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A fascinating city, Mumbai has always charmed its way into people’s hearts through Bollywood and TV. For Mumbaikars, Mumbai is not a city but an indescribable feeling and a part of their soul. Previously known as Bombay city, it became famous with the song ‘Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan’ sung by the legendary Mohammed Rafi and since then, the city has continued its affair with artists, many calling it a source of their motivation. A cultural hub, Mumbai invokes passion alluring throngs of people from all over India to come here and realise their dreams, thereby earning the moniker ‘The City of Dreams’.
A melting pot of diverse cultures, Mumbai is a beautiful mélange of various religions, festivals, events, cuisines, music and art. A city rich with traditions, every festival is celebrated with great aplomb successfully uniting people from different religions, caste and creed. Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Eid, Dussera, Moharram, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Maha Shivratri, Navratri, and Good Friday are some of the most important occasions observed and celebrated lavishly.
A trendsetter and true cosmopolitan city, Mumbai is always in news owing to its upcoming infrastructure, thriving hospitality industry and for the latest updates on Bollywood and the lives of the celebrities. Mumbai has a lot to offer to visitors to enjoy their trip to the hilt and the Mumbai tour packages presents the best of the city from its famous landmarks, marvellous shopping, excellent dining options and vibrant nightlife.
| Mumbai: A Quick View of the City | |
| Official Language | Marathi, Hindi |
| Dial Code | 022 |
| Population | 24 Million (as of 2018) |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (INR) |
| Time Zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
| Area | 603.4 square km |
The best time to visit Mumbai is in the winter season. The cool and breezy climate enhances the trip making it even more memorable. The gorgeous weather makes it easier to stroll along the streets and causeways, exploring the city by foot, street shopping, engaging in outdoor activities and indulging in relaxing at the open roof bars and lounges sipping on cocktails under the sparkling stars. It is also the best time to witness the various festivals that are celebrated with much enthusiasm and gusto. Enjoy the spectacle of Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas, Kite flying and the iconic Kala Ghoda festival. One can also embark on several places to visit near Mumbai for a wholesome Mumbai experience. Apart from the hill stations such as Lonavala, Khandala, Panchgani, Lavasa and Mahableshwar, there are interesting cities such as Pune, Matheran, Igatpuri, Alibaug, Shirdi and Goa that can be visited for few days.
Mumbai is brimming with countless places showcasing its heritage in the form of architecture and religious sites to the modern city that attracts people from all over the world. Some of the best places to visit in Mumbai are:
Gateway of India - Set against the backdrop of the glittering Arabian Sea, the illustrious monument built to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary's visit to India in 1911, boasts of exquisite Indo-Saracenic style architect and grandeur. Reflecting India’s rich culture and history, it is built with yellow basalt stone and intricately embellished with beautiful motifs. At a height of 26m, it standing tall on four turrets.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus - A UNESCO World Site Heritage and formerly known as Victoria Terminus, this splendid edifice is one if the busiest railway stations in the country. An outstanding example of Victorian-Gothic style with a blend of the traditional Indian style, marvel at the beautiful architecture that comprises of pointed arches, stone domes, turrets, eccentric ground plans and marvellous stained glass façade. It was built in the year 1887 by F. W. Stevens to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Elephanta Caves - A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Elephanta Caves is a glorious example of the finest Indian architecture from the medieval period. An amalgamation of Hindu and Buddhist culture displayed through the rock cut architecture and sculptural art. Situated on a hillock, the Elephanta caves comprises of a total of 7 caves segregated into two groups of grottos. Five of the caves represent the Hindu culture while the two remaining represent the Buddhist culture. The 7m high “Sadashiva” or ‘trimurti’ inside the cave is a brilliant masterpiece depicting the three aspects of Shiva and a major tourist attraction.
A secular city, Mumbai is speckled with several religious shrines that are centuries old and represent the several religions that coexist wonderfully. Some of the most popular ones are:
Mosques - Situated on an islet in the middle of Arabian Sea, Haji Ali Dargah is globally recognised and witnesses’ a huge footfall. Built in in Indo-Islamic architecture, it is a stunning white marble structure with minarets and arched frames. The dome has exquisite mirror work with intricate mosaic and a silver crown. Other mosque worth a visit is Jama Masjid.
