Mumbai Introduction
An Overview of Mumbai:
Mumbai formerly known as Bombay is the capital city of the Maharashtra state. One of the four metros of India, Mumbai is referred to as the financial capital of the country. The city deals with all the major business houses and also the headquarters of many Indian companies. Situated on Salsette Island, Mumbai is made from a cluster of Seven Islands and derived its name from Mumbadevi, the goddess of the Koli fisher folk. Mumbai has a deep natural harbour, which handles more than half of India's passenger traffic and a large amount of cargo. The city which never sleeps, cannot be bounded by time frame of day or night. It remains always active with its attractive shopping arcades, exciting sport activities, night clubs, discotheques, theaters, music, restaurants and picturesque sights. Mumbai is home to world famous Hindi Film Industry known as Bollywood, which is one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world. The fast foods like Pani puri, Bhel Prui and Bada Pau, offered by the roadside vendors are a major attraction of Mumbai.
Climate of Mumbai :
As the city is located near the Arabian Sea, the climate is tropical. It can be classified into two main seasons namely the humid season and the dry season. The humid season (March to October) is characterized by high humidity and temperature more than 30°C. The dry season (November and February) is characterized by moderate humidity and temperatures. The monsoon rains lash the city during the months of June to September. Annual temperature ranges from a maximum of 38°C to a minimum of 11°C. The ideal time to visit Mumbai is October to March.
Toursist Attractions of Mumbai: Gateway of India - The Gateway is an imperial landmark of Mumbai, which is a must visit place in the city. The yellow basalt arch of triumph was erected in 1924 by the British Government to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary during 1911. Built in British architectural style the monument still evokes the fond memories of that era. The place remains crowded with colourful balloon sellers, postcard vendors and snake charmers.
Prince of Wales Museum - Designed in the Indo-Saracenic style, the museum is one of the finest buildings built by the British government. The Prince of Wales Museum was specially designed to honour the Prince of Wales on his first visit to India.
Mahalaxmi Temple - Devoted to Mahalaxmi, the goddess of wealth, the temple is one of the popular temples in Mumbai. The temple houses the idols of Hindu goddesses Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali.
Haji Ali Mosque - The Mosque rising out of the sea, enshrines the tomb of Muslim saint Haji Ali. Everyday a large number of devotees visit the tomb to pay honour to Haji Ali. The mosque can only be reached by a narrow path only at the time of low sea tide.
Chowpatty - The world renowned Chowpatty beach is the major attraction for the Toursists and also for the local people. The beach is not ideal for swimming or sunbathing, but it is a good place for family outings and leisures. Every morning the beach transforms itself into a major centre of entertainment and commerce. The attraction of the beach increases many times during the annual Ganesh Chaturthi Festival, when the idol of lord Ganesha is immersed into water.
Marine Drive - The street running along the Arabian sea connects the popular areas like the Nariman Point , Chowpatty Beach and Malabar Hill. Marine Drive or the Queen's necklace, houses the Corporate offices of the top industrialists. The magical curve of its streetlights attracts a large number of people at night, who come here to get the spectacular view of the sea.
The Hanging Gardens - The Hanging Gardens or Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens is situated on the top of Malabar Hills. Built in 1880 t
he garden provides the much needed peace. It provides a fantastic view of the setting sun over the sea.
Kamla Nehru Park - Situated close to the Hanging Gardens, the park is known for 'Old Woman's Shoe', well maintained hazes and wider walkaways.
Jain Temple - The popular temple stands on the Malabar hills. It houses frescoes depicting many events from the lives of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras.
Siddhivinayak Temple - The temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh has a black stone idol of Ganesha. Tuesday is the main worship day of the temple.
Getting to Mumbai :
By Air - Sahar International airport (30 kms) is the major airport of the city. Santa Cruz situated just 4 kms away from the city centre is the domestic airport. The airlines operate several domestic and international flights from Mumbai.
By Rail - Mumbai is the major railhead of the country. The city is the headquarters of two railway zones such as central and western. Trains from all over the country are available for Mumbai. Several local trains also ply within the city.
By Road - Mumbai is well-connected by state highways and national highways to the rest of India. The BEST and private buses run within the city and the state
