 Mumbai is a beautiful city, rising like the wave and then tapering off as it touches the shore, apt for a towering construction, whose natural altitude demands that it lie prostrate before the Arabian Sea. It encapsules the many memories that have shaped Mumbai, some not yet wholly erased, just the way old inscriptions remain visible to the eye in a written manuscript.
The name Mumbai is a derivative, linguistically derived frorm `Mumba`, standing for the name of the Goddess Mumbadevi and `Aai`- mother in Marathi. During the 16th century, the Portuguese named the area `Bom Bahia` (Good Bay), later corrupted to `Bomaim` or `Bombaim`, by which it is still known in Portuguese. After the British gained domination, it was anglised to `Bombay`. The name was officially changed to Mumbai in 1995, but the former name is still in use by prestigious institutions.
Geographical Importance of Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and the most populous city of India, with an estimated population of approximately 13 million (2006). It is the financial capital of India. It is located on Salsette Island, off the West Coast of Maharashtra. The city`s geographical co-ordinates are 18.96° N 72.82° E. An original seven islands were amalgamated to form the city of Bombay (now called Mumbai), they comprise - Isle of Bombay, Colaba, Little Colaba or Old Woman`s Island, Mahim, Mazagaon, Parel and Worli. The close by islands of Trombay and Salsette were also amalgamated to form the suburban Greater Bombay. The remaining islands comprise - Gharapuri Island/Elephanta Island, Buther Island, Middle Ground Coastal Battery, Oyster Rock and East Ground. The period between October and February is the most agreeable time to visit Mumbai, when the city passes through a temperate season of cool breeze. From March, the temperature gradually rises and humidity reaches saturation point. Monsoons commence from mid-June, lasting until September.
The city, being in the tropical zone and by the Arabian Sea, does not experience distinctive seasons, but the climate can broadly be classified into two main seasons - the humid season and the dry season. High humidity and temperatures of over 30°C personify the humid season, between March to October. The city`s annual rainfall is approximately 2,200 mm. Moderate levels of humidity and warm to cool weather delineate the dry season, between November and February. Cold northerly winds are responsible for a high wind chill factor during January and February. The yearly temperatures range from a high of 38°C to a low of 11°C.
History of Mumbai
Mumbai has always been a subject of keen interest for every era that has gone by, with the Portuguese being the forerunner in its endeavour to transform Mumbai as it is today. Once an oddball with just several islands and palm trees, it has exceedingly been matured and colossal constructions have been added subsequently.
Arrival Information for Mumbai
Mumbai needs no further introduction for its accessibility wellness, because the place being such a pivotal source of income is excellently well linked with every place in India, by air, rail and bus.
By air: Every major airline flies to Mumbai from all major metropolitans and other significant towns in India. The air traffic between Delhi and Mumbai remains forever busy, proof of its daily approx 45 landings and take-offs each hour. The international terminal is located in Sahar and the domestic terminal is located in Santa Cruz, at a distance of 25 km from the central location. Domestic terminal constitutes two in number and international terminal also constitutes two. The terminal is named Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.
By rail: Central Railways runs trains to the east and north. Western Railways also plys trains to North India from Churchgate and Central stations.
Some of the significant connections by rail and distances are -
Mumbai - Agra 1345 km
Mumbai - Delhi 1385 km
Mumbai - Calcutta 1960 km
Mumbai - Chennai 1280 km
Mumbai - Ahmedabad 490 km
Mumbai - Aurangabad 375 km
Mumbai - Bangalore 1210 km
Mumbai - Kochi 1840 km
Mumbai - Pune 190 km
Mumbai - Varanasi 1510 km
Besides Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal- the central one, other major stations in Mumbai are Central, Churchgate, Dadar and Kurla. One can board trains from here to reach any place in India.
By Road: The National Highways No. 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 cut through the city, making it within reach from all parts of the country. Besides these National Highways, the Mumbai-Pune expressway passes over through the city. Several long distance buses leave from the State Transport Terminal, which is located opposite Mumbai`s Central Railway Station. Umpteen luxury coaches connect Mumbai with all tourist destinations within and outside the state. One can always hire a car to move around the city and its suburbs.
By Boat: One of the supreme natural harbours in the world, Mumbai port deals with 50% of the passenger traffic and most of the cargo of the country. Above all, it serves as a significant base for the Navy. One can reach the nearby islands and beaches by hopping on to ferries that commence from Ferry Wharf. Many travel companies furnish sea-cruises to Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, etc.
