Quick Facts Area: 440 sq km Population: 1.34 million Best time to visit: November to March Languages: Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and English

Lying on the western coast of Maharashtra, stands the reverberating city of Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay. This is the legendary city of dreams, the land that never sleeps, the budding, buzzing commercial capital of the nation, and the abode of art and creativity—in a nutshell, a multifaceted, multidimensional city that garners several identities. People of this city are always on the run, be it the school going children, the office folks, or an always running short of time housewife. From tall sky scrapers to run-down slums, and spanking new IT centers to long-standing media houses, Mumbai is home to everything one can imagine. As you step into the city, it is hard to miss the sudden roar of bellowing engines and the clamor of traffic on the roads. But, as you go on to explore the city’s landscape and culture, the inescapable spirit of Mumbai makes your experience an unforgettable one.

Gateway of India

The landmark of Mumbai, Gateway of India, is a huge colonial structure that stands tall, guarding the waterways of the city. As you head toward this monumental structure, you are greeted by clusters of fluttering birds, mostly pigeons. Located at the end of Shivaji Marg, this giant arch is made from yellow basalt and reinforced concrete. It is styled along the Indo-Saracenic architectural style along with elements derived from the Muslim architectural styles of 16th century Gujarat. The entire harbor front was refashioned in order to align it with an esplanade that would extend to the center of the town.

Designed by George Wittet, this structure was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V. It saw completion in 1924, when it was inaugurated by the Viceroy, the Earl of Reading. The walls of this archway also witnessed to the departure of the last British infantry from India in 1948. Also in the vicinity are statues of well known figures from the history of India such as Swami Vivekananda and the much revered Maratha leader, Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Other activities and attractions around the Gateway are horse driven carriages replicating the colonial times, ice cream stalls, balloon sellers, photographers, and miscellaneous snack vendors. The Gateway is also the starting point for ferry rides to the famous Elephanta Caves and to a popular weekend destination, Alibag.

The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower

A meal or a drink in this grand and indulgent hotel is a delight. However, if you do not wish to spend much, visit this magnificent hotel anyway. Built in 1903 by the Parsi industrialist, JN Tata, the Taj Mahal Hotel is the epicenter of the city’s upper crust social life. The exterior has an exquisite ancient design depicting Colonial as well as Mughal architecture, whereas the interiors are equally charming, particularly the grand central stairway.

Colaba

At the southernmost part of the city lies Colaba, the hub of travelers, visitors, and shoppers alike. The long stretch of Colaba Causeway is one of the most commercially alive centers within the city. Spend the day surfing through the stalls at Colaba Market or in one of the petite cafes and bakeries munching on some delightful delicacies. The market has everything on sale from export rejects available at throw away prices to branded showrooms exhibiting their best collections. Also nearby is Sassoon Dock where you can witness the culture of the native Koli fisher folk of Mumbai. The best time to see some real action in this area is in the wee hours of the morning when the skilled fisherwomen sort large hordes of fishes caught by the men. Photography of these activities is strictly forbidden.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Prince of Wales Museum)

Located in Kala Ghoda, which is also home to several ancient and colonial structures, the Prince of Wales Museum is one of the main museums of the city. The building was built in 1905 to commemorate the first visit of King George V to India. It was opened to public only by 1923. Styled with an ancient touch of Indo-Saracenic design, the museum contains several ancient, valuable artifacts.

The collections are divided into three categories—art, archeology, and natural history. Here you can find miniature paintings, terracotta figurines dating back to the Harappan period, royal weaponry, ancient sculptures, and ancient porcelain and glassware. The natural history section contains a large collection of Indian birds and stuffed animals. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday between 10:15 am to 6 pm.

National Gallery of Modern Art

Located in the Sir Cowasji Jehangir Public Hall, this gallery exhibits a variety of exquisite paintings by Indian and International artists. The gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday (11 am to 6 pm). The top floor Dome Gallery contains a permanent collection of contemporary Indian art.

Jehangir Art Gallery

This art gallery is famous for its weekly shows by Indian artists. The gallery also facilitates a regular display of new budding talent along with famous, established painters.

Built by the Sassoon Family in 1884, this synagogue is one of two elegant synagogues (the other located in Byculla). Intricately designed, the light blue exterior compliments the vibrant interior that is made up of stained glass windows. Still functioning, this synagogue is well maintained by the Jewish communities of central Mumbai.

University of Mumbai

Designed in 1870, by Gilbert Scott, the Bombay University is located on Bhaurao Patil Marg. The building is well styled brownstone structure provides a glimpse of the British India. The interiors include a convocation hall with a fine circular stained-glass window surrounded by the twelve zodiac signs. The university library is adorned with an elaborate spiral staircases and ornate galleries. The premises also include an 80 meter high clock tower that further adds to the grandeur of the University.

