Dreams take flight at Mumbai airport’s new Terminal 2

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, now sports a newly-built Terminal 2 which opened on February 12, 2014. It is presently among the best international airport in India and the world. The new Terminal 2 has some striking, intriguing features that are all set to sway the passengers here. The Terminal 2 is awesome and now doubles as India’s largest museum.

The opulent Terminal 2 is a remarkable show of grandeur. It is quite expansive and spread over an area of 400,000 square meter. The Terminal 2 comprises of 136 immigration counters, 188 check-in counters and a 10-storey parking garage. The T2 building has been exquisitely designed. The lattice roof is its most spectacular aspect. It looks simply amazing. The studded special, light-sensitive lenses in its lattice roof provides a dazzling display. It seems as though peacock feathers are overhead.

The landscaped gardens spread in an area of around 4,925 square meters are quite overwhelming. It is one of the largest airport gardens in India today. The new-look airport also has a retail space in an area of 21,346 square meters providing respite to the travelers helping them make essential purchases during the course of their journey.  The restaurants at the airport also provide opportunity to the passengers to savor local Maharashtrian and Indian dishes as well as international cuisines. The waiting areas at the airport also provide free internet access to the passengers for enabling them to fulfill their official or business works or simply to entertain themselves.

The prominent highlight at the Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is India’s largest museum “Jaye He” or Glory to India. The museum is housed in an area of 7,430 square meters on all four levels of the airport. Nearly 7,000 creations procured from museums, art collectors, villages, cities and craftsmen from across India have been displayed at the terminal. This also includes 100 commissioned contemporary works by renowned Indian artists such as Nek Chand, Riyas Khomu and Mithu Sen. Among other works displayed here include a 22 meter mural called ‘Journey Across Time’ and a mural spanning 3.5 km. Apart from these, and interactive installation is also on display here. This is unique. You will see water flowing from antique spouts producing musical notes upon touching.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is presently handling 40 million passengers annually. The passengers seeing the museum at the airport will surpass those visiting the Louvre at Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport.