Mumbai is the financial capital of India and the center of fashion and film industry. It is a concoction of skyscrapers and malls in between the slums and shabby areas. The grand colonial relics and the warrens of bazaars have made this a paradise of tourists of all times. Mumbai was actually a conglomeration of seven islands now joined by road route. This is also one of the most populous cities in the world.
The name Mumbai was derived from the name of the local Hindu Goddess Mumbadevi. In 1498, Mumbai went into the hands of Portuguese and many churches and forts were built by them. Portuguese Church standing to date is one of the tourist attractions of Mumbai. It was given to the British crown as part of the dowry of Catherine de Braganza and then was handed over to the East India Company. They improved the city further and joined the once disjoint portions.
The name Mumbai was derived from the name of the local Hindu Goddess Mumbadevi. In 1498, Mumbai went into the hands of Portuguese and many churches and forts were built by them. Portuguese Church standing to date is one of the tourist attractions of Mumbai. It was given to the British crown as part of the dowry of Catherine de Braganza and then was handed over to the East India Company. They improved the city further and joined the once disjoint portions.
The beaches, harbor, colonial relics and heritage buildings are some of the attracting features in Mumbai. You can get into Mumbai through the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and this is the busiest airport in India. The airport is located at a distance of 28 kilometers from the main city. Mumbai is also well connected to all major cities of India by rail network and road network. The important railway stations in Mumbai are Dadar Terminus, Kurla Terminus and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
To get around Mumbai there are innumerable taxis and buses. You can get comfortable and air-conditioned ride in the private cabs. There are many museums and galleries in Mumbai namely Jehangir Art Gallery, Nehru Center Art Gallery and Prince of Wales Museum. There are some beaches in Mumbai and some of them are Juhu Beach, Girgaon Chowpaty and Aksa Beach in Malad.
Sanjay Gandhi National Park is the nice place to visit to get out of the din and bustle of the city life. The Kanheri Caves found here belong to pre-historic times. There is a well preserved zoo in Byculla and some parks to hang out on Malabar Hill such as the Hanging Gardens and Kamla Nehru Park.
Watching a cricket match at Wankade stadium, visiting one of the theme parks, visiting the Bollywood film city, cruising on the harbor and taking a slum tour are some of the things to be done when at Mumbai. If you are interested in shopping you can check out Chor Bazaar, Fashion Street or Colaba Causeway. Antiques, used products, carpets, rugs, shawls and saris are available cheap here.
There are many good hotels in Mumbai but it is difficult to find budget hotels. Staying in South Mumbai will be an ideal option for both business people and tourists. Due to the lack of space the charges in Mumbai hotels are really high. There are various types of Mumbai restaurants where you can enjoy different delicacies like Pav Bhaji, Bhel Puri, Vada Pav, Pani Puri, etc. A good Mumbai travel guide will help you to select the right Mumbai hotels and Mumbai restaurants.
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