Mumbai

Mumbai, the city that never sleeps, is the commercial capital of India. Mumbai is pulsating, alive, always on the move, vibrant, fun and much more. Mumbai, also called as Bombay, is the most modern city of India. Mumbai symbolizes the spirit of vibrant and changing India. The history of Mumbai goes back to the seventeenth century. Once a cluster of seven islands, Mumbai was presented to King Charles II in 1661 as part of the dowry when he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal.

Over a period of time Mumbai has transformed itself into a city with thriving markets, business houses, different communities reflecting a cosmopolitan way of life, rarely seen elsewhere. Thus, Mumbai represents the ever-changing face of today's India- the old coupled with the dynamic and vibrant new, and yet the heart of the Mumbai city is filled with Indian customs and values.

Mumbai is also the capital of Maharashtra state. Though Marathi dominates the language seen but English and Hindi are widely spoken and understood. The fast-paced life of Bombay has given rise to numerous fast-food joints in almost every nook and corner of the city. In addition to this, Mumbai is also known for its own lip-smacking pau bhaji, bhel puri and kababs. Mumbai is a shopper's delight with bargain buys, exclusive boutiques, ethnic markets and mini bazaars. The recent shopping Mall culture has added many new shopping spots on the Mumbai shopping landscape.

The Mumbai city also has a flourishing cultural life. Being the seat of the Indian (Hindi) film industry, Mumbai stages regular performances in music, dance and drama. The Hindi film industry, also known as Bollywood, produces the largest number of films in the world. Mumbai caters to the needs of almost all sections through sporting activities, nightclubs, pubs, theatres, beaches, shopping Malls and restaurants. Old and new, rich and poor, classical and modern- Mumbai is truly a melting pot!

Prime Attractions

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market (Crawford Market)
Jyotiba Phule Market, commonly called as the Crawford Market, is a busy market. The best time to visit or explore this market is early on in the day. It is most famous for its fruits and vegetables.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus)
The Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus or the Victoria terminus is one of the World Heritage Sites in India. It is a magnificent building, considered to be architecturally one of the finest stations in the world. Built by the British in 1888, the Victoria terminus has exquisite ornamentation on its façade. It holds the statue of Queen Victoria on its dome.

Flora Fountain
The Flora Fountain stands on the site of the old church Gate of the Bombay Fort. The Flora fountain was erected to honor Sir Bartle Frere, a former governor of Bombay. The Flora Fountain was named after the Greek goddess Flora.

Jehangir Art Gallery
The Jehangir art gallery showcases various contemporary arts. The displays at the Jehangir art gallery change regularly. Outside the Jehangir art Gallery is the Artist's Plaza with more paintings on display and sale.

Prince of Wales Museum
Built to commemorate King George V's visit to Mumbai, the Prince of Wales Museum is the finest example of Victorian architecture. George Wittet designed the Prince of Wales Museum. It is undoubtedly one of India's finest museums and houses treasures, artifacts, paintings and sculpture from the different periods, covering Indian history and civilization.

National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA)
The national Gallery of Modern Art was formerly known as the Cowasji Jehangir Hall. It serves as a four- storey exhibition hall, with the best of Indian contemporary art at display. Open daily, except Monday, from 10 am to 5 pm.

Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is Mumbai's most striking monument and was designed by George Wittet. The Gateway of India has an imposing gateway arch, built in the Indo-Saracenic style with sprinkling of some Gujarati and Islamic elements. It was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911. This area is also the departing point for ferries going to the Elephanta Island and other beaches across the port.

Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach
This stretch runs from the Nariman Point on one end to Babulnath on the other. For the most part, a pleasant walkway continues along the beach with the Chowpatty area situated in the middle. At the Chowpatty Beach, one can see a teeming mass of people, vendors, masseurs and roadside restaurants with its specialties being bhelpuri and kulfi. Marine Drive is also known as the Queen's Necklace because of the striking line of street lamps that light up at night.

Malabar Hill
The Malabar Hill is basically an up-market residential area, providing some fantastic views of the city surroundings. On the road climbing up is a Jain temple dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankara. At one end, on the top are the Hanging Gardens and the Kamala Nehru Park. Both of these spots provide green ambience. Besides the Hanging Gardens, there are a few Parsi Towers of Silence (Dakhmas).

Mahalaxmi Temple
The Mahalaxmi Temple is a popular holy site as Mahalaxmi is considered the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The Mahalaxmi temple is situated at one end of the Breach Candy.

Haji Ali Shrine
The Haji Ali shrine is one of the most visited religious places in Mumbai. The Haji Ali is located further along the seashore, at the end of a long pathway, surrounded by seawater. The shrine is dedicated to Haji Ali, a Muslim saint.

Siddhivinayak Temple
The Siddhivinayak temple is located in the Prabha Devi area of Mumbai and is dedicated to Lord Ganesh. It is one of the most popular Hindu temples of Mumbai city. The idol of Lord Ganesh is two and a half feet in height and two feet in width. An interesting feature of the Ganesh statue at the Siddhivinayak temple is that the trunk turns to the right, usually not often found on Ganesh idols.

Juhu Beach
The Juhu beach is great favorite with not only Mumbaikars but also the tourists visiting Mumbai. Like Marine Drive's Chowpatty, Juhu 'Chowpatty' is also a vendor's delight with countless food counters all over the place. It is a wonderful place to bring kids, as it doubles up as an amusement park, playground, and open-air restaurant. An unusual sight at this beach is the camel ride, which is both fun and popular.

Hotels in Mumbai
Hyatt Mumbai - Marriott Mumbai - Oberoi Mumbai - Taj President