Mumbai - A City that Never Sleeps

Mumbai is the capital of Maharastra State and the gateway to this beguiling subcontinent. Of the four great cities in India, Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan, spear heading India's move into the 21st century.

The word Mumbai is derived from Mumbadevi, the patron goddess of the Koli fisherfolk, the oldest inhabitants of Mumbai. The name Mumbai, in its final form, dates back to the 18 th century. For Portuguese, the name Bombay is Good Bay ("Bom" "Bay" Good Bay). Mumbai is a cluster of seven islands. These islands of no great value were ceded to Portuguese in 1534 by the Sultan of Gujarat. The Portuguese in turn given these islands to Englands's Chareless II as part of the wedding dowry of Catherine of Braganza when she married Englands's Charles II in 1661. In 1668, the British government leased the islands to the East India Company for 10 pounds per annum in the form of gold and Mumbai grew gradually to become centre of trade.

City quite unlike any other in the whole of India, Mumbai (previously named Bombay) is an island city, being located on Salsette Island, alongside the Arabian Sea. With an appealing coastline, many of Mumbai's top resorts and tourist attractions lie around its main beaches, which include both Juhu Beach and also Girgaum Chowpatty Beach, where evening funfairs provide plenty of atmospheres.

Mumbai is famous for many things, including its thriving Bollywood film industry, teeming bazaars, colonial-style buildings, Art Deco structures and a superb choice of restaurants, often being rated as the dining capital of India. The tourist district of Colaba is a great place to start exploring the city and multilingual guides can be arranged should you wish to find out more about Mumbai's history.

Weather : Summer (April,May and June) : Max. 33.3 C and Min. 22.7 C
           Winter (Dec, Jan. and Feb)      : Max. 29.5 C and Min. 19.4 C

How to get there

Mumbai is well linked to most parts of the globe by air. Domestic airlines link it to major towns in India. Mumbai is well connected to most major Indian town by rail. It is also connect to surrounding cities by road also

Tourist Attractions

There are tourist attractions for everyone in Mumbai, ranging from wind surfing to roller coasters. Particularly popular with visiting families are Mumbai's Essel World and Fantasy Land theme parks, the Veermata Jeejmata Udayan Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and the sharks at Taraporewala Aquarium. For a true taste of life in Mumbai, a visit to the Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat is quite unforgettable, where you will find literally thousands of men and women washing garments outside in troughs. Many people choose to take a stroll along Marine Drive, where the coastal views are superb, and also visit the Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, known as the 'Hanging Gardens' and full of botanical interest and located within the Malabar Hill area. For all things scientific and astronomical, a visit to the Nehru Centre and Nehru Planetarium is worth considering.