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Mumbai “The City of Dreams”
Mumbai Tourism
The city of dreams, Mumbai, showcases a perfect blend of modernity and old traditions, glamour and struggle, and elitism and poverty. Formerly known as Bombay, the city has a rich history as it played an important role during the independence movement and was also a prominent site of factory workers’ protest. Soaked in colonial vibes, Mumbai surpasses other colonial cities with its splendid European and Portuguese architecture and monuments. It is indeed a melting pot of lifestyles, culture and religion. Here, you will find people from all walks of life, be it the inhabitants of slums, migrants, fishermen, struggling actors, to industrialists and Bollywood stars. The city people, Mumbaikers, are full of enthusiasm and live with zeal to achieve something extraordinary in life.
One of the focal points of art, culture, music, theatre and dance, Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city, with interesting events happening across its different regions. Immerse yourself in the colonial aura of South Mumbai. As you walk past the streets of South Mumbai, also referred to as old Bombay, you will be awe-struck by the grandiose monuments constructed in colonial style. You will for sure feel like you are transported back in the time to the British era.
Situated on the coast of Arabian Sea is the majestic Gateway of India. It is one of the most iconic structures in Mumbai, overlooking the pristine blue water of the Arabian Sea. Positioned right across this splendid monument, the world-famous Taj Mahal Hotel stands tall boasting its rich heritage and sophistication. You can visit this place and spend your time with family and friends sitting at the shore, enjoying the view of the sea and the hotel in the backdrop.
Being a coastal city, Mumbai has awesome beaches where you can unwind from day’s stress and busy city life. Visit Marine Drive and relax on its shore with the breeze gently kissing your face. The view of the sunset from this place is breathtaking, against the roaring waves of the mighty Arabian Sea.
When travelling to Mumbai, do not forget to visit Bandra which is a porsche locality and a hub of residential colonies of Bollywood stars. Here, you will find many nightclubs, bars and pubs where you can experience the best of Mumbai’s nightlife.
For all the foodies out there, Mumbai will not disappoint you with its wide range of street food and cuisines. The city is dotted with several food joints where you can savour the local Marathi delicacies. Street food majorly comprises of pav bhaji, Dahi puri, vada pav, Kala khatta, and pani puri. Moreover, those fond of shopping can visit various street shops, malls and other stores to purchase fashionable and traditional outfits. Colaba Causeway and Linking Road are known for the street shopping where you can buy trendy items such as shoes, jewelleries and other designer clothes.
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The ‘City of Dreams’
Mumbai is the commercial and financial capital of India owing to its dense network of industries and services. Also known as the ‘Maximum City’, Mumbai presents you with a rich mix of work culture and aspirations. In addition to this, the city is home to the largest cinema industry in the world, the Bollywood industry. Very similar to Kolkata, this city has its unique culture and traditions and it gets alive during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali and Navaratri.
Mumbai has a lot of surprises in store for its visitors. Get ready to be enchanted by the tinge of colonial heritage found amongst its infrastructures, the majestic Taj Mahal Palace, the Mumbai Central Railway station, and many more. A visit to Wankhede Stadium, Siddhivinayak Mandir and Marine Drive will be a memorable experience and leave you wanting to return to the city again.
Mumbai is a paradise for food lovers. The restaurants here will greet you with exquisite options of delicacies, Parsi Cusine and Missal Pav being a few of them. The city is also home to heritage and European style cafes. Being the one-stop for all the ambitions and dreams in India, Mumbai is indeed the ‘City of Dreams’.
History of Mumbai
Bombay was founded right after the treaty of Bassein was signed in 1802 between Portuguese and Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. As per the treaty, seven islands were to be offered to the Sultan which were later constituted as Bombian. Gradually, several forts and churches were built across the town by the Portuguese, and due to its strategic location, it became an important harbour used for trade by Dutch and British merchants.
Prior to this treaty, these islands were given as a dowry to Charles II of England during his marriage to Princess Catherine of Portugal in 1661. However, in 1688 the British gave out 3 islands on lease to the East India Company and a few years later, the Company transferred its capital from Surat to Bombay. As the years passed by, the city grew rapidly and became one of the major hubs for military and commercial activities.
In the year 1730, the Portuguese finally had to leave Bombay after they were defeated by Marathas. Soon after the Anglo Maratha war and signing of several treaties, the British were able to take full control of Mumbai after driving the Marathas away. All the islands were connected into a single landmass under the Hornby Vellard Project. Furthermore, during the independence movement, Bombay played an important political role in Royal Navy Mutiny in the 1940s and Quit India Movement.
Largest Slum and the Most Expensive Building
The irony of Mumbai city is that despite being one of the richest cities in India, it is also home to the second-largest slum in Asia, Dharavi. Antilia, the residence of the Mukesh Ambani, one of the richest people on earth, is also situated in Mumbai. Mumbai is known for its diversity in reference to its luxurious facilities and poverty. Dharavi used to be a less populated island packed with mangroves and swampy areas. Due to the increase in rural migration owing to rapid establishments of factories in Bombay, Dharavi, which was founded in 1883, expanded at an exponential rate.
