Juhu

Juhu is an upmarket neighbourhood of Mumbai. It is most famous for the sprawling Juhu Beach. It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea to the west, Versova to the north, Santacruz and Vile Parle to the east and Khar to the south. Juhu is among the most affluent areas of the city and home to many Bollywood celebrities. The nearest railway stations are Santacruz, Andheri and Vile Parle on the Western Line and Harbour Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway. The nearest metro station is Versova. There are two minor B.E.S.T bus depots in Juhu.

Juhu
Juhu
Juhu
Juhu
Coordinates: 19.10°N 72.83°E / 19.10; 72.83
CountryIndia
StateMaharashtra
DistrictMumbai Suburban
CityMumbai
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation
 • BodyBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (MCGM)
Languages
 • OfficialMarathi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Area code(s)022

J. R. D. Tata, the father of civil aviation in India, made his maiden voyage to Juhu Airport from Drigh Road airstrip, Karachi, via Ahmedabad, on 15 October 1932 carrying mail in a Puss Moth aircraft.[1][2]

History

In the nineteenth century, Juhu was an island: a long, narrow sand bar rising above sea level by a metre or two, just off the west coast of Salsette. It could be reached during low tides by walking across the tidal inlet.[3]

Juhu was called "Juvem" by the Portuguese. At its north point, nestled the village of Juhu, inhabited by Bhandaris (toddy tappers), Agris (salt traders) and Kunbis (cultivators) and at its south point, opposite Bandra island, lived a small colony of fisherfolk and cultivators (Koliwada). The inhabitants of Juhu were mainly Koli people and there was a small section of Goans. The Church of St. Joseph was built by the Portuguese in 1853.[4]

The open beaches of Juhu have attracted the well-heeled and the most affluent among Mumbai's population for almost a century. In the 1890s, Jamsetji Tata purchased land on Juhu and built a bungalow there. He planned to develop 1200 acres (5 km²) in Juhu Tara. This was to yield 500 plots of one acre (4,000 m²) each and a seaside resort. Simultaneously he wanted to extend the Mahim Causeway to Santacruz, to access to this area. After his death in 1904, the scheme was abandoned. With the dawn of aviation in the 20th century, the Bombay Flying Club commenced operations in 1929 at what eventually became the present Juhu Aerodrome.[5]

During the freedom struggle Mahatma Gandhi visited Mumbai and took many walks at Juhu Beach. There is a famous photograph of Gandhiji poking his grandson Kanaa during a walk at Juhu Beach, Bombay, 1937. To mark Gandhi's visit to Juhu, there is a famous statue of Gandhi by the beach and a lane towards the beach call Gandhigram Road. There is also a Gandhi Shiksha Bhavan school in Juhu.

In the 1970s, Bhaktivedanta Swami (Srila Prabhupada) started the Hare Krishna Movement and built ISKCON Temple, giving Juhu its global recognition. He also gave various philosophical and spiritual discourses and wrote many books here.

Founded in 1928 as India's first civil aviation airport, Juhu aerodrome served as the city's primary airport during and up to World War II.

Climate

Juhu enjoys a uniform climate throughout the year. In summers the maximum temperature reaches 35 °C and the minimum temperature is 25 °C. The weather is pleasant in winter. Monsoons prevail from mid-June to September, when it rains quite heavily.

Juhu Beach

Juhu Beach is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It stretches for six kilometres up to Versova.The short, rocky formations make up the Juhu Beach unlike the Marina Beach in Chennai that is primarily sandy. It is a popular tourist attraction throughout the year and is also a sought after destination for shooting films. The beach generally gets more crowded on weekends and public holidays. The food court at its main entrance is famous for its 'Mumbai style' street food, notably bhelpuri, pani puri and sevpuri. Horse-pulled carriages offer joyrides to tourists for a small fee while acrobats, dancing monkeys, cricket matches, toy sellers vie for tourist's attention. The beach is among the most popular sites in the city for the annual Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations where thousands of devotees arrive in grand processions, carrying idols of the Lord Ganesh of various sizes, to be immersed in the water at the beach. Juhu Beach is also a popular spot for planespotting as a portion of it lies underneath the departure path from Runway 27 and occasionally, the arrival path from Runway 09 of Mumbai Airport.

Juhu beach sunset panorama view

Home to celebrities

The busy-yet-peaceful surroundings of Juhu is home to many Bollywood celebrities and a significant number of Mumbai's business elite. Hence, Juhu has come to be referred to as the "Beverly Hills of Bollywood".[6][7]

Juhu Citizen Welfare Group

The Juhu Citizen Welfare Group is the outcome of many years of activism by Juhu residents who have been associated with other NGOs. It was formed in April 2002 (The Juhu Seatizen) and later formalised in August 2003 with its own monthly publication called The Juhu Citizen.[8] Officially registered in March 2004, it now comprises voluntary members invited from NGOs in the K-West Municipal Ward of North West Mumbai.

Religious places
ISKCON, Juhu
  • International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) also known as Hare Krishna Mandir
  • Mukteshwar Devalay (Gandhigram Road)
  • Chandra Prabhu Jain Temple
  • Mahalaxmi Temple
  • St. Joseph's Church, Juhu
  • Holy Cross Church, Juhu Koliwada
  • Vittal Rukmani Temple, Juhu Koliwada
  • Grand Mosque Juhu (Opposite Juhu Garden)

References
  1. "The Tata Airmail Service". Flight Global. 14 September 1933. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  2. Pran Nath Seth; Pran Nath Seth; Sushma Seth Bhat (2005). An introduction to travel and tourism. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 9788120724822. Retrieved 20 February 2011. Page 112
  3. "Geography - Salsette group of Islands". Maharashtra State Gazetteer, Greater Bombay district. 1986. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  4. "Juhu Church History". stjosephchurchjuhu.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  5. "Bombay Flying Club First Annual Report". Flight Global. 1 August 1929. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  6. Ecker, Shana (16 July 2013). "Peek Inside This Juhu Beach Apartment In The 'Beverly Hills' Of Bollywood (PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post.
  7. "Home Residential Address of Bollywood Actors Celebrities Stars - Mumbai". February 2013.
  8. "Juhu Citizens Welfare Group". Juhucitizen.org. 28 March 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
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