Mumbai,
the capital of the state of Maharashtra, is the most
populous city of India. Also known as the financial
capital of India, the city is home to important
financial institutions like the RBI (Reserve Bank of
India), the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) and the NSE
(National Stock Exchange of India). The city boasts of
natural harbour, that handles nearly 50 per cent of
India's passenger traffic and a significant amount of
cargo. Mumbai is originally an island, which is
connected to the mainland by bridges. The main part of
the city is concentrated at the southern end of the
island and the northern end is lightly populated. Mumbai
is home to Bollywood, the Hindi film industry. The
Sanjay Gandhi National Park is another popular
attraction here. Because of the immense business
opportunities, Mumbai has attracted migrants from all
over India. The city spreads over an area of 437.71
sq.km and it has a population of 11,914, 398. Mumbai has
a multilingual population, Hindi is the most common
language spoken. Other spoken languages are Marathi,
Gujarati, Urdu etc.
Climate & Clothing in Mumbai
Due to its closeness to sea, the temperature in Mumbai
shows little seasonal fluctuation. During summers (April
to June), temperature averages 32oC, although the
temperature can reach up to 40oC occasionally. Winter
months of November to February, are cooler and the
temperature drops to a minimum of 18oC. Monsoon arrives
in the city by early July, heavy rains sometimes causing
the flooding of streets and roads. The best time to
visit Mumbai is between October and April, when the air
is pleasant and humidity is less.
Accommodation in Mumbai
Some of the most popular hotels of Mumbai include The
Taj Mahal Hotel (5 Star/ Apollo Bunder), The Oberoi ( 5
Star/ Nariman Point), The Leela Kempinski (5 Star/ Sahar,
Andheri East), Taj Lands End (5 Star/ Bandstand, Bandra
West), Taj President (5 Star/ 90 Cuffe Parade, Colaba),
The Retreat (5 Star/ Madh Marve Road), The Resort (5
Star/ Madh Marve Road), West End Hotel (4 Star/ 45, New
Marine Lines), The Ambassador (3 Star/ Veer Nariman
Road) etc.
Tourist Attractions of Mumbai
»
Gateway of India : Mumbai's principal landmark, the
Gateway of India was constrcuted to commemorate the
visit of King George V to India in 1911. Built of yellow
basalt, the design of the monument is derived from the
Muslim architectural styles of 16th century.
» Prince of Wales Museum : The museum
is located beside the Wellingdon circle, near the Colaba
Causeway Hotel Enclave. Built in the Indo-Saracenic
style the museum has sections for arts, miniature
paintings, archaeology and history.
» St. John's Church : Built in the
year 1847, the church is dedicated to the soldiers who
lost their live in the Sind campaign of 1838 and the
Afghan War of 1843.
» Marine Drive : Built on land
reclaimed in 1920, the road runs along the Back Bay.
Officially known as Netaji Subhash Road, Marine Drive
starts at Nariman Point and runs up to Malabar Hill.
» Chowpatty Beach : Chowappaty beach
is the most famous beach in Mumbai. Although the beach
is not ideal for swimming and sunbathing, it offers
plenty of other activites.
» Mani Bhavan : Located on the
Laburnum Road near August Kranti Maidan, this is the
building where Mahatama Gandhi stayed on his visits to
the city between 1917 and 1934. Today, the building
houses a pictorial exhibit of Gandhi's life and a
library.
» Malabar Hill : Situated at the end
of Back Bay, this is a posh residential area. The area
is little cooler than other parts of the city and it
offers fine views over Back Bay.
» Jain Temple : Built in 1904, the
marble temple is dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar,
Adinath.
» Hanging Gardens : Located atop
Malabar Hill, these beautiful gardens were laid out in
1881.
Airports
Sahar
Airport is the international airport of Mumbai, which is
located at a distance of 30 kms from the city centre.
Airlines operate flights from Europe, Far East and
Middle East to Mumbai. Santa Cruz airport is the
domestic airport, just 4 kms away from the city center.
Indian Airlines connects Mumbai with major cities like
Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.
Local Modes of Transport
Travelling within Mumbai is very easy and systematic.
The local buses run by BEST are the most efficient mode
of transport in the city, while the local trains are the
fastest and cheapest way to travel within the city. Taxi
and auto-rickshaw are other modes to move around.
Entertainment Options
Whether in downtown or in the suburbs, Mumbai offer a
variety of entertainment options. As Mumbai is home to
Bollywood, the Hindi film industry so you will find
glamour everywhere. Multiplexes and cinema theatres are
the most popular modes of entertainment in Mumbai. The
city has a vibrant nightlife as it is dotted with
several discos, night clubs, pubs, bowling alleys and
amusement parks.
Shopping in Mumbai
Shopping in Mumbai is a lifetime experience, as the city
has a number of intriguing markets. Chor Bazaar,
Crawford Market, Zaveri Bazaar and Colaba and Flora
Fountain are some of the popular shopping areas here. At
Chor Bazaar you will find jewellry, wood items and
leather goods. Crawford Market is known for flowers,
fruit, vegetables, meat and fish while Zaveri Bazaar is
famous for the varied ranges of jewellery. Colaba and
Flora Fountain are located in the heart of South Mumbai;
the markets are famous for buying ethnic artifacts and
departmental stores.
