Monday, January 21, 2008

Slum Tours Anyone?

Often the weirdest occurrences occur, especially ones you would not think possible.

Who would have imagined some day Dharavi, Asia's largest slum would be a tourist attraction?

I doubt inhabitants in Dharavi would be able to afford what Bill Clinton and Prince Charles experienced.

Visit this link to book your private tour: http://www.realitytoursandtravel.com/slumtours.html

I wonder what they would retail as merchandise after the slum tour? Garbage pellets? Leather works residue? Recycled Sewage memorabilia.

Experience it before Dharavi becomes extinct, a la eco-tourism. Dharavi is slated to be 're-developed' to create urban squalor for the have's. I doubt UNESCO would jump to declare it a heritage site.

As per the slum tour website, 80% of the profits are shared with NGO's who work to better this soon-to-be-extinct community.

Next time you are in Mumbai, don't forget to slum it out.