the forest (1,000 rupees round-trip) to the bottom of a hill. From there, walk up to the Kanheri Caves, a Buddhist complex of more than 100 caves, the oldest dating back 2,000 years, carved into basalt. Some form large, pillared prayer halls, while others feature carved serene Buddhist deities in prayer. Also see the waterways, loosely cut into the hills, that provided water to the monks who lived and meditated there many centuries ago. Park entry, 95 rupees; caves entry, 25 rupees.
Source: Music - nytimes.com
