For the ‘deck’ of it

The deck offers sweeping views of the sea. Pics/Satej Shinde

For a coastal city, Mumbai suffers from an acute paucity of scenic and accessible beaches and viewing points. So, when the new Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Smruti viewing deck being was inaugurated at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar, we wasted no time in stopping by for a quick visit on a bright Sunday afternoon.

First impressions

The deck is easily accessible by road and, on the day we visited, the path leading up to it was chock-a-block with visitors and vendors hawking all kinds of snacks (sour berries and spiced-up raw mango slices were the most popular) and toys. We quickly climbed up the small flight of stairs to reach the deck, which is tastefully decorated with small flowering bushes, a light colour scheme and minimalist furniture. Of course, all the seats were taken considering that, like us, many eager Mumbaikars had chosen to make the most of the weekend. The tall protective railings were also crammed with visitors, and we had to wait several minutes for our turn. Although we were slightly concerned about the crowds, we were relieved to see that most were quite careful and had masked-up, removing it only for a quick selfie against the breathtaking view.

Seaside symphony

The view was undoubtedly the highlight of the visit. As the sun made its descent, we marvelled at the sight of the glittering sea, soaring seagulls and the imposing silhouette of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link under the orange-purple sky. The deck is adjoined by a small leafy park, which has several comfortable benches and offers a similar view, in case you are unable to find a spot on the deck (at 24 x 20 metres, the deck can hold a maximum of 40 people).

We wondered how the mostly white colour scheme would endure the ravages of time and weather, civic sense and dust. If you are inspired to descend to the beach below the deck, the narrow strip of sand is clean - we spotted many tots making sandcastles and splashing in the shallow waves. While the operating hours are 9 am to 10 pm (daily), we wish they would open earlier in the day as the deck and park would make an excellent spot for exercising or yoga.