Once a cluster of seven islands, Mumbai was presented to King Charles II in 1661 as part of the dowry when he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal. Over the years, as colonialism gave way to independence, Mumbai has transformed itself into an entity with thriving markets, business houses and many different communities reflecting a cosmopolitan and trendy atmosphere rarely seen elsewhere. On the surface, it represents the ever-changing face of today's India -- the old coupled with the dynamic new, and yet at its very core, the heart of the city is steeped in Indian customs and values. It is the capital of Maharashtra state, and its official language is Marathi although English and Hindi are widely spoken and understood. The fast-paced life has given rise to hordes of "fast-food outlets" on almost every road, offering lip-smacking choices of Mumbai's very own pau bhaji, bhel puri and kababs. There is no dearth, though, of multi-culinary delicacies dished out in posh restaurants by expert chefs. Mumbai is a shopper's delight with bargain buys, exclusive boutiques, ethnic markets and mini bazaars. This busy city is also the hub of a thriving cultural life, with a constant stream of performances in music, dance and drama. The seat of the Hindi film industry, known locally as Bollywood, it produces the largest number of films in the world. Mumbai caters to the adventurous and the romantic through its sporting activities, nightclubs, pubs, theaters, beaches and restaurants.

Museums

Prince of Wales Museum : 159 M G Road Fort, Mumbai-400001

Victoria & Albert Museum : Byculla East Nr Rly Stn.

Taraporewala Aquarium : Marine Drive Mumbai

Nehru Planetarium : Nehru Centre, Worli Mumbai-400018

Shopping

Chor Bazaar is commonly known as thieves' market, a name coined by the British but perhaps mistakenly. It is also thought that the original name was shor Bazaar(Noisy Market) which aptly described the yelling and shouting of the local traders on Mutton Street while selling their second hand house hold goods.Today, it is a hustling bustling market. The traders,whose families have been in this business for generations, scour the countryside buying goods to sell in the market.You must visit Chor Bazaar. Here are some of our favorite shops but rummage as many as you can as you never know what you may find - a treasure, a bargain or just what you need. Take a taxi or bus to Maulana Shaukat Ali Road and set off down Mutton Street.

Restaurants

The fast-paced life here, has given rise to hordes of "fast-food outlets" on almost every road, offering lip-smacking pav bhaji, bhel puri and kababs. There is no dearth, though of multi-culinary delicacies dished out in posh restaurants by expert chefs. Many hotels have in-house restaurants, which usually cater to different palettes. There are innumerable small-scale places offering South Indian Udipi fare, Gujarati thalis, 'Indian" Chinese, typical North Indian Mughlai food and the current rage of Manglorean fish. Though rest assured, international cuisine is also found here, with choices ranging from Italian pasta to Thai curry and even Lebanese kababs! Epicures can be treated to special treats at the continuous "food festivals" (see the local dailies for up-to-date information) held here. Check with your host or hotel for best places to visit around your area.

Entertainment

Nightlife in Mumbai is best described by the fact that Mumbai is a city that never sleeps. Trendy 'pubs' and discos or nightclubs are located in the Fountain/Colaba area and the suburbs too have plenty to offer. Many restaurants double up as bars and nightclubs and stay open till late hours. For those on a budget, the local beaches such as Chowpatty and Juhu have a life of their own during the nights, and often people are found strolling on the beachfronts enjoying the cool breeze. Both serve as playgrounds, open-air restaurants and amusements parks.

Bollywood and Movies

India's answer to Hollywood, Bollywood films have a fantastic mix of action, violence, music, dance, romance and an almost nonexistent story. Hindi films are a part and parcel of life not just in Mumbai but probably all over India. The industry rooted in Mumbai, produces over 200 films a year and is the largest maker of films anywhere in the world. The film stars or as they known as in 'filmi' parlance, the heroes and heroines are treated as mega-stars and likened to gods and goddesses. The masses adore their 'masala' films because they allow the people of India to escape into a fantasy and hang on to their dreams.

LOCATION

One of the advantages of being a major metropolis is that Mumbai is well connected to the rest of the state and country.

By Air

Disembarkation would be either at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (formerly known as Saar Airport) or at Chhatrapati Shivaji Domestic Airport (formerly known as Santa Cruz Airport). They are about 4 kms apart and are approximately 30 kms and 26 kms away from the heart of the city - Nariman Point - in south Mumbai. An airport bus service operates between the airports and the Air India Building at Nariman Point. The journey takes an hour to the domestic terminal and fifteen minutes longer to the international terminal. However, be warned that during peak-hour traffic the journey could last almost two hours. Tickets can be bought either on the buses or at the booth outside the Air India Building. There is also a shuttle bus that operates at regular intervals between the domestic and international airports.

By Rail

Mumbai's two main railway terminals - Mumbai Central and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (or VT) connect it to the rest of the country. For up-to-date information on tickets and routes, check the Western Railway and Central Railway reservation centers.

By Road

Long distance buses depart from Mumbai Central S.T. Bus Depot to several towns and cities. MTDC also operates a number of bus services throughout the year (except for the monsoon months) to many scenic spots and tourist centers. Check at MTDC counters for details.

Theater and Music

Traditionally, Mumbai has always had a strong local following for both music and theater In fact, theater performances in Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and English are of a very high standard. Both serious plays and lighter 'spoofs' or farcical comedies are performed. Usually plays are held on the weekends, as in many cases the actors have other professions as well. Check the local papers for the latest listings as plays are performed all over the city with a number of theater halls in the suburbs as well. The National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) at Nariman Point and the Prithvi Theater in Juhu (with an excellent café) have regular performances.