This is one city where you can find any kind of food belonging to any region within the country. Be it Gujarati, South India, Bengali, Punjabi, etc. Further, there is no dearth of the choices available in International cuisine—Italian, Chinese, Continental, Thai, or Mexican,—Mumbai’s got it all. However, the heart and soul of the Mumbai cuisine are its colorful, throbbing with activity food joints and food stalls spread across the length and breadth of the city. The traditional Marathi food is available at several joints and the best way to enjoy it would be in a thali, which is an elaborate selection of several food preparations, breads, lentils, and sweet dish.

• You can visit Rikhi Ram Music and Rangarsons Music Depot to pick up interesting Indian musical instruments.
• Janpath Market is where you can find Tibetan handicrafts, junk jewelry, inexpensive clothes, furniture, silk bed sheets, kurtas, leather goods, and a variety of Indian handicrafts.
• The Delhi Haat has plenty of stalls that sell handicrafts, Kashmiri shawls, cane, and wooden baskets, bangles, and a variety of North Indian food stalls.
• Authentic silver jewelry, silver ware, furniture, and classic Indian paintings are available at the Hauz Khas Village.
• The Karol Bagh Market is very popular for Indian spices, pickles, Indian packed snacks, and other food items.
• The Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest markets in the city and a hub for spices, silver jewelry, and bangles.
• Connaught place is where all the state emporiums are located, showcasing handicrafts from different the states of India.

Till date, the art and culture of the city is reflected in its architecture and heritage. Mumbai is not only a commercial hub but also the prime center of the Indian film Industry, popularly known as Bollywood. The population of the city is extremely diverse in terms of culture and background. Here, you can experience a unique blend of every sect, society, religion, and culture of India. A majority of the population is Marathi speaking and yet you will find a large dominance of people from regions like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and even Assam. This city, in fact, has its own, extremely popular colloquial dialect called bambaiya, which is an amalgam of Hindi, Indian English, Marathi, and some rather cheeky, locally invented colloquial words. In fact, such is the craze and popularity of this dialect that it has been done to death in several Hindi films, the most popular being “Rangeela.”

Buses, auto-rickshaws, taxis, and cars flood the busy streets of the city, at times leading to giant traffic snarls. However, with the advent of better signage and construction of flyovers, it is rather easy to find your way through the city. Local trains are the most convenient way to travel if you are looking for a relief from the menacing traffic jams. Mumbaikars, as the local citizens are popularly called, are a vibrant lot, at times pre-occupied but mostly ready to provide directions or lend a helping hand.

Initially, this city was a group of seven islands that constituted Bombay, what we now know as Mumbai city. The existence of several artifacts leads to the possibility that the islands (referred to as Heptanesia) were inhabited since the Stone Age period. The islands were initially dominated by the Koli fisher folk around the 2nd century BC. Since then, it has witnessed a constant changing dominance of royal, Hindu as well as Muslim dynasties. By the year 1534, the islands came under the rule of the Portuguese who named the region Bom Bahai (meaning “good bay”).

Eventually, this bunch of islands was presented to Catherine Braganza, the Portuguese princess, as dowry on her marriage to Charles II of England. In 1668, the islands were leased to the East India Company for an annual rent of £ 10. Under the East India Company, this area, which was now referred to as Bombay, soon developed as a chief trading port. The presidency of the company was transferred from Surat to Bombay and the latter was converted as the headquarters for the west coast, known as the Bombay Presidency.

By 1817, engineering efforts were initiated to convert the archipelago into a single land mass. The Bombay fort walls had been built by 1720; however, they were demolished by 1864. By this period, the area had increased massively and trade and development began to prosper within the city. The first Indian passenger railway line was established in 1853, from Bombay to Thane. During the American Civil War, the city became a prime cotton market for the world, further enhancing the revenue for the country, and the city began to rise as a thriving urban center.

Bombay also played an extensive role in the freedom struggle of the country. The famous Quit India Movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi was launched here. Post Independence, the city became the capital of the Bombay Presidency; however, due to linguistic differences, Maharashtra and Gujarat were constituted into different states. Bombay was made the capital of Maharashtra. By late 1970’s, the city saw a surge of development in terms of architecture, employment, trading, and culture. Thus, Bombay became a vibrant, urban metropolitan and one of the fastest developing cities of the country. In 1996, the name Bombay was changed to Mumbai due to the leading party’s constant assertion of changing the colonial influence within the country.