Having pulsating lifestyle with full of vibrancy and fun, Mumbai lives with the spirit of the changing pace set by liberalization and modernization. Mumbai is the centre of interest for foreign investors. It has changed itself into a thriving market, and an MNC's heaven.

Known as the fastest city of India, Mumbai is the only city where tourists can enjoy a fine nightlife. This is the place of beaches like Marina beach and Juhu beach, and one can also opt to see the site seeings like Gateway of India, Essel World, Mani Bhawan, Jehangir Art Gallery, Siddhivinayak Temple and Bollywood.

Mumbai is also the centre for all glamorous happenings in India with a constant stream of performances in film, music, dance and drama. Mumbai also offers lots of adventurous and romantic activities through its nightclubs, pubs, theatres, beaches and restaurants. And don't forget to taste the mouth-watering Mumbai's own pau bhaji, bhel puri and kebabs.

Tourist Attractions

Gateway of India
Gateway of India is regarded to be the starting point for most tourists who want to travel around the Mumbai city. This 26m-high structure has four turrets and intricate latticework carved into the yellow basalt stone. Mumbaites, as well as the foreign tourists come down to this place in the evening and take a cool rest from day's exhausting work schedules.

Marine Drive
Marine Drive is the place where Mumbaites hang out to cool down a while from the steamy hurried and busied life. As street lamps orderly line up on the edge of the beach, it is also known as called Queen's Necklace. Several Hindu religious ceremonies are taking place at Chowpatty like annual thread-tying ceremony, nariel-purnima and Ganesh Chaturthi immersions. Stalls on the beach, selling Bhelpuri, Kulfi and Paan make the chowpatty zesty.

Juhu Beach
Juhu is one of the most popular and posh beaches of India. This fizzing beach on the shores of Arabian Sea is the place where one can find the bungalows of Bollywood stars. Tourists can enjoy horse and donkey rides, dancing monkeys, acrobats, cricket matches, toy sellers etc. here.

Essel World
Essel World offers over 40 exciting rides, games, and attractions. The Water Kingdom is said to be the largest of its kind in Asia. It is a perfect destination for a one-day holiday.

Mani Bhawan
It has Gandhian literature, photographic exhibits, framed letters and 3-D tableaux of key events in Gandhi's life are displayed here. Gandhi's room and belongings including his books, his trademark 'Charkha' (spinning wheel) and 'Charpoy' (rope bed) are displayed here. It is place, where Gandhi first learned how to use the spinning wheel.

Jehangir Art Gallery
There is huge rush of artistes in this gallery to show one's works. Many of the artistes have to wait a couple of years to exhibit their works in this gallery. The building of the gallery is an enormous beautiful mansion. Jehangir Art Gallery is one of the Mumbai's well-known art galleries.

Siddhivinayak Temple
The temple has a Kalash, which is a pointed dome of 12 feet high Gabhara (sanctum sanctorum) weighing 1500 kg and plated in gold. So, it facilitates the 'Darshan' of Sri Siddhivinayak from either the area surrounding the Gabhara or the stage (Sabha Mandap) constructed to conduct pujas and festivities. The temple dates back to 18th Century. Vinayak is considered to be one of the Ashta Vinayak shrines of Maharashtra, celebrating eight instances of legends related to Ganesha.

Bollywood
Next to Hollywood, Mumbai is world's largest production centre for films. The Film City: 'Bollywood', as it is called, produces the second most number of films in the world every year.

How to reach
Being a metro city and the capital of Maharashtra, Mumbai is well connected to the rest of the world and India. International fights are landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (formerly known as Sahar Airport) while at Chhatrapati Shivaji Domestic Airport (formerly known as Santa Cruz Airport) for domestic fights.

This two airport is about 4 km apart and are approximately 30 km and 26 km away from the heart of the city - Nariman Point - in south Mumbai. The airport bus between these two airports takes an hour. Tickets can be bought either on the buses or at the booth outside the Air India Building. A shuttle bus is also operated at regular intervals between the domestic and international airports.

Mumbai Central and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (or VT) connect the city to the rest of the country. One can check the Western Railway and Central Railway reservation centres for up-to-date information on tickets and routes.

Long distance buses are run 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 scenic spots and tourist centres. One may check at MTDC counters for details.

Quick Tips

Weather

November to February is the coldest month in Mumbai, June to September are the monsoon months.

Local Transport

The local trains along with the local bus service run by the BEST carry the huge Mumbai's commuters. Local Trains leave every few minutes from stations in both directions from 4.30 am to 1.30 am. There are also yellow and black taxis, which are a convenient way to travel around the city. But tourists must not forget to carry a tariff card converting the meter reading into rupees fixes payment. The three-wheeled auto-rickshaws are also metered but are only confined to the outer limits of the city, around the northern suburbs.

Tourist Offices

Government of India Tourist Office
123 Maharshi Karve Road, Opposite Churchgate Station
Open: Monday to Friday
Timings: 8.30am to 6pm
Saturday: 8.30am to 2pm.
It also runs a 24-hour counter at the International airport and a counter at the domestic airport that stays open till the last flight.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)
Nariman Point (Express Towers, 9th Floor)
Reservation Office: CDO Hutments, Madame Cama Road,
Open: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Shopping

Mumbai offers quite wide ranges to the shoppers. Ranges are different, and there are places, which can be suited with every type of pockets. Chor Bazaar, Mutton Street and Zaveri Bazar are some of the important areas, where shoppers enjoy with delight. Phenomenal collection of antiques, jewellery, wooden articles, leather ware and general bric-a-brac are available at Chor Bazar. But one must look into with what is buying to avoid of getting cheated.

Crawford market is famous for flowers, fruits, meat and fish. Zaveri Bazaar offers wide and good range of jewellery items. Mereweather Road behind Taj Mahal Hotel is popular for colourful and innovative carpets. Here the range is extensive, exclusive, but prices slightly higher.

State emporiums at the World Trade Centre, at Cuffe Parade are a perfect for buying souvenir, a rare artifact or textiles. The prices at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (Apollo Bunder) and Khadi Village Industries Emporium (D.N.Road) fixed, But the quality are genuine.

The shopping arcades of five-star hotels like Oberoi and Taj Mahal offer a good variety of up-market shops. In central and suburban Mumbai, the Dadar, Bandra-Linking Road, and Juhu Road areas are good spots for shoping. Colaba and Flora Fountain (Hutatama Chowk) has full of shopping items like ethnic artifacts and departmental stores. Fashion Street is popular for affordable and up to date fashionable wardrobe. Kemps Corner, Warden Road, Breach Candy and Napean Sea Road are for those who look for the glamorous shopping.