As per the recent estimates, Dharavi resides about 300,000 to 1 million people belonging different religion, ethnicity, and occupation. Majority of the residents indulge in informal works such as pottery, ragpickers, rickshaw-pullers, textile making, leather tanning, and in various recycling industries.
The goods produced in the informal economy of Dharavi are exported to different parts of the world and the average annual turnover from such activities is approximately USD 1 billion. The state government has come up with various development schemes for Dharavi, however, the region still is plagued by the unhygienic environment, poor sanitation, and lack of other basic amenities for survival.
On the other hand, there is Antilia, the most expensive residential property in the world, only after Buckingham Palace. The massive and extravagantly expensive structure is the residence of the multi-billionaire, Mukesh Ambani and is located in South Mumbai. The residence is named after a mystical island and is estimated to be valued at USD 1 billion. Around 600 staffs are recruited for the maintenance of Antilia and cater to the needs of Ambani family. This splendid work of architecture was designed by Chicago-based Perkins and Will, however, there are various legal issues embroiled regarding the purchase of the land and construction of Antilia.
Financial Capital of India
After Bombay was made the capital of British East India Company and with the inauguration of Suez Canal 1869, there has been a growing trade between Mumbai and the rest of the world. Today, Mumbai has become the financial and commercial capital of India and contributes about 6.6 per cent of the total national GDP. The major contributors to this growth were the textile industry and sea trade. After the liberalization of the Indian economy in 1991, the city has witnessed a tremendous increase in IT, finance and engineering sector.
As many as 500 Fortune companies have their headquarters in Mumbai. In addition to this, financial organizations such as the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) also have their offices in Mumbai. In 2009, Mumbai financial market was ranked the most expensive office market in the world and was also included in the top 10 Forbes list for richest cities around the globe.
Architecture of Mumbai
The city of Mumbai has a unique blend of different styles of architecture ranging from Gothic-European style to Indo-Saracenic style. As you walk past the city, you will come across several buildings constructed during the colonial period that exhibit the Victorian style of architecture. The architecture of the famous Victoria Terminus is heavily influenced by a diverse palate of Gothic-revival style and also includes other aspects of European style such as Dutch roofs, Tudor casements, and German gables. Majority of the building in South Mumbai are constructed in Soviet-style as well.
As you proceed to Gateway of India, you will be mesmerized by its architecture will follow the Indi-Saracenic style. Furthermore, Marine Drive was built following the Art-Deco style of architecture. In fact, Mumbai has the most number of Art Deco infrastructures, only after Miami. Apart from traditional architecture, the city is also known for its modern forms of architecture, with tall skyscrapers found in every corner of the city. Mumbai also has a few UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Elephanta Caves and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
Nightlife in Mumbai
Mumbai is the city never sleeps. There are many night clubs and bars that are found throughout the city and offer an unmatched nightlife experience. If you go out in the streets at night, you will see many shops that are open, occupied with people busy talking, sipping tea or coffee. Without any doubt, it is a city with the best nightlife in the country.
Restaurants and Local Food in Mumbai
In addition to its diverse culture and lifestyle, Mumbai also offers a lot of diversities when it comes to food. The street food here is cheap and delicious. You should try out the hot streaming idlis and vada pav from any of the street side food joints. Alternatively, you can visit the grand Wasabi restaurant in Taj and savour the Japanese meal. Furthermore, there are many restaurants in the city that are known for serving scrumptious international cuisines, when compared to other Indian towns. You can also try the mainstream North Indian and South Indian dishes at various restaurants.
Mumbai is packed with happening pubs such as The Little Door in Andheri and Hard Rock Café in Worli. For those who like partying, ought to visit these places and to get an awesome experience of Mumbai nightlife. There are also quite a few cheap places to party in the city like Laxmi in Powai, Gokul in Colaba, and Janta in Bandra. Here, you can grab a drink or two with your friends.
Travel Itinerary
Day 1 – Once you have reached Mumbai, the first place to visit is the Regal Cinema Circle. This place is connected to other famous spots of the city such as Colaba Causeway, which is also known as the Cultural Hub of Mumbai, and Gateway of India. The best time to visit this Circle is during the evening, when the place is hustling and bustling with a variety of shops, people and is lit up with beautiful lights.
Day 2 – On the second,get ready to explore the local life of Mumbai. Board the famous local train of Mumbai and head to any place you like. Alternatively, you can head to Koli fishing village at Cuffe Parade. From here you can even proceed to Fort District, which is the central point for all the financial activities in Mumbai. Later in the evening, head to Mahalaxmi Temple and Haji Ali Dargah.
Day 3 – Make your third day in Mumbai interesting by visiting the iconic Maratha Mandir. Here, you should go for the 11:30 show of the famous movie, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. After this, you can take a stroll around the Crawford Market. This place is just 15 minutes away from Dadabhai Naroji Road. Situated close to this market is the Victorian London Market where you can shop for several European items.
Spend your evening by relaxing at Marine Drive where you can witness the electric lighting which, in turn, is commonly known as Queen’s Necklace. Towards one end of Marine Drive, lies the popular Chowpatty Beach where you can savour the snacks from the street shops including bhelpuri, misal pav and chaat.
