Your kids can touch fish at renovated Taraporevala Aquarium from Friday
The country's oldest and
once one of the city's main attractions, the Taraporevala Aquarium, is
set to reopen. The renovated aquarium, with a marine tunnel, will be inaugurated on Friday by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Its key attraction will be a 12-foot long and 360 degree acrylic glass tunnel, from where visitors can enter.
Another main attraction will be special pools, where children can touch fish which are harmless. The fish will be in large glass tanks,which will be lit with LED lights.
The renovation, on for two years, should have ended by August 2014 but got delayed due to technical reasons. The cost also escalated from Rs 19 crore to Rs 22 crore.
The new aquarium will have about 2,000 fish of over 400 species, most of them imported from Hong Kong and Bangkok.
Most of the marine fish are exotic, like the butterfly , damsel, helicopter, Arowana and Gruppen. Others varieties include the tang, yellowstriped tang, blue-spotted stingray , star, clown, hark, trigger, Grouper and Moorish idol.
“The aquarium will have awareness programmes.There will be slide shows or educational films of 10-15 minutes each for children,“ said fisheries commissioner Madhukar Gaikwad.
Mumbaikars will, however, have to pay Rs 15-20 more as entry fees. The government has after 12 years hiked the visitors' fees for adults (above 12 years) to Rs 60 and for children (3-12 years) it will be Rs 30. Other than the Rs 500 charge for using your mobile, the use of digital or video cameras will be charged an extra Rs 1,000. For professional cameras, the fee is higher.
PWD engineers said the new aquarium has been given a third-generation look and the new fee structure was due to the introduction of new varieties of fish and high maintenance cost. The entire renovation has cost the government around Rs 22 crore.
Its key attraction will be a 12-foot long and 360 degree acrylic glass tunnel, from where visitors can enter.
Another main attraction will be special pools, where children can touch fish which are harmless. The fish will be in large glass tanks,which will be lit with LED lights.
The renovation, on for two years, should have ended by August 2014 but got delayed due to technical reasons. The cost also escalated from Rs 19 crore to Rs 22 crore.
The new aquarium will have about 2,000 fish of over 400 species, most of them imported from Hong Kong and Bangkok.
Most of the marine fish are exotic, like the butterfly , damsel, helicopter, Arowana and Gruppen. Others varieties include the tang, yellowstriped tang, blue-spotted stingray , star, clown, hark, trigger, Grouper and Moorish idol.
“The aquarium will have awareness programmes.There will be slide shows or educational films of 10-15 minutes each for children,“ said fisheries commissioner Madhukar Gaikwad.
Mumbaikars will, however, have to pay Rs 15-20 more as entry fees. The government has after 12 years hiked the visitors' fees for adults (above 12 years) to Rs 60 and for children (3-12 years) it will be Rs 30. Other than the Rs 500 charge for using your mobile, the use of digital or video cameras will be charged an extra Rs 1,000. For professional cameras, the fee is higher.
PWD engineers said the new aquarium has been given a third-generation look and the new fee structure was due to the introduction of new varieties of fish and high maintenance cost. The entire renovation has cost the government around Rs 22 crore.
Reaching Taraporewala
By Train : Nearest station being Charni Road on Western Railway Route, Second station from Churchgate (South Mumbai). If you are coming from outside city or are a tourist getting down at CST station, Direct taxi and buses are easy option to reach in next 15 to 20 minutes. If your train drops you at Dadar station, get any slow local train towards Churchgate and get down at 7th station from Dadar which is Charni Road. If you are a tourist staying at far suburb hotels near airport or locations around you need to follow the same train route and catch any local train towards churchgate. Once at station, you can see sea beach side connecting chowpatty and its just walkable from here.
By Road : Get inside Mumbai city from Eastern / Western Express Highway and follow the sign boards towards south Mumbai. From east of Marine lines, Cross a small east west flyover bridge and you are to this attraction. Alternatively you can get inside Dadar west and follow Worli AB Road, Peddar Road or Bhulabhai Desai Road which takes you towards Chowpatty Beach near Aquarium.
Address Contacts and Timings
Address : Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Near Charni Road Railway Station, Post Police Gymkhana Club House, Marine Lines, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400002, India
Contact : +91-22-22821239
Timings 10:30 am – 8:00 pm Weekdays, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Sundays, Monday Closed.
