Mumbai – the city that never sleeps, which never comes to a halt. The local trains bursting at the hem, the constant honking of vehicles and the urgent footsteps of its people with no time to waste. What if you did not have to travel all the way to Alibaugh or Lonavala to escape the crowds and take a break? Sounds good? In the helter-skelter city of Mumbai, we came around a spot that reverberates beauty, serenity and a sense of calm. The Global Vipassana Pagoda at Gorai is the exact answer to get peace in the city of dreams.

It is a tribute and representation of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, and has been constructed as a monument of harmony and peace. Located on a peninsula between Arabian sea and Gorai creek, north-west of Mumbai, the Pagoda has been declared as one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Maharashtra’ by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. Many of us haven’t heard about it, as the Pagoda is situated right in the city’s backyard. Its arresting beauty and enormity will sink you as soon as getting closer to it. The gentle ringing of bells, gusty winds, and a comfortable silence welcomes you.

The charming, sprawling architect will surely leave you spellbound. It has been constructed combining ancient Indian and modern technology to enable it to last for a thousand years. It also holds the record for the world’s largest stone dome, which is built without any support. The Pagoda dome is an intensely sacred spot, as it contains the relics of the Buddha. It also encompasses a meditation hall which can seat around 8000 people at a time – also it has been included in the largest such hall in the world.

With appealing quotes on Dhamma embellish the wall, and an impeccably maintained premises, it is the perfect spot for those who are seeking for some solitude, while taking a sunbath in the positive energy all around. If inner space is what you are seeking for, you can also opt for the Vipassana course conducted around the year. Not yet decided for the weekend? How about taking a break from the hustle-bustle of the city, and spend a few hours wrapped up in the lap of serenity?