Mumbai

Bombay, or Mumbai as it is now called, is the commercial capital of India, a city of entrepreneurs, concrete towers, clubs and discos, cricket, Bollywood and more. The city, a cluster of seven islands, was named by its natives after the goddess Mumbadevi. After the Portuguese gained possession of the islands in 1534, they renamed it Bom Bahia, for the natural harbour, which served as a safe haven for its ships. The promise of business opportunities and religious freedom drew people to Bombay from all over the country. As the migrant population burgeoned, land was reclaimed, and the city began its haphazard metamorphosis from a trading post into a metropolis and industrial hub. Today, Mumbai is the country's financial and cultural centre. It is also home to a thriving film industry. It is seen, to the teeming masses that flock there to live and work, as a place where opportunities abound. Its inhabitants, an amalgam of great wealth and abject poverty, are swept into the endless maelstrom of activity that characterizes this city of dreams. Places to visit in Mumbai include the Victoria Terminus, the Gateway of India, the Hanging Gardens, Mani Bhawan (where the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi resided for several years) and the Prince of Wales museum.

Getting to Mumbai

• By Air – Mumbai beats Delhi, Kolkata and Madras for international air traffic. Almost all major International airlines operate direct flights to and fro Mumbai. Mumbai airport serves as a major hub, and connects almost all parts of India.
• By Rail - Mumbai is connected by super fast trains to almost all major cities of India.