Introduction to Mumbai:  

Mumbai’s name conjures up a host of visions: of glamour and megastars who hold millions in thrall, of some of the largest slums in the whole of Asia, of industrialists and business houses, of art, culture and music, of traditional Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and ultra modern pubs and discotheques…Mumbai manifests a curious mix of Western streaks amidst the traditional Maharashtrian milieu, of the extremely rich rubbing shoulders with the abysmally poor.

Mumbai (formerly Bombay), situated on the western coast of India, is the largest metropolis of the country. It is the capital of one of India’s most advanced states, Maharashtra.

Mumbai is pleasant during the winter (November–March) and hot during summer. The temperature is on the rise from the month of March until the monsoons break out in mid-June, which goes on until September. October offers a relief from humidity and heat.

Just when you begin to wonder how you’re ever going to cope with Mumbai, you arrive at Worli and see Haji Ali Mosque standing proudly on a raised walkway in the middle of the sea giving you the feeling that the Gods are there if everything else fails. If you arrive at night, there will be a backdrop of twinkling lights from the skyscrapers that are so much a feature of Mumbai’s skyline. The scenes change as you drive past Chowpatty Beach, ablaze with the lights of stalls selling fruit-juice, ice-cream and snacks to the crowds thronging the beach. By the time you reach Marine Drive, your spirits will be restored and the rush of traffic won’t seem half so daunting as it might have been earlier, and the sedate horse-drawn landau will seem a charming anachronism.
Once a cluster of seven islands—Colaba, Mumbai, Mazagaon, Old Woman's island, Wadala, Mahim, Parel, and Matunga Sion—the home of the Koli fishing community is today the financial capital of India. In 1996, Bombay officially came to be known as Mumbai. The present name derives from Mumbadevi, the goddess of the Kolis.

Sightseeing:  Once you are in Mumbai, the list of sites to visit is endless. First of all the twinkling lights from the skyscrapers itself will keep your eyes wide open with excitement and wonder. And to add up to your excitement you have a number of sites to visit that could be teamed up as historical sites, contemporary wonders, archaeological sites, religious sites and natural wonders. The Gateway of India is the main attraction of Mumbai city. Built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in the year 1911, this massive historical monument makes a must visit during your Mumbai sightseeing. Moreover, there are sites like the Mani Bhawan or the Gandhi memorial, Prince of Wales Museum, Marine Drive and Juhu that give you the feeling of being in the commercial capital of India. The gardens like the Hanging Garden and the Kamla Nehru Garden will provide you the much needed rest between your sightseeing trips and the Chowpatty gives you the view of one of the most happening beaches of Mumbai.

Excursions: And if you get tired of visiting sites in Mumbai and want to get away from the city to spend some time in tranquility, move out to visit the many cool and calm destinations around the city. This would include the thrilling caves of Elephanta, the Karla caves, the unique Kanheri caves and the best known hill stations of Mumbai, Matheran and Lonavla. All these places make the favourite destination not only for the tourists who visit Mumbai but also for the local people who come here on holidays and vacations.