Did you know, that the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Colaba is even older than the Gateway of India? Have you ever wondered, why is the Elephanta Caves called so? This World Heritage Day 2024, get ready to explore Mumbai’s heritage like never before. The Colaba area of Mumbai holds a treasure of history with remarkable monuments and structures that narrate the tale of Mumbai’s glorious past. Among them, Mumbai’s Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel stand as majestic landmarks bridging Mumbai’s modern present to its hair-raising history. In this series of Mid-day Xplore, Mid-day's journalist Katyayani Kapoor explores Gateway of India and Taj Mahal Palace Hotel with the founder of Mumbai Heritage Tours - Pranav Damle who gives a peek into the untold and rare history of South Mumbai's remarkable heritage honouring the heritage of Mumbai this World Heritage Day.

Ahead of the 70th Independence Day, the iconic Gateway of India was lit up in tricolor to mark the celebrations. The Gateway of India was illuminated to attract more tourists across India. Security across the city's prominent places and its nearby areas has been increased with complete CCTV surveillance, to prevent any untoward incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort at 7:30 am, to commence the celebrations of Independence Day.