India’s largest port, its commercial and industrial centre, as well as fashion capital and heart of Bollywood (India’s thriving movie industry), Mumbai is an endlessly fascinating city. A melting pot for cultures from every corner of the country, Mumbai embodies a little bit of all India’s diverse traditions rolled into one.
A jumble of captivating contradictions, grand colonial architecture rubs shoulders with chaotic bazaars, trendy restaurants, exclusive boutiques, slums and shanty towns, all interspersed with beautiful, tropical palm trees. A shopper’s haven, this bustling cosmopolitan metropolis offers anything from pavement stalls and ancient markets to glitzy malls and designer outlets. A melting pot for cultures from every corner of the country, Mumbai embodies a little bit of all India’s diverse traditions rolled into one.
Why Visit?
- Mumbai is the heart of Bollywood, India’s thriving movie industry.
- The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (previously known as Prince of Wales Museum of Western India), is a mass of buttresses, domes, turrets, spires and stained glass windows. Built in the early 20th century it houses a collection of fine Indian sculpture, terracotta figurines from the Indus Valley, miniature paintings, porcelain, Nepali and Tibetan art, as well as a range of other exhibits.
- In the middle of Mumbai Harbour lies Elephanta Island, with its labyrinth of ancient caves and temples cut into the basalt rock. It is a breathtaking ceremonial arch that combines elements of European, Hindu and Muslim architecture.
- Dhobi Ghat (Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat) is a well-known open air laundromat in Mumbai, it is known as the world’s largest outdoor laundrey. The washers, locally known as Dhobis, work in the open to wash the clothes from Mumbai’s hotels and hospitals. There are rows of open-air concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own flogging stone.
- Mani Bhawan is situated in the Gamdevi precinct of downtown Mumbai, and acted as the focal point of Gandhi’s political activities in Mumbai between 1917 and 1934. It is also a museum and a library.
Climate
Summer (May – September)
Min 25°C/77°F Max 45°C/113°F
Winter (October – April)
Min 5°C/41°F Max 25°C/77°F
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