- Question: What makes Mumbai one of the largest and most visited cities in India?
- Answer: Known as one of the largest, wealthiest, and most visited cities in India, Mumbai is home to nearly 20 million people. Due to its unique seaside location, Mumbai has expanded to fill seven surrounding islands, and it has grown into one of the most important trading hubs in the world.
- Question: What makes Mumbai a prime destination for travelers?
- Answer: Mumbai is a prime destination for understanding modern Indian culture. Filled with entertainment, festivals, authentic cuisine, and historically significant places, Mumbai is sure to have something to offer travelers of all ages.
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1. Bandra-Worli Sea Link
Bandra-Worli Sea Link, also known as Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, is a prominent steel bridge that joins two main neighborhoods in the city of Mumbai. The $240 million bridge was completed in 2010, and the bridge's eight-lane highway has been found to reduce travel time between Bandra and Worli from an hour to 30 minutes.
For travelers, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is an excellent spot for viewing dramatic sunrises and sunsets over Mumbai. There is no footpath across the bridge for pedestrians, and stopping for photographs is prohibited. However, there are nearby restaurants that look out onto great views of the area.
2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum (CSMVS) was once known as the Prince of Wales Museum. Housed in an incredibly ornate building and celebrated by UNESCO as a Cultural Heritage Conservation site, CSMVS is home to world-class art exhibits and impactful educational/outreach programs.
Some of the museum's must-see items include a jewelry box dating back to the Mughal Empire times, Buddhist relics from ancient Tibet, and illustrated manuscripts from Ancient Persia. In total, the museum houses 60,000 authentic art pieces. CSMVS also contains exhibits and activities geared toward young visitors and school groups.
3. Chowpatty Beach
Chowpatty Beach is the most famous stretch of shoreline in Mumbai. The wide golden-sand beach is easily accessible from Andheri, Vile Parle and Santa Cruz West railway stations. Since trained guards patrol the beach, it is a safe place for children and tourists.
Nearby vendors sell all kinds of Indian foods and treats, and there is plenty of space on the beach for taking long walks and relaxing. Guests can enjoy expansive views of Mumbai's skyline while soaking in an unobstructed sunrise or sunset. Chowpatty Beach also sits close Marine Drive, one of the most famous roads in Mumbai.
4. Grand Mumbai Tours
Grand Mumbai Tours is a full-service tour operator that offers day trips and private trips to attractions in and around Mumbai. During the tours, visitors can enjoy all sorts of experiences, including city sights and sounds, nature, temples, markets, caves, and prominent historical sites.
The company offers specialty tours for solo women travelers and groups, and participants can organize their own itineraries and choose well-trained English-speaking guides to accompany them. Grand Mumbai Tours is recognized as one of the best tour operators in the city.
5. Bollywood Tours
Bollywood Tours gives visitors a chance to get a behind-the-scenes glance at India's famous film industry. Known for its bright costumes and elaborate dance/song ensembles, Bollywood films are popular among both Indian and non-Indian audiences. During the Bollywood Tour, visitors get to see the sets of upcoming movies and television shows.
Following the set visits, tourists are treated to a traditional Indian buffet. To finish off the night, there is an optional visit to one of Mumbai's most trendy nightclubs. In addition to the Bollywood set tour, Bollywood Tours offers a range of interesting culture experiences, including visits to slums and spa/shopping packages.
6. Churchgate
Churchgate, alternatively known as Veer Nariman Street, is home to several major banking, church, and education institutions, and it has also been dubbed a “shopper's paradise.” The site contains a stately white building with numerous minarets and windows.
The impressive building structure is often used as a backdrop for Indian movies and television shows. Churchgate derives its name from the nearby Churchgate Station and St. Thomas Church. Thanks to its central location in South Mumbai, the building is easily reachable by train, bus, or taxi.
7. Crawford Market
Famous even in the days of the British Raj, Crawford Market is also known as the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market. The sprawling outdoor shopping center, located in the middle of Mumbai, is the perfect spot for picking up Indian souvenirs and foods.
Produce and vegetables are main staples at the market, but there are also stalls that offer Indian sweets, cosmetics, packaged goods, dry goods, and spices. One end of the market is devoted to pets. Dogs, cats, birds, and fish are among the animals sold in the Crawford Market.
8. Dhobi Ghat
Dubbed the laundry slum, Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat is famous for being one of the largest hand washing facilities in the world. The slum derives its name from dhobi, a term for Indian laundrymen who collect and wash linens, and ghat, a word for an Indian open-air Laundromat.
More than 730 dhobis and their families live and work in the slum. Collectively, men, women, and children in the slum handle upwards of a million garments each day. Dhobi Ghat is easily recognizable from afar because of the lines of clothing hanging out to dry at all times of the day.
9. Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is an impressive arch that sits roughly 2.5 kilometers away from Churchgate and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal. Built in 1924, the Gateway of India overlooks the Mumbai Harbor. It serves as a reminder of the power of the British Raj.
It was originally built to commemorate a historic trip that King George V and Queen Mary took to Mumbai. Highly popular among tourists, the 83-foot-tall monument is surrounded by food vendors and souvenir stalls. The Gateway of India is open to visitors at most times of the day all throughout the year.
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