Preparing ahead for the expected rush yesterday, authorities had deployed additional staff and police personnel at the aquarium, especially the ticket counter, to manage the rush. However, the visitors standing in the long queue were disappointed when they read that extra charges would be applicable for any individual who wants to click photos, even from a mobile phone.
Great expectations
What’s more, once inside the aquarium, many expressed their dissatisfaction with the renovation. It seems that photos of a multi-level aquarium had been doing the rounds on WhatsApp groups, claiming to be of the newly renovated Taraporevala aquarium. Most visitors yesterday said that the aquarium was not what they had expected at all.
Umar Matto (24) had come from Thane with his family of three to visit the aquarium. “I saw photos of the multi-level aquarium on WhatsApp and we decided to come and see it, but I am not satisfied with how the aquarium has been developed. Moreover, I was shocked to see some fishes in the tank already dead, just a day after the opening. Authorities are charging R500 for clicking photos with a cell phone, which is unfair.
I think mobile photography should be free.” Another visitor said, “We were expecting the renovated aquarium to match international standards, but the reality is quite disappointing. I get to see a better diversity of fishes during local fish exhibitions. On top of that, they want to charge R500 for taking photos. If the charges are not cancelled, no one will turn up.”
A representative of a South Mumbai school was also visiting the aquarium to see if they could organise a picnic for students, but even she expressed her dissatisfaction with the aquarium. Visitors were seen writing negative remarks on the visitor’s diary that was kept on the premises, and even contacting authorities of the aquarium to express their disappointment.
Worli-resident Sanjay Parab, who had come with his wife and daughter, said, “I had come here thinking that it is a multi-level aquarium, but when I reached I realised that the images being circulated on WhatsApp are fake. Charging money for mobile photography inside the aquarium is not a good idea.”
Expert speak
Anand Pendharkar, environmentalist from sprouts NGO, said, “It is ridiculous to charge Rs 500 for using mobile camera. This is almost as much as someone would pay to visit an amusement park that offers many recreational activities, unlike an aquarium. It is a government-run aquarium and not a place to charge such a hefty amount.”
There is a bit of personal history over Taraporevala Aquarium:
1) I have visited Mumbai’s sole aquarium over three decades ago, and it was nothing to remember.
2) Three recent visits, only to learn that it hadn’t opened as yet.
3) We’ve been to Singapore’s Ocenarium. And, THAT is a must-visit.
As I exit our cab outside Charni Road I recall these memories, and our visit to the only other attempt at an aquarium in this sea-faced city: the Dolphin Aquarium.
Tareporevala Aquarium is packed. Well, I don’t know what I expected but it is not bad.
After all the fuss and the time taken to open it, it could have been better, but it is not bad.
While the place is a must-visit for Mumbai’s kids, the crowds can be a put-off for visitors as it obstructs clear views of the marine life on display. Pics/Bipin Kokate
The aquarium consists of one long room lined with glass cases that carry fish. The glass cases are bigger, wider and the fish in each case is identified with information given in two languages. We jostled through the crowd trying to look at the fish. The centre of the room also has cases with fish in it. The much-touted Marine Touch Pool is a huge disappointment. It is a mid-size tank that is open on the top where, if you look closely, you will find starfish and cucumber fish and other quiet marine life that can be touched. The kids did not feel like touching them.
Ammol, my son, seems to have a penchant for sharks. Much to his, disappointment, we didn’t get to see any. There is a mix of marine and freshwater fishes, including coral fishes collected from Lakshadweep as well as marine landscape. The Moray Eels, Singapore Turtles and Stingrays excite many. There is a museum of sorts containing specimens of preserved fishes and some varieties of seashells. We were in a hurry, but we could browse through the entire aquarium within 10 minutes.
Taraporewala Aquarium was overwhelming; unfortunately, for the wrong reasons. Perhaps a combination of factors — the closure of schools for smaller kids, the opening of a novelty of sorts for children, the lack of new and affordable places to take kids to for entertainment — made this place crowded and uncomfortably noisy.
The Aquarium is a must-visit and hopefully, there will be more added to the space in terms of activities and information and collection. For now, it seems like a place I would like to re-visit if and when the crowds dwindle.
