Mumbai
Discover Mumbai
Mumbai (Marathi and Hindi: मुंबई Mumbaī), formerly known as Bombay, is the largest city in India and the capital of the state Maharashtra. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Mumbai was built on seven islands on the Konkan coastline which over time were joined to form the island city of Bombay. The island was in turn joined with the neighbouring island of Salsette to form Greater Bombay. The city has an estimated metropolitan population of 21 million (2011), making it one of the world's most populous cities. Mumbai is undoubtedly the commercial capital of India and is one of the predominant port cities in the country. Mumbai's nature as the most eclectic and cosmopolitan Indian city is symbolised in the presence of Bollywood within the city, the centre of the globally-influential Hindi film and TV industries. It is also home to India's largest slum population and the iconic Gateway of India built on the waterfront of Mumbai Harbour during the British Raj.
What to Experience in Mumbai
A clear morning on the Marine Drive, Mumbai.
brown bridge during golden hour
The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Bandra–Worli Sea Link
View of the Gateway of India from the sea.
high-rise buildings during daytime
The view from a room at the Taj Mahal Towers hotel in Mumbai
The famous Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai
Bandra-Worli Sea Link captured like never before.
Bridge over the sea
Famous Beaches
Take A Dip at Water World
Take a morning walk on Juhu beach
Watch the sunset at the Gateway of India
Visit Essel World
Visit museums and art galleries
Navratri (Sep/Oct) is a 10
Ramadan
Cricket
Film & TV production
Indian classical music
Indian cooking
Yoga
Family
Carpets, rugs and shawls
Alphonso Mangoes during summer season
Taste of Mumbai...
The dining experience at an upscale restaurant in Mumbai is more or less the same as anywhere else in the world. You can find cuisine from the Middle East, Western Europe, North America and China easily. But to get a real flavour of what's unique to Mumbai, you will have to go a little lower down the scale and experience the street food and Irani cafes. Since March 2015, beef is banned in Maharashtra, and therefore in Mumbai. Therefore, it is uncommon to find beef served in restaurants. For indi
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Mumbai into what it is today.
Though the seven islands that now make up the city have a long recorded history like any other place in India, their journey to form the city of Mumbai really started in 1498, when the Portuguese took them over from the Sultan of Gujarat. They built a settlement, forts, and churches (including the strange-looking Portuguese Church that stands to this day). However, they could not make much of their possession and the seven islands were handed over to England in 1661 as part of the dowry of Catherine de Braganza when she married Charles II of England. He wasn't very interested in the islands either, and he leased them to the British East India Company for £10 a year in 1668. The East India Company built the docks, the trading posts, and the fort that would form the nerve centre of the city....
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Mumbai.
While many religious festivals are celebrated by people in Mumbai, a few of these are essentially public and social occasions, where the traveller can participate. Mumbai inherits the cricket fever justifiably and the metropolitan region has 3 of the finest cricket stadiums in India, namely Brabourne Stadium (Churchgate), Wankhede Stadium (Marine Lines) and DY Patil Stadium (Navi Mumbai). Several of international cricket matches and domestic championships such as Indian Premier League (IPL) have been played in these stadiums. Watch out for upcoming cricket stadium to join the cricket frenzy cr
Climate
Mumbai has three main seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter (milder summer). The best time to visit is during the winter between October and February. Humidity is also less during the winter, when the climate is pleasant; the minimum temperature is 17°C and the maximum is 30–31 °C (86–88 °F). Summer is from March to May, with highs in the low to mid 30s (roughly 80–90°F). It is hot and humid during this time. June to September is the monsoon season when the city is lashed by heavy rains. The city gets flooded two or three times and normal life gets disrupted during this season. Climate is humid
Essential Information
Best Time to Visit
Oct – Febbest time to visit is during the winter between October and February....
Getting There
Multiple OptionsMumbai has excellent connectivity with most of the major cities around the world, including New York, London, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur to name a few. If you are flying from Europe it is generally cheaper to fly from London, and there are many frequent flights available. All domestic sectors are linked to Mumbai, making it the second busiest hub in the country next to Delhi. Thane Creek is bustling with ferries to central Mumbai from various cities on the southern and eastern ...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Most of Mumbai's inhabitants rely on public transport to and from their workplaces due to the lack of parking spaces, traffic bottlenecks and generally poor road conditions, especially in the monsoon. However, do ride in a taxi at least once in the city. Feel real adventure in a vehicle that feels like it might fall apart at speed with a driver who thinks he's Schumacher. For travelling using public transport, you can download the m-Indicator app for Android and iPhone. It contains useful inform
Where to Stay
It is very difficult to find good-budget hotels in Mumbai. If you are a tourist or a business traveller, you may have to stay in South Mumbai, which is where both the business district and the touristy areas are. Lack of space means that even the cheapest hotel charges stratospheric tariffs. The state of public transport and traffic means that it is not really a good choice to stay anywhere else. In any case, things aren't much better if you are looking for hotels close to the airport. You shoul
Money & Budget
Visa, MasterCards and Indian RuPay cards are widely accepted in the city shops. Many shopping establishments also accept American Express, Diners and host of other cards. However, some of the small shops or family-run shops may not accept these cards and some handy cash can be of help here. ATMs are widely available and many debit cards accepted as well. If you have an Indian bank account or credi
Language & Talk
Mumbai is India's melting pot — a confluence of people from various parts of India, but dominant are people from the west, then north, and followed by the south. Marathi is the state and city official language used by State Government agencies, municipal authorities, and the local police, and also the first language of most locals. However, being one of India's largest cities and main commercial c
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Unlike other parts of the country, especially Delhi where rape is prevalent, crime is rare, except for possibly common crime like pickpocketing. Violent crime in Mumbai is more or less like any other large Indian city. It is best to err on the side of safety and act according to your local environment. Here are a few basic safety tips: As elsewhere in India, be careful with what you eat. Outside of major tourist hotels and restaurants, stay away from raw leafy vegetables, egg-based dressings like mayonnaise and minced meat are particularly risky. In short, stick to boiled, baked, fried or peel
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Mumbai
A clear morning on the Marine Drive, Mumbai.
brown bridge during golden hour
The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Bandra–Worli Sea Link
View of the Gateway of India from the sea.
high-rise buildings during daytime
The view from a room at the Taj Mahal Towers hotel in Mumbai
The famous Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai
Bandra-Worli Sea Link captured like never before.
Bridge over the sea
A clear morning on the Marine Drive, Mumbai.
brown bridge during golden hour
The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai