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Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, comprises of seven islands and derives its name from Goddesses Mumbadevi. The British made this city popular as Bombay and introduced railway line, tram service and built many Gothic structures, which are now heritage sites like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) earlier known as Victoria Terminus (VT).
Mumbai is one of the biggest international cities after New York, London and Tokyo. This city, which has its roots in the fishing villages transformed into a vital economic centre. This city has attracted millions and is hospitable to all. No doubt, it’s a vibrant ‘mini India.’ It has the largest number of skyscrapers and vertica structures with a huge populace. No wonder it has got the best five star hotels besides the busiest airport and railway network.
Greatness of Mumbai lies in its wider environment, which allows all kinds of people to adapt to a system that may seem maddening and struggling, yet so purposeful and accommodative. The city may look chaotic with its teeming millions but nobody is complaining. The city moves on with a jet setting speed. Its seaport is the busiest, its airport is experiencing air congestion. Lakhs and Iakhs of cars move bumper to bumper from Worli to Nariman Point via the ‘Queens Necklace’.
Hundreds of Bollywood movies have immortalised the sea front across the Marine Drive, Gateway of India and, of course, the CST. Dreams and Bollywood are an integral part of Mumbai life.
Behind its glitz, glamour and opulence, Mumbai has destinations like Elephanta Caves across the Mumbal harbour famous for its rock cut temples - Trimurthi. A peep into Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Jehangir Art Gallery, Dr Bhau Dhaji Lad Museum, Mani Bhavan, RBI Monetary Museum and Ballard Bunder Gatehouse Navy Museum can be covered by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation’s (MTDC) Mumbai Museum Bus Tour.
Tourist Places of Mumbai
Pherozshah Mehta Gardens (Hanging Gardens), Gateway of India, Nehru Science Centre/Planetarium, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Kanheri Caves, Film City, Chowpatty, Juhu, Manori, Gorai and Marve beaches, Esselworld of Water Kingdom and National Gallery of Modern Art are some attractions that provide enough glimpses of Mumbai’s heritage. Rajabhai Tower and Mumbai Stock Exchange denote Mumbai’s supremacy in both academic and corporate world.
Shopping in Mumbai
 Mumbai is a shopper’s paradise. Mumbai’s cotton fabrics were well known but now the market is flooded with all kinds of garments from handloom to foreign material. Colaba causeway, Linking Road (Bandra), Fashion Street (Churchgate), Hill Road (Bandra), Dadar TT, Crawford Market and Gandhi Market (King Circle) are locations for picking up clothing, footwear, jewellery, etc. Shopping has become more of a pastime with the advent of designer shopping complexes and malls from Nariman Point to Bhayander. Entertainment centres with shops, cineplexes, eateries and shopping arcades have mushroomed across Mumbai. What you may miss in Paris or Hong Kong, you can have it in Mumbai, of course, at a price. Whether it’s designer collections or contemporary art, handicraft or antique, Mumbai has it all. The highpoint of Mumbai is its nightlife. Restaurants, pubs, discotheques and exclusive lounges are open for entertainment till midnight and sometimes till dawn. From dawn to dusk, the city is vibrant with activities of all kinds. Chira Bazaar, Kalbadevi and Lal Bagh are worth a visit to see the traditional and modern businesses surviving at the same time.
The highpoint of Mumbai is its nightlife. Restaurants, pubs, discotheques and exclusive lounges are open for entertainment till midnight and sometimes till dawn. From dawn to dusk, the city is vibrant with activities of all kinds. Chira Bazaar, Kalbadevi and Lal Bagh are worth a visit to see the traditional and modern businesses surviving at the same time.
Foodie’s delight
Mumbai offers the best Indian cuisine such as vada pav (Indian burger), misal pav, paani puri or bhajjiya. One can savour numerous types of Indian food like South Indian, Jain, Gujarati, Parsi, traditional Maharashtrian or non-vegetarian Konkani food. |
