Mumbai

Mumbai (Bombay), the financial capital of India is an interesting mix of cultures and tradition. Though the city has few historical attractions it offers myriad others unique and interesting sights to the visitor. Some top attractions in Mumbai are listed below:

Gateway of India
This is a striking symbol of the British Raj era. The imposing monument by the sea is also an architectural wonder. The atmosphere around the monument resembles a colorful market with numerous vendors peddling everything from balloons to tea and eatables.

Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat
This is a massive open air laundry. It comprises seemingly endless rows of concrete troughs. Thousands of dhobis stand up to their knees in water filled with chemicals, for hours at a stretch and manually scrub and beat the dirt out of each item of laundry.

Haji Ali
This is both a mosque and a tomb. On Thursdays and Fridays tens of thousands of pilgrims flock to this place. The shrine is located in Central Mumbai.

Kala Ghoda Art District
Kala Ghoda, is Mumbai’s cultural center. This place is home to the best art galleries and museums in the city. You can also find some wonderful pavement galleries. A famous gallery in this place is the Jehangir Art Gallery.

Heritage Buildings
Some heritage buildings in Mumbai are outstanding examples of colonial architecture. These include the Gothic looking Prince of Wales Museum in the Kala Ghoda art precinct, Churchgate railway terminus, and the buildings of Horniman Circle in the Fort area. The huge gardens of Horniman Circle provide a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Caves and National Park
Mumbai has a national park located within its precincts. There are many ancient Buddhist caves, carved out of volcanic rock. Caves, dedicated to the Hindu Lord Shiva, can also be found on Elephanta Island.

Juhu and Marine Drive Chowpatty Beaches
Juhu and Marine Drive beaches are a nice place to relax and watch the sunset. You can enjoy tasty snacks offered by the endless food stalls and mobile food vendors. Roasted corn on the cob, pani puri, bhel puri, and pav bhaji are very popular with goers. Marine drive chowpatty is a short drive from the gateway of India while Juhu is 30 kilometer north of the city center.

Markets and Bazaars
Mumbai is full of interesting places to go street shopping. From the colorful pavement vendors that line Colaba Causeway, to the interesting Chor Bazaar Thieves Market, you can find huge stock of cheap shoes, clothes and antiques. You can relish on fresh food while marveling at the architecture of Crawford Market.

Bollywood
As Mumbai is home to India’s hindi film industry, popularly known as Bollywood, tourists can go on a tour to the heart of the action in Film City.

A visit to Mumbai can be a unique and fascinating experience altogether.