Mumbai Travel Guide (Bombay)
Location : Located on the western coast of India.
Area : 437.77 Km
Attractions : Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Tomb of Haji Ali
Ideal Time to Visit : October and January
¤ Mumbai, The City That Never Sleeps
Mumbai, is the capital of Maharashtra and one of the most important metropolitan
cities of India. Mumbai is a cluster of seven islands. It was presented to King
Charles II in 1661 as part of the dowry when he married Princess Catherine de Braganza
of Portugal. After India's Independence, Mumbai has evolved as a vital commercial
and thriving city of India. It has a cosmopolitan nature, with many discotheques,
restaurants, beaches, theatres, pubs and night clubs. The city has a free and vibrant
spirit and is also known as a city that never sleeps. Here culture and traditions
are keeping pace with modernity. It perfectly represents the ever-changing face
of today's India, where old and new walk hand in hand in harmony.
The official language of Maharashtra is Marathi, but Hindi and English are also
widely spoken and understood. Mumbai is also the glamour capital of India. It is
the seat of Hindi film industry, which is also known as Bollywood, the largest producer
of films in the world. The cultural life is quite happening here, with a constant
stream of performances in music, dance and drama. The city of dreams, Mumbai is
also a shopper's delight, with exclusive boutiques, ethnic markets and mini bazaars.
Mumabi's local junk food sold on the streets and beaches are very popular not only
within the state but all over the country. Some of these deliciouses snacks are
pau bhaji, bhel puri and kababs.
Apart from these are many travel attractions here like the Gateway of India, Prince
of Wales Museum, Tomb of Haji Ali and Mahalakshmi temple, Juhu beach, Marine drive,
Chhtrapati Shivaji Terminus and many more. With all these features Mumbai is one
of the most loved cities of India.
¤ Atrractions In Mumbai
Mumbai, the cosmopolitan city of India, is also a cultural hub. With natural beauty
at par and a thriving economy the city is one of the most important cities of India.
The charm of Mumbai is beyond comparison. This city has many worth visiting attractions,
that lure innumerable tourists every year.
Some of the most popular and well-known travel attractions are the Gateway of India,
an historical monument. It was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and
Queen Mary to India in 1911. It is regarded as the signature mark of Mumbai and
the visit to Mumbai is incomplete without giving a visit to this splendid monument.
Another prime attraction of Mumbai is the Prince of Wales Museum. It is designed
in the Indo-Saracenic style and is one of the finest buildings constructed during
British rule. It was build to commemorate the first visit of the Prince of Wales
to India. Then, there is the Mahalaxmi temple, one of the famous temples in Mumbai
devoted to the Goddess of wealth Mahalaxmi. The temple has images of Hindu Goddesses
like Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali. The Tomb of Haji Ali is another major
attraction of Mumbai. The Mosque at the tomb of Haji Ali stands on an island and
is famous for its outstanding architecture. Innumerable devotees throng this tomb
everyday to pay homage to the Saint Haji Ali.
Apart from having many historical monuments, Mumbai also has many scenic beaches.
Some of the them are the Juhu beach and Marine Drive also called as Chowpatty beach.
Chowpatty Beach is a popular beach where people gather in the evening and enjoy
themselves. On the beach, one can find vendors, masseurs and roadside restaurants
with specialties being bhelpuri and kulfi. Just like Chowpatty, the uptown Juhu
Beach is a hangout place, where young and old enjoy their evenings. Here one can
see children playing with the sand, courting couples and rowdy adolescents. A splendid
beach, worth visiting.
Besides these attractions, there are many more places that are worth visiting in
Mumbai. To name a few are, Malabar Hills, Crawford Bazaar, Kalbadevi, Essel World,
Hanging Gardens, Film City, Flora fountain, Chatrapati shivaji terminus etc.
¤ Excursions From Mumbai
Aurangabad Aurangabad is a historical destination, famous for its medieval
monuments and cultural heritage. It boasts of the world heritage sites of the famous
Ajanta & Ellora. Apart from this there many other travel attraction also, that
lure tourists from all over the world.
Khandala
Khandla is an exotic hill station, ideal for trekking. It is covered with lush green
landscapes, a perfect getaway to spend an exciting weekend.
Lonavala
Lonavala is a beautiful place covered with lush green sceneries. Some of the worth
visiting attractions at Lonavala are the lovely Tugauli, Lonavala and Bhushi lakes.
Pune
The second largest city of Maharashtra, Pune offers many tourist attractions. It
is famous for the Ashram of Osho Rajneesh and many gardens along with the banks
of river Mula-Mutha.
Matheran
Matheran is a small hill station situated near Mumbai. It is the only place in India
where no motor vehicles are allowed in order to maintain its freshness and beauty.
¤ Shopping
Mumbai is considered as a shopper's delight. There are shops lined up in the corners
and pavements of Mumbai's streets. One can buy anything and everything from the
famous bazaars and markets of the city. On your travel vacations in Mumbail if you
are looking for some good clothes at less price, then you should definitely shop
around Colaba Causeway and Fashion Street. They are stretched along the Cross and
Azad Maidans. At Breach Candy and Kemps Corner, more trendy and costly shopping
can be done.
The Chor Bazaar of Mumbai is a very old bazaar. Here one can look for some exquisite
antique pieces, while the nearby Zaveri Bazaar is famous for its diamond, gold and
silver jewelery. Apart from these, Mumbai also has many shopping arcades, owned
by almost all five-star hotels such as the Oberoi and the Taj Mahal. Dadar, Bandra-Linking
Road, and Juhu road areas in central and suburban Mumbai are good spots to shop.
¤ Reach Mumbai
By Air : Mumbai has an international and a domestic airport, they are the
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (formerly known as Sahar Airport) and
the Chhatrapati Shivaji Domestic Airport (formerly known as Santa Cruz Airport).
Both these airports are situated at a distance of 4 kms from each other. They are
located approximately 30 kms and 26 kms away from the heart of the city - Nariman
Point - in south Mumbai.
An airport bus service operates between the airports and the Air India building
at Nariman Point. It takes around an hour to reach the domestic terminal and fifteen
minutes longer to reach the international terminal. But during peak hours due to
the traffic the journey could last almost two hours. Tickets can be bought either
on the buses or at the booth outside the Air India Building. There is also a shuttle
bus that operates at regular intervals between the domestic and international airports.
By Rail : The Mumbai Central and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (or VT) are
the two railway stations at Mumbai that connect it to the rest of the country.
By Road : Long distance buses depart from Mumbai Central S.T. bus depot to
several towns and cities. MTDC also operates a number of bus services throughout
the year (except for the monsoon months) to many scenic spots and tourist centers.
Local Transportation : Inside Mumbai you may avail any of the various means
of local transport like the taxis, local trains or buses.
Major Circuits
Major Tour Packages To Maharashtra
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