The heart of the Bollywood film industry is a lively metropolis, featuring diverse architecture, beautiful sea views and some of India’s busiest streets.
Mumbai is India’s financial and entertainment centre and one of the world’s biggest cities. As a result of its long colonial history, Mumbai is a world city, filled with churches and architectural landmarks built in eastern and western styles. Discover the city’s historic buildings, trawl markets to find handicrafts and fresh produce and watch the sunset over the Arabian Sea.
Originally, Mumbai was a collection of towns spread across numerous islands off India’s west coast. After the Portuguese and then the British colonised the area, the waterways were filled in and the towns were incorporated into the city of Bombay. The city’s name was changed to Mumbai in 1995, long after India had gained its independence.
Visit Mumbai’s colonial buildings to see the remnants of British-occupied Bombay. See the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station, a massive Gothic-Revival structure. Check out the early 20th-century Gateway of India, a tribute to King George V’s first steps onto Indian soil. Learn more about the history of India and Mumbai at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Bombay Museum).
Impressive religious structures are common throughout Mumbai. Visit the island-bound Haji Ali mosque, see the ancient Hindu temple of Mumba Devi and tour one of the city’s earliest colonial churches, St. Thomas Cathedral.
Take a walk through Mumbai to get the best sense of this exciting metropolis. Shop at one of the city’s open-air markets. Look out on the Arabian Sea from Marine Drive, which lines the vast curve of the waterfront. Every night, people crowd along the waterfront to watch the sun set over the sea.
Explore Mumbai’s natural environment at the Hanging Gardens or the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which features caves and a vast network of trails.
Reach Mumbai by flying into Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Many bus and train services link Mumbai to the rest of India, making it the perfect gateway to explore the rest of this fascinating country.
