Kevin Sharkey in Mumbai, India

February 18, 2025

Sometimes business trips take one to interesting and exotic countries filled with culture.

Last month, our own Kevin Sharkey traveled to Mumbai, India, to attend the milestone event celebrating designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's 25th year in fashion. Although his time there was brief, Kevin also had the opportunity to tour a bit of Mumbai - he walked through the bustling flower and vegetable markets, visited the historic open air laundry called Dhobi Ghat, saw the detailed architecture of the Chhatrapati Shivali Terminus Railway Station, and learned about the city's rich history and diverse population.

Here are some of his photos, enjoy.

: Kevin stayed at the famous Taj Mahal Hotel. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, it opened in 1903 and has often been known simply as “The Taj”. The hotel is located in the heart of the city and overlooks the majestic Gateway of India monument.

: The Taj is grand with more than 540 rooms and 44 suites. Here is a view from one of the floors.

: The Taj is an architectural landmark. Here, Kevin captured one of the many arched entrances to the interior balcony.

: Mumbai is also home to bustling markets. This is the Dadar Flower Market.

: The best time to visit the market is early before sunrise, when vendors are setting up their stalls for the day.

: Through the aisles are bags and piles of colorful flowers – roses, marigolds, chrysanthemums, lilies, etc.

: Flowers are used for many events in India such as festivals, celebrations, weddings and religious ceremonies. Visitors often buy garlands for temple offerings and home decorations.

: Garlands are made all day long from fresh cut flowers. These flowers come from local farms as well as distant nurseries.

: Here are some cut flowers also for sale.

: Other stalls, or booths, at the market include supplies for making one’s own decorations.

: Here is a stall filled with skeins of string.

: Indian street vendors are very adept. Many are seen carrying dozens of crates at a time.

: This is a stall in the vegetable market. Baskets are displayed early in the morning filled with fresh greens.

: Some are wrapped, some are sold loose, and some vegetables are tied neatly in bunches.

: Fish is also popular in the market. Many of the common fish types are from the Arabian Sea.

: Kevin captured this car as it pulled out of the market with the day’s purchase on the roof and supported by the passengers inside – where there is a will, there is a way.

: This is called Dhobi Ghat, an open-air laundry in Mumbai. It was first built in 1890.

: The washers, known as dhobis, work in the open air to clean the many linens and clothes from Mumbai’s hotels, hospitals, and other large companies. Rows and rows of drying linens surround wash pens throughout the Dhobi Ghat.

: Thousands of workers flog, scrub, wash, dye, press, and bleach the items each day.

: And here is a photo of the ceiling inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station in South Mumbai. Its tall vaulted ceilings are decorated with elaborate carved wood.

: Inside the terminal is a combination of old Victorian Gothic Revival décor and Indian traditional architecture.

: And here is an empty platform. Mumbai, which was known as Bombay until 1995, is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12.5 million. It is also considered one of the largest financial, commercial and entertainment regions of South Asia – rich in culture and history. If you haven’t been, consider a trip to India and Mumbai. There is so much to see. Thanks for the photos, Kevin.