Accommodation in Mumbai
For a city that tries to live out from squalid dwellings, Mumbai usually has ample space for its visitors in its hotels. There is a hitch though, if one is on a shoestring budget, finding a cheap and decent hotel room can often turn out to be a bigger challenge than boarding a local train at peak hours.
For high-end options, The Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, Apollo Bunder, has been offering the best views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India for over 100 years. It also has some of Mumbai`s most famous restaurants (Souk, Zodiac Grill, Shamiana) and even offers yacht with air-conditioned bedrooms.
The Oberoi at Nariman Point is another tremendous, but expensive option for lovely views of the sea. So is the Hotel Marine Plaza, Marine Drive.
A not-so-costly option in South Mumbai would be the Marina Guesthouse, Marine Drive. The best bet, however, would be the YWCA International Guest House at Madame Cama Road, Fort.
Grand Hotel, Ballard Estate, has two restaurants. Comfort Inn Heritage, Byculla, and Hotel Rosewood, Tardeo, are other options. Another place that offers decent rooms at decent prices is the YMCA International House, Mumbai Central. However, if one is not a YMCA member, he or she needs to pay extra charge.
Dadar, though crowded, is connected to both the Central and Western Railway lines of Mumbai`s suburban railway network. Hotel Parkway, Dadar (W), and Hotel Midtown Pritam, near Dadar Station, are two options. Taj Land`s End, Bandstand, is an aristocratic address in Bandra.
Plenty of luxury hotels line Juhu, especially in the area next to the Juhu Beach, including the Ramada Hotel Palm Grove and the JW Marriott.
Close to the international and domestic airports are Le Royal Meridien, Sahar Airport Road, and the Kohinoor Continental, Andheri.
For budget stays one can consider Bentley`s Hotel in Colaba. Hotel Shangrila, near the domestic airport, arranges sightseeing and foreign exchange. The Apollo Guest House, behind Gateway of India, has attached baths. Close to Sterling Theatre, Fort, is Hotel Outram with 25 rooms and sightseeing on offer. Hotel City Palace, also in the Fort area, can help one organise the travel itinerary.
Travel Guideline for Mumbai
When to visit- The allure of the Island City of Mumbai, is never exhausted. Tourers visit the place round the year, however not always with good consequences. One needs to be aware of the ideal weather conditions and perfect atmosphere, before scheduling the trip. Mumbai, being located on the coastline, experiences humid and sultry climate all through the year. Summers extend from March to May, where high temperature does not permit savouring the capital. Monsoon brings with it a breath of fresh air, but too much rain spoils the mood of the holiday. Due to its proximity to the sea, the Bollywood world virtually floats in tremendous showers. However, the cultural festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, held in August-September attracts people from various parts of the country and the world. After monsoons, the weather changes and owing to light breeze, it turns pretty satisfying. Winters arrive and make the climatic conditions indeed pleasing. It is during this time that the city is relatively less humid and sticky. Winter does not demand donning heavy woollens, and thus the ideal time to visit Mumbai, to enjoy the joys of extravaganza is within the months of October to February.
Mumbai, handling such congested tourist traffic, offers ample monetary and healthcare help ready at hand, depending on one`s budget. A series of national and privatised banks cater to the touring community, thereby furnishing well-groomed and sanitised hospitals for emergency wants. One wishing to travel to the nearby and far-off places in the city`s limits can also stop worrying, as there are loads of options being offered by tour operators. These people nearly covers all the high points of Mumbai and its vicinity, according to a traveller`s content.
Tourist Places in Mumbai, Maharashtra
 The erstwhile colonial structures dating from the Raj era, primarily defines Mumbai, with its dark, imposing aura, giving one a sense of awe and grandeur, which are subsequently followed by other numero-uno wonders, each laden with history and mystery.
Tourist Places around Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mumbai is not only legendary for its edifices within the city, its reputation stretches even far away from the city also. With prehistoric creations, standing tall and mysterious, they invoke a sense of awe within the traveller, with massiveness speaking out from every angle of the structures. With religious institutions and instances like Elephanta caves, one need not ask for more.
Vasai
Vasai has seen numerous seizings and subjugations by several notable dynasties. All of them have tried to make the place their own. However, it still stands with dignity, its structures of fortress, churches and of course the docks delineating a story of its own.
Elephanta
Dotted with numerous kinds of sculptures, divinities, caves, temples and other kinds of entombments, Elephanta is an ideal hub for excavators and historians, who like to enrish their knowledge further by discovering something from this shrouded mystery. It is also equally interesting for tourers, who have ample scope for admiring the brilliantly carved rock-cut structures to the hilt.