By Train : Nearest station being Charni Road on Western Railway Route, Second station from Churchgate (South Mumbai). If you are coming from outside city or are a tourist getting down at CST station, Direct taxi and buses are easy option to reach in next 15 to 20 minutes. If your train drops you at Dadar station, get any slow local train towards Churchgate and get down at 7th station from Dadar which is Charni Road. If you are a tourist staying at far suburb hotels near airport or locations around you need to follow the same train route and catch any local train towards churchgate. Once at station, you can see sea beach side connecting chowpatty and its just walkable from here.
By Road : Get inside Mumbai city from Eastern / Western Express Highway and follow the sign boards towards south Mumbai. From east of Marine lines, Cross a small east west flyover bridge and you are to this attraction. Alternatively you can get inside Dadar west and follow Worli AB Road, Peddar Road or Bhulabhai Desai Road which takes you towards Chowpatty Beach near Aquarium.
Address Contacts and Timings
Address : Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Near Charni Road Railway Station, Post Police Gymkhana Club House, Marine Lines, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400002, India
Contact : +91-22-22821239
Timings 10:30 am – 8:00 pm Weekdays, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Sundays, Monday Closed.
Preparing ahead for the expected rush yesterday, authorities had deployed additional staff and police personnel at the aquarium, especially the ticket counter, to manage the rush. However, the visitors standing in the long queue were disappointed when they read that extra charges would be applicable for any individual who wants to click photos, even from a mobile phone.
Great expectations
What’s more, once inside the aquarium, many expressed their dissatisfaction with the renovation. It seems that photos of a multi-level aquarium had been doing the rounds on WhatsApp groups, claiming to be of the newly renovated Taraporevala aquarium. Most visitors yesterday said that the aquarium was not what they had expected at all.
Umar Matto (24) had come from Thane with his family of three to visit the aquarium. “I saw photos of the multi-level aquarium on WhatsApp and we decided to come and see it, but I am not satisfied with how the aquarium has been developed. Moreover, I was shocked to see some fishes in the tank already dead, just a day after the opening. Authorities are charging R500 for clicking photos with a cell phone, which is unfair.
I think mobile photography should be free.” Another visitor said, “We were expecting the renovated aquarium to match international standards, but the reality is quite disappointing. I get to see a better diversity of fishes during local fish exhibitions. On top of that, they want to charge R500 for taking photos. If the charges are not cancelled, no one will turn up.”
A representative of a South Mumbai school was also visiting the aquarium to see if they could organise a picnic for students, but even she expressed her dissatisfaction with the aquarium. Visitors were seen writing negative remarks on the visitor’s diary that was kept on the premises, and even contacting authorities of the aquarium to express their disappointment.
Worli-resident Sanjay Parab, who had come with his wife and daughter, said, “I had come here thinking that it is a multi-level aquarium, but when I reached I realised that the images being circulated on WhatsApp are fake. Charging money for mobile photography inside the aquarium is not a good idea.”
Expert speak
Anand Pendharkar, environmentalist from sprouts NGO, said, “It is ridiculous to charge Rs 500 for using mobile camera. This is almost as much as someone would pay to visit an amusement park that offers many recreational activities, unlike an aquarium. It is a government-run aquarium and not a place to charge such a hefty amount.”
There is a bit of personal history over Taraporevala Aquarium:
1) I have visited Mumbai’s sole aquarium over three decades ago, and it was nothing to remember.
2) Three recent visits, only to learn that it hadn’t opened as yet.
3) We’ve been to Singapore’s Ocenarium. And, THAT is a must-visit.
As I exit our cab outside Charni Road I recall these memories, and our visit to the only other attempt at an aquarium in this sea-faced city: the Dolphin Aquarium.
Tareporevala Aquarium is packed. Well, I don’t know what I expected but it is not bad.
After all the fuss and the time taken to open it, it could have been better, but it is not bad.
While the place is a must-visit for Mumbai’s kids, the crowds can be a put-off for visitors as it obstructs clear views of the marine life on display. Pics/Bipin Kokate
The aquarium consists of one long room lined with glass cases that carry fish. The glass cases are bigger, wider and the fish in each case is identified with information given in two languages. We jostled through the crowd trying to look at the fish. The centre of the room also has cases with fish in it. The much-touted Marine Touch Pool is a huge disappointment. It is a mid-size tank that is open on the top where, if you look closely, you will find starfish and cucumber fish and other quiet marine life that can be touched. The kids did not feel like touching them.
