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Best time to visit: October – April

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is India's commercial, film and cricket capital. It is located on Salsette Island, off the west coast of Maharashtra.

Along with its neighbouring suburbs, Mumbai forms one of the world's most populous metropolitan areas, with a population exceeding 20 million. Mumbai's Bollywood glamour has an inescapable charm; so does its cricket played on various "maidans" across the teeming city. The bhelpuri on Chowpatty beach defines Mumbai even as red double-decker buses and local trains convey the rhythm of this bustling metrolpolis. While Mumbai is famous for a host of reasons it is equally infamous on other counts. It has one of the biggest red-light districts in the country; it has Asia's largest slums; and, it is home to some of the most powerful mafias in the world.

Of course, this does not take away from old Mumbai's quaint Victorian past as a prosperous English industrial city back in the 19th century. Among the highrises lies a vibrant streetlife, a throbbing nightlife and bazaars you could die for.

The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is a particularly colourful even that truly symbolises the spirit of Mumbai.

It is also the epicentre of India's flourishing fashion industry. Owing to its immense business opportunities and relatively high standards of living, Mumbai today attracts migrants from all over South Asia, lending a truly cosmopolitan colour to the city.

The Gateway to India is a delight as is a drive down Marine Drive, also referred to as Queen's Necklace because it glitters like one at nightfall.

For the foodie, Mumbai is mind-blowing in its range, from international to national cuisine. There are enough beer bars and pubs around town for the spirited visitor.
 

By Air: Being the business capital of India, Mumbai has the busiest airport in India. The international terminal Sahar, renamed as Chatrapati Sivaji International Airport operates round the clock. There are regular shuttle buses between the two terminals (4 kms). At Santa Cruz, terminal 1A caters only to Indian Airlines and 1B caters to all private domestic airlines.

By Road: The National Highways No. 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 pass through the city, making it accessible from all parts of the country. The Maharashtra State Transport Bus Terminal, J B Behran Marg, is directly opposite the Central Railway Station (next to the Maratha Mandir cinema hall). Private buses are available near the Mumbai Central Station on Dr. Anandrao Nair Road. Some buses to South India leave from MRA Marg between Crawford Market and VT Station.

By Rail: Fast and superfast trains connect Mumbai to the rest of the country. Central Railways operates from the VT Railway Station (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal) located in the Fort area. There are other railway stations at Bombay Central, Churchgate, Dadar and Kurla which are well connected to the rest of the country.