Temples - Mahalaxmi Temple is one of the oldest temple dedicated to Goddess Mahalaxmi. The deity is flanked by Goddess Kali and Saraswati. All the three idols are bejeweled with gold bangles, nose rings and pearl necklaces. The temple is usually thronged by devotees during the festival of Navratra. Other popular temples are the Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi which is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and the ISKCON temple in Juhu which is dedicated to Lord Krishna.
Churches - Situated in Bandra, the Mount Mary church was built in the 16th century by the Portuguese and is very famous with people irrespective of their religion flocking to see the beautiful architecture and seek peace and tranquility. Other prominent churches are St. Thomas Cathedral in Fort and St. Michaels Church in Mahim.
A coastal city, Mumbai is teeming with beautiful beaches, promenades and chowpatty. Some of the famous ones are Juhu beach, Aksa beach, Worli seaface, Versova beach, Madh Island beach, Marine drive, Bandstand, Carter road and Girgaum chowpatty. Popular with tourists, they are intrinsically picturesque spots to catch the mesmerising sunrise and sunsets. The best way to enjoy is to take a leisurely stroll as the breeze caresses your face and indulge in the street food while sipping on hot tea.
Mumbai has multitude of gorgeous landmarks that showcase the heritage, culture and architecture of Mumbai. Explore some of Mumbai’s famous places such as the Taj Hotel Mumbai, Flora Fountain, the Mantralaya, Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat, Colaba, Kala Ghoda precinct and Film City.
For art aficionados, Mumbai boasts of a vibrant art scene with some of the best contemporary art galleries that showcase brilliant works of celebrated and upcoming young artists. The Jehangir Art Gallery, Volte, The loft, Chatterji & Lal, Chemould Prescott Road Gallery are some of the premier institutes with free entry.
Apart from beautiful tourist places in Mumbai, the city also offers a plethora of activities that caters to every age group.
Cuisine Of Mumbai
Mumbai is famous for its delicious street food that beats any other junk food. For a quintessential Mumbai experience, one must definitely splurge on the mouth watering delicacies such as vada pav, pav bhaji, missal pav, dhabeli and a wide array of chaats like pani puri, sev puri, bhel, dahi puri etc. Apart from the street fare, Malwani and Maharashtrian cuisine is also equally delectable and must try.
Shopping At Mumbai
One of the most fashion forward metropolitan city, Mumbai is every shoppers’ paradise. A delightful experience, indulge in retail therapy ranging from street fashion to charming boutiques, celebrity designer stores and glitzy malls housing luxurious, international and local brands all under one roof. Visit the Colaba Causeway, Fashion Street, Hill Road and Linking Road for cheap street shopping. These street offer various latest trendy merchandises such as clothes, artificial jewellery, shoes, bags and accessories at great prices though bargaining is a must. While Palladium mall brings forth the luxurious brands, Phoenix, Phoenix Marketcity, and Infinity mall house several internationals and local brands catering to every shopaholic.
Sports In Mumbai
Mumbai population is extremely passionate about sports. Be it cricket, hockey, kabbaddi or football, every sport receives the same enthusiasm and fervour. One must definitely add the famous stadiums such as Wankhede, Oval and Mahalaxmi racecourse in the itinerary when visiting the city. Mumbai has many home-grown teams in various field of sports and some are even owned by Bollywood celebrities. Three time champions, Mumbai Indians, part of IPL, cricket has gained immense popularity over the years.
Adventure enthusiasts rejoice! Mumbai boasts of myriad adrenaline pumping activities ensuring the perfect thrills and joy without having to travel abroad. Here are some of the activities you can participate in:
Water Sports - Jet Skiing, paddle boating, and trapezing at Mandwa beach, kayaking in Vasai, white water rafting in Kolad and sailing from Gateway of India.
Aerial Activities - Paragliding at Kamshet, bungee jumping in Lonavala, parasailing at Mandwa, sky diving at Aamby Valley, swoop swinging at Della Adventures in Lonavala and zip lining in Lonavala and Aamby Valley.