A busy market area, this is best visited early on in the day. The fruits and vegetable section offers the best of produce. Depending on when you visit, the fruit/s of the season are always a good buy.

This is a magnificent building, and considered to be architecturally one of the finest stations in the world. Built by the British in 1888, it has exquisite ornamentation on its façade along with beautifully executed panels and friezes. It holds the statue of Queen Victoria on its dome.

The Flora Fountain stands on the site of the old church gate of the Bombay Fort, now a major crossroad named Hutatma Chowk. It was erected to honor Sir Bartle Frere, a former governor of Bombay and named after the Greek goddess Flora. Other buildings to see in the Fountain or Fort area are the University of Mumbai buildings including the imposing Rajabhai Tower, the Mumbai High Court, the Old Secretariat, and the Institute of Science on one end. Close by are situated St Thomas Cathedral, the Asiatic Society of Bombay or Town Hall, the Office of the Director General of Police, the General Post Office and the Thomas Cook building. The Western Railway Headquarters is also quite near, across the street from the Churchgate Station. These buildings are fine examples of the Gothic and Indo-Saracenic style. Many are illuminated by night. An unusual way of seeing these sights would be by the MTDC open-air bus or by the few surviving Victorias or buggy rides. Close by to Flora Fountain is the Kala Ghoda area which holds a once a week fair (every Sunday) from November to January.

Close by to the Prince of Wales Museum, this gallery is the showcase for contemporary art. The displays change regularly. Outside is the Artist's Plaza with more paintings on display and sale. Open daily from 11 am to 7 pm.

This is one of Mumbai's finest example of Victorian architecture. Built to commemorate King George V's visit to Mumbai (while still Prince of Wales), it was designed by George Wittet and completed in 1923. It is undoubtedly one of India's finest museums and houses treasures, artifacts, paintings and sculpture from the many periods covering India's history, including the Indus Valley Civilization. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30 am to 6 PM.

This is the former Cowasji Jehangir Hall, of the Institute of Science. It has been renovated to serve as a four-storey exhibition hall, displaying the best of Indian contemporary art. Open daily except Monday, from 10 am to 5 PM.

Mumbai's most striking monument, this too was designed by George Wittet. It has an imposing gateway arch in the Indo-Saracenic style with Gujarati and Islamic elements such as wooden carvings. It was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911. This area is also the departing point for ferries plying to Elephanta Island and other beaches across the port. Behind it is the beautiful old (and new) structure of the Taj Mahal Hotel.

This is the stretch now known as Netaji Subhashchandra Bose Road with Nariman Point on one end to Babulnath, at the foot of Walkeshwar on the other. For the most part, a pleasant promenade continues along the beach with the Chowpatty area situated somewhat in the middle. Chowpatty Beach is a teeming mass of people, vendors, masseurs and roadside restaurants with its specialties being bhelpuri and kulfi. Across the Chowpatty Beach area is the Taraporewala Aquarium. Marine Drive is also referred to as the Queen's Necklace because of the dramatic line of street lamps lit up at night.

This is essentially an up-market residential area with some spectacular views of the city surroundings. On the road climbing up, is a Jain temple dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankara. At one end, on the top are the Hanging Gardens (Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens) and the Kamala Nehru Park. Both provide relaxing atmospheres of greenery. Beside the Hanging Gardens are the Parsi Towers of Silence. But these are off-limits to all except those who have come to dispose and pay respect to the dead. Towards the other end is the Banganga temple complex at Walkeshwar, considered to be one of Mumbai's holiest sites. Local legend has it that the Hindu god Rama rested here on his way to rescue Sita (his wife) from Lanka. The Banganga Tank is supposedly the spot where Rama shot his bow or bana. Further away is the British built Raj Bhavan, the residence of the governor of Maharashtra. The Banganga Festival of Music is a yearly highlight, and is in the month of January usually.

This simple and charming museum was where Mahatma Gandhi lived on his visits to Mumbai between 1917 and 1934. Gandhi's room and belongings including his books are on display. Mani Bhavan is situated on Laburnam Road, near the August Kranti Maidan, where the 'Quit India' movement was launched in 1942. Open daily from 9.30 am to 6 PM.

The Mahalaxmi Temple is a popular holy site as Mahalaxmi is the goddess of wealth. It is situated at one end of Breach Candy -- a trendy residential and shopping area, now known as B. Desai Road.

Further along the seashore, at the end of a long pathway surrounded by sea water is the shrine dedicated to Haji Ali, a Muslim saint. Access is only at low tide via the pathway

Located in the Prabha Devi area of Mumbai, this popular temple dedicated to Ganesh was rebuilt on the site of a 200-year old temple. Built of black stone, the idol of Ganesh is two and a half feet in height and two feet in width. An unusual feature of the statue is that the trunk turns to the right, not often found on Ganesh idols. Tuesday is the main day of darshan and puja, but this temple is frequented by hundreds of devotees everyday.

This suburban beach is great favorite with Mumbaites, and has plenty to offer everyone. Like Marine Drive's Chowpatty, Juhu 'Chowpatty' is a vendor's delight with innumerable food counters. It is a wonderful place to bring kids, as it doubles up as an amusement park, play ground, and open-air restaurant. An unusual sight at this beach is the camel ride, which is both fun and popular.