Ammol, my son, seems to have a penchant for sharks. Much to his, disappointment, we didn’t get to see any. There is a mix of marine and freshwater fishes, including coral fishes collected from Lakshadweep as well as marine landscape. The Moray Eels, Singapore Turtles and Stingrays excite many. There is a museum of sorts containing specimens of preserved fishes and some varieties of seashells. We were in a hurry, but we could browse through the entire aquarium within 10 minutes.
Taraporewala Aquarium was overwhelming; unfortunately, for the wrong reasons. Perhaps a combination of factors — the closure of schools for smaller kids, the opening of a novelty of sorts for children, the lack of new and affordable places to take kids to for entertainment — made this place crowded and uncomfortably noisy.
The Aquarium is a must-visit and hopefully, there will be more added to the space in terms of activities and information and collection. For now, it seems like a place I would like to re-visit if and when the crowds dwindle.
The country's oldest and once one of the city's main attractions, the Taraporevala Aquarium, is set to reopen.
The renovated aquarium, with a marine tunnel, will be inaugurated on Friday by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Its key attraction will be a 12-foot long and 360 degree acrylic glass tunnel, from where visitors can enter.
Another main attraction will be special pools, where children can touch fish which are harmless. The fish will be in large glass tanks,which will be lit with LED lights.
The renovation, on for two years, should have ended by August 2014 but got delayed due to technical reasons. The cost also escalated from Rs 19 crore to Rs 22 crore.
The new aquarium will have about 2,000 fish of over 400 species, most of them imported from Hong Kong and Bangkok.
Most of the marine fish are exotic, like the butterfly, damsel, helicopter, Arowana and Gruppen. Others varieties include the tang, yellow-striped tang, blue-spotted stingray, star, clown, hark, trigger, Grouper and Moorish idol.
"The aquarium will have awareness programmes. There will be slide shows or educational films of 10-15 minutes each for children," said fisheries commissioner Madhukar Gaikwad.
Mumbaikars will, however, have to pay Rs 15-20 more as entry fees. The government has after 12 years hiked the visitors' fees for adults (above 12 years) to Rs 60 and for children (3-12 years) it will be Rs 30. Other than the Rs 500 charge for using your mobile, the use of digital or video cameras will be charged an extra Rs 1,000. For professional cameras, the fee is higher.
PWD engineers said the new aquarium has been given a third-generation look and the new fee structure was due to the introduction of new varieties of fish and high maintenance cost. The entire renovation has cost the government around Rs 22 crore. aquarium mumbai
aquarium in mumbai
fish aquarium in mumbai
taraporewala aquarium mumbai
taraporewala aquarium
aquarium plants
fish aquarium mumbai
tropical aquarium
aquarium shop
reef tank
aquarium online
aquarium supplies
aquarium setup
aquariums
aquarium tanks
home aquarium
online aquarium
taraporewala aquarium timings
buy aquarium online
aquarium for sale
aquarium lighting
acrylic aquarium
reef aquarium
aquarium tank
online aquarium store
mumbai aquarium
aquarium lights
aquarium online india
marine aquarium
salt water aquarium
aquarium light
fishtanks
small aquarium
aquarium design
aquarium shop in mumbai
aquarium shops in mumbai
aquarium maintenance
buy aquarium
aquarium shop online
aquariums for sale
aquarium decor
aquarium decorations
aquarium india
aquarium photos
aquarium sale
aquarium in mumbai address
aquarium decoration ideas
aquarium supply
marine aquariums
aquarium decoration
marine aquarium setup
aquarium tanks for sale
custom aquariums
aquarium filter
aquarium store
fresh water aquarium
aquarium ornaments
all glass aquarium
aquarium filters
aquarium stands
corner aquarium
large aquarium
aquarium supplies online
aquarium stand
wall aquarium
glass aquariums
aquarium accessories
aquarium shops
aquarium rocks
arowana for sale
cheap aquariums
aquarium screensaver
saltwater aquarium
free aquarium
aquarium equipment
aquarium water
freshwater aquarium
aquarium manufacturers