Trek and Camping - Some of the places worth visiting for an exhilarating experience for trekking and camping are Alibaug, Lonavala, Prabalmachi, Vasind and Bhandardhara.
There are several thrilling premium entertainment centres for a fun family outing such as theme parks, water parks, national park and gaming arcade. The top ones are Della Adventure, Imagica, Essel World, Water Kingdom, Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Smaaash.
Buzzing with artists and performers, Mumbai has no dearth of quality entertainment. Here one can enjoy great stand up acts at Canvas Laugh Club, plays at Prithvi Theatre and NCPA and experience live music scene at Radio Bar and Blue Frog. Mumbai holidays is incomplete without experiencing the live entertainment scene.
A city that never sleeps, Mumbai possesses some of the best clubs, bars and lounges. Known for its brilliant nightlife culture, party the night away as you sway and sip cocktails at some of the most happening venues in town such as AER, Trilogy, Social, Bombay Adda, China House, Dome and many more.
By Air: Being a metropolitan city, Mumbai has one of the busiest airports in India. The Mumbai International Airport i.e Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is well connected with major destinations in the world while the Santa Cruz domestic airport is with the rest of India. Hence, there are frequent international and domestic flights to Mumbai and most of the airlines cater to the city.
By Rail: Mumbai has several railway stations which are well connected to every part of India making the city truly accessible.
Overlooking the dazzling Arabian Sea, Mumbai is a coastal region with three prominent climatic seasons:
March-May
This is the peak summer season with the temperature ranging from 30-40 °C. With the humidity on the rise and sweltering heat, stepping outdoor is difficult and certainly not the advisable time to visit Mumbai.
June-September
June marks the advent of the famous monsoon season. With the incessant rainfall, you may not be able to enjoy the activities but if you are inclined to travel during this period then there are beautiful getaway spots such as Lonavala and Mahableshwar. The enchanting hill stations offer stunning breath-taking vista of majestic mountains draped in clouds and lush verdant hills mesmerising the nature lovers and trekkers. Also, August/September bears witness to the 10 days Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Mumbai being one of the few cities where it is celebrated with great zest and exuberance, it will be a wonderful opportunity to experience the beauty, colours and scrumptious sweets. Visit the various pandals to worship Lord Ganesha and receive abundant blessings during these auspicious days.
October-February
Mid- October onwards is Indeed the ideal time to visit Mumbai as the temperature begins to dip. The mild winter season is pleasantly cool and tourists can enjoy the famous Mumbai sightseeing excursions, outdoor activities, beaches, vibrant nightlife, getaway trips and various vibrant cultural festivals.
Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai has an intriguingly extensive history ranging from being under King Ashoka during the Mauryan period who integrated the seven isles namely Bombay Island, Colaba, Mahim, Mazagaon, Worli, Parel, and Old Woman's Island to being under the Muslim rule. From here on it came under the influence of Portuguese from 1543 AD to 1661 AD. Along with the famous St. Michael Church in Mahim which is also one of the oldest, they were instrumental in building various other churches and forts. Soon, it paved way for other European countries to enter following the spice route leading from Dutch to British. The marriage of Catherine of Portugal to King Charles II of England witnessed the handover of the island to England as dowry which in turn was leased to East India Company. The island came to be known as Bombay and thus began the British era and the city’s consequent development. Bombay flourished under the British rule with the opening of the Suez Canal and constructions of a school, Bombay university, Colaba Causeway, bank, railways, port, various industries and the iconic Gateway of India and Victoria Terminus. Bombay was also at the epicentre of the Quit India movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, witnessing several events of the freedom struggle, following which eventually the last of the troops to leave India passed through the Gateway of India.
Post independence the city was crowned the capital of Maharashtra and it witnessed massive expansion leading to a huge influx in the population from all over India and the subsequent development of various suburbs such as Borivali, Andheri, Malad, Thane, Vashi, Dombivli, Navi Mumbai and Bandra. A booming city, it has gained the stature of being the financial capital of India and one of the most populous city in the world.
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