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| AREA
ATTRACTION | | ELEPHANTA
CAVES : | | | The
Elephanta Caves are a great tourist attraction in the vicinity of the large Mumbai
meteropolis. The Elephanta island is located 10 km away from the Gateway of India
at Mumbai. These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century CE.The
Elephanta island was so named by the Portuguese, after the statue of an elephant
near the landing area of the island. These rock cut temples dedicated to Shiva
Mahadeva are rich in sculptural content. Motorboats take passengers from Appollo
Bunder near the Gateway of India. |
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| | SACHIVALAYA
: | | | Mantralaya
is the administrative headquarters of the state government of Maharashtra in South
Mumbai, built in 1955. Mantralaya was earlier known as Sachivalaya. (Sachiv- Secretary,
Alaya- House, meaning Secretariat). Most of the head quarters of state govts in
India are known as Secretariats. However, since Ministers (Mantri in Marathi/Hindi)
also sit in the same building and to underline the fact that Ministers are ultimate
bosses in democracy, the name was changed to Mantralaya in the early eighties.
Mantralaya is a Six storeyed building with most of the departments of state government
in this building. The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister sit on the sixth
floor. The Chief Secretary, i.e. topmost bureaucrat, sits on the fifth floor.
Due to increasing number of departments and the staff, the new "annexe" building
was built later on. Further, a new administrative building of 13 floors was constructed
later on, opposite Mantralaya to accommodate additional departments. . |
| | | | ASSEMBLY
HALL : | | | The
new Council Hall called Vidhan Bhavan, has been provided with special acoustical
treatment to control noise in all the halls. Entrance to all the halls, waiting
foyer, ministers rooms have superb interior decoration. The National Emblem 5.5
metres in height and weighing about four tonnes made of bronze has been erected
atop the dome of the Central circular portion. The building has a parking space
for 162 cars; 66 in the basement, 56 in the compound of the building and 40 outside
the compound. The well laid-out lawns, roads, are all the complementary features,
that help beautify the entire complex and 16.764 metres high flag mast located
in an oval shape water pond complete the entire setting in a most dignified manner.
A statue of Mahatma Phule, an arch social revolutionary, has been erected in the
premises. Besides, all around the plot 2.45 metres high mild steel fencing with
decorative treatment is provided, which not only beautifies the premises but also
provides the necessary security. The Assembly Hall has a seating arrangement for
304 MLAs against the present strength of 289, and the Council Chamber can accommodate
130 members against the strength of 78. The Central Hall has a capacity to seat
400 members |
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