online aquarium store india
aquarium glass
acrylic aquariums
glass aquarium
large aquariums
taraporewala aquarium in mumbai
goldfish aquarium
freshwater aquarium plants
home aquariums
corals for sale
aquarium online shop
underwater aquarium in mumbai
custom aquarium
buy aquarium online india
aquariums in mumbai
aquarium aquarium
aquarium designs
wall mounted aquarium
boyu aquarium
aquarium kits
aquarium products
fish museum in mumbai
aquarium fish in mumbai
aquarium accessories in mumbai
aquarium sales
big aquarium
saltwater aquarium supplies
aquarium toys
best aquarium in mumbai
aquariums online
aquarium in pune
aquarium tank sizes
salt water aquariums
aquarium tips
mumbai aquarium timings
tropical aquariums
saltwater aquariums
aquarium city
online aquarium shop
goldfish tanks
akvaryum baligi
tarapur aquarium mumbai timings
taraporewala aquarium mumbai entry fees
water aquarium
aquarium services
tropical fish shop
aquarium shops in pune
taraporewala aquarium mumbai timings
taraporewala fish aquarium in mumbai
mumbai fish aquarium
discount aquariums
freshwater aquariums
used aquarium for sale
cheap aquarium
what is an aquarium
taraporewala aquarium renovation
big aquariums
aquarium one
aquarium freshwater
aquarium for home
new aquarium
tarapore aquarium in mumbai
aquarium in mumbai cst
aquarium market in mumbai
home aquarium tanks
taraporevala aquarium mumbai
aquarium plants mumbai
tarapore aquarium timing
aquatic aquarium
tarapore aquarium mumbai
built in aquarium
aquarium buy
india aquarium
marine aquarium mumbai
fish tank mumbai
mumbai marine
minjiang aquarium
aquarium fish mumbai
fish aquarium mumbai timings
custom aquarium tanks
aquarium tank manufacturers
corner aquarium tanks
taraporewala fish aquarium in mumbai timings
taraporewala fish aquarium
aquarium for sale in mumbai
aquarium taraporewala mumbai
big aquariums for sale
aquarium cost
timings of taraporewala aquarium mumbai
marine aquarium tanks
aquarium accessories india
aquariums india
boyu aquarium mumbai
aquarium websites
tarapur fish aquarium
photos aquarium
mumbai taraporewala aquarium
guide aquarium
aquarium mumbai timings
fresh aquarium
taraporewala aquarium mumbai address
tarapur aquarium mumbai
aquarium models
car aquarium
photos of aquarium
tips aquarium
aquarium reviews
cost of aquarium
aquarium manufacturer
good aquarium
tarapur fish aquarium timings
marine aquarium india
bombay aquarium
imported aquarium tank
aquarıum
akvaryum suyu
real aquarium
fish museum mumbai
how to aquarium
fishaquarium
taraporewala aquarium location
in an aquarium
aquariums sale
aquarium window
aquarium facts
large aquarium tanks
aquarium encyclopedia
rs aquarium
aquarium how to
freshwater aquarium guide
aquarium tank designs
akvaryum ve baliklar
aquarium new
aquarium timings
aquarium car
aquarium wholesale suppliers
aquarium companies
freshwater aquarium tips
آکواريوم
aquarium species
water in aquarium
decoration of aquarium
round aquarium tanks
aquarium 1
akvaryum kent
aquarium for
for aquarium
marine water aquarium
ماهيهاي آكواريومي
latest aquarium
freshwater aquarium photos
marine mumbai
window aquarium
freshwater aquarium water
aquarium articles
articles aquarium
aqariu
cost of an aquarium
in aquarium
aquarium aquatic
tips for aquarium
travel aquarium
marine aq
water in an aquarium
how to marine aquarium
aquarium fresh
aquarium for free
marine aquarium guide
marine ready aquariums
amazing marine aquariums
aquarium collection
new freshwater aquarium
marine aquarium species
aquarium 7
species aquarium
aquarium sea water
which aquarium
what is a freshwater aquarium
water for freshwater aquarium
rs aquarium india
rs akvaryum
عکس ماهیان اکواریومی
aquarium real
aquarium pearl
how much is a aquarium
facts about aquarium
aquarium in aquarium
freshwater and marine aquarium
facts about the aquarium
Hi..Very Useful blog post. There is no dearth of places to visit in Mumbai that appeal tourists to explore the city again and again. Taraporewala Aquarium, a must attraction in Mumbai is a great place to explore with friend and kids.
ReplyDeleteHi,this is really very nice blog.I have learned a lot of good and informative stuff from your blog.Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful post. Keep posting such valuable contents.
ReplyDeleteaquarium filters