Where to eat in Mumbai
A city is known by the menus it keeps. And Mumbai`s craving for people of all sorts is only matched by the vast spread that it dishes out. There is the straightforward approach of the Zunkabhakar stall uniformly balanced by the commotion of the Zodiac Grill. There is the hurried expertness of the Kamat Restaurant as opposed to the unhurried scrabble-playing atmosphere of the Baristas. Then again, there is the blissful vada pav (Vaidya`s vada pav outside Dadar Station), whose historical value far overshadows its nutritional one. There are the last resorts of nocturnal wildcats - Colaba`s Bade Miya, Musafirkhan`s Gulshan-E-Iran, Haji Ali Juice Centre, Shiv Sagar at Juhu or the Bollywood-aspirant favourite Urban Tadka at Andheri West.
Then there are the oven fresh pleasures of Fort`s Yazdani Bakery, the invigorating strength of the chocolate tea outside Dadar West Station; the flawlessly spiced paani puri of Bandra`s Karachi Sweets, the juicy mutton/ chicken wrapped frankies sold at Churchgate Station, the hot poha and sabudana vada sold at the women-run roadside stalls at Nariman Point and Mahapalika Marg.
For fish, it is best to head for Apoorva, near Horniman Circle, which serves brilliant Mangalorean seafood. For lip-licking neer dosa and crab, Mahesh Lunch Home, Fort (there is a branch at Juhu-Tara Road too) is a good gamble. City Kitchen at Shahid Bhagat Singh Road is legendary for Goan food at astoundingly low rates.
For more feasts in fish, it is advised to head for The Excellensea on Mint Road, opposite Fort Market. Martin`s, near Strand Cinema, serves limited Goan fare but it is extremely flavoursome. Trishna Restaurant at Kala Ghoda serves mingled seafood fare. The crabs need to be experimented.
Tendulkar`s in Colaba offers excellent coastal array. Multi-cuisine. Further off at Kotachiwadi, Girgaum, is Anant Ashram, an unadorned restaurant that serves sumptuous fish. Britannia, a lovely Parsi joint in the quiet Ballard Estate, has the most delicious berry pulao that must be washed down with another house specialty, the raspberry drink. Their caramel custard needs to be experimented also.
Jimmy Boy, off Horniman Circle, also serves Parsi cuisine and is known for its Patra ni macchi (steamed pomfret stuffed with green chutney, wrapped in plantain leaf). Paradise at Colaba Causeway serves arsi, Chinese and Continental cuisine.
For South Indian vegetarian fare at cheap prices, one can head for A. Ramanayak Udupi, near Matunga Central Station. If one is in Bandra (W), it is mandatory to visit Lucky`s for the legendary biryani. Highway Gomantak Gandhi Nagar, behind Apna Bazaar, Bandra (E), serves Konkani cuisine. Translated, it stands for great fish. Saayba at Bandra (W) is another Konkani place.
At Gajalee, Vile Parle (E), the Bombay ducks stuffed with prawns must be experimented. One can head for the open-air joint at Prithvi Theatre, Juhu, for Irish coffee and their blissful brownie.
Shopping in Mumbai
Mumbai being a microcosm of the country, almost everything is available here. An unusual souvenir would be the jagged glasses in which the famous "cutting chai" (a social ritual in which one glass of tea is shared by two people) is served. Another exclusive buy would be the many-tiered tiffin boxes that Mumbai`s dabbawalas (the city`s food carriers whose unruffled operation has been a model for study in business schools) deliver to various offices. Both of these are available at any glass and utensil store.
If one is looking for good luck, he or she can buy a little clay Ganesha from the very many pottery shops in the city.
Mangaldas Market near CST is a great place to buy unstitched fabric; detailed embroidery work can be found near Nakhuda Market of Mohammed Ali Road, while Linking Road in Bandra and Fashion Street between Marine Lines and Churchgate would get one economical `branded` designer wear.
For gold, Zaveri Bazaar holds most of the popular jewellers shops in the city, including the original store of Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri. For antiques, there is the legendary Chor Bazaar (Thieves` Market) where Queen Victoria`s lost violin was alleged to have been found. One can also dig for wood antiques at Oshiwara Market.
Incredible leather buys can be found in the Oberoi Shopping Arcade and Dharavi. Strangely enough, Asia`s largest slum hosts the most marvellous range of leather shops in the city. The city also has some remarkable gift stores such as Tresorie in Santacruz, Dhoop in Bandra or Nirmitee in Dadar.
For complete business listing of Mumbai visit Mumbai Yellowpages
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