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                MUMBAI TRAVEL GUIDE

Mumbai, earlier known as Bombay, is the largest city in India and the capital of
Maharashtra state. Mumbai was originally a conglomeration of 7 islands on the
Konkan coastline which over time were joined to form the island city of Bombay.

Mumbai is one of the world's top 10 centers of commerce in terms of global financial
flow. Mumbai is also the commercial and entertainment capital of India, and houses
important financial institutions, such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Bombay
Stock Exchange (BSE), the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and the
corporate headquarters of many Indian companies and numerous multinational
corporations. The city is home to Bollywood, the largest film industry in the world.
Mumbai attracts migrants from all over India because of the immense employment
opportunities and the relatively high standard of living.

Present Mumbai was originally an archipelago of seven islands. Artefacts found near
Kandivali in northern Mumbai indicate that these islands had been inhabited since
the Stone Age. Documented evidence of human habitation dates back to 250 BCE,
when it was known as Heptanesia (Ptolemy) (Ancient Greek: A Cluster of Seven
Islands). In the 3rd century BCE, the islands formed part of the Maurya Empire, ruled
by the Buddhist emperor, Asoka. During the first few centuries of our era, control over
Mumbai was disputed between the Indo-Scythian Western Satraps and the
Satavahanas. The Hindu rulers of the Silhara Dynasty later governed the islands
until 1343, when the kingdom of Gujarat annexed them. Some of the oldest edifices
of the archipelago – the Elephanta Caves and the Walkeshwar temple complex date
from this era.

In 1534, the Portuguese appropriated the islands from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.
They were ceded to Charles II of England in 1661, as dowry for Catherine de
Braganza. These islands, were in turn leased to the British East India Company in
1668 for a sum of £10 per annum. The company found the deep harbour on the east
coast of the islands to be ideal for setting up their first port in the sub-continent. The
population quickly rose from 10,000 in 1661, to 60,000 in 1675; In 1687, the British
East India Company transferred its headquarters from Surat to Bombay. The city
eventually became the headquarters of the Bombay Presidency. From 1817
onwards, the city was reshaped with large civil engineering projects aimed at
merging all the islands in the archipelago into a single amalgamated mass. This
project, known as the Hornby Vellard, was completed by 1845, and resulted in the
total area swelling to 438 km². In 1853, India's first passenger railway line was
established, connecting Bombay to the town of Thane. During the American Civil War
(1861–1865), the city became the world's chief cotton trading market, resulting in a
boom in the economy and subsequently enhancing the city's stature.
Flora Fountain was renamed Hutatma Chowk, or "Martyr's Crossroads," in memory
of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement
Flora Fountain was renamed Hutatma Chowk, or "Martyr's Crossroads," in memory
of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 transformed Bombay into one of the largest
seaports on the Arabian Sea. Over the next thirty years, the city grew into a major
urban centre, spurred by an improvement in infrastructure and the construction of
many of the city's institutions. The population of the city swelled to one million by
1906, making it the second largest in India after Calcutta. As capital of the Bombay
Presidency, it was a major base for the Indian independence movement, with the
Quit India Movement called by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 being its most rubric event.
After India's independence in 1947, it became the capital of Bombay State. In the
1950 the city expanded to its present limits by incorporating parts of Salsette island
which lay to the north.


GENERAL INFORMATION
Time zone         IST (UTC+5:30)
Area                   603.45 km² (233 sq mi)
Elevation           8 m (26 ft)
District(s)          Mumbai City
                      Mumbai Suburban
Population        13.2 million (1st) (2006)
Density              21,880/km²
                      (56,669/sq mi) (1st) (2006)


PLACE TO VISIT

Asiatic Society of Mumbai - can trace its origin to the Literary Society of
Bombay which first met in Mumbai on November 26, 1804 and was founded by Sir
James Mackintosh. It was formed with the intention of "promoting useful knowledge,
particularly such as is now immediately connected with India". After the Royal Asiatic
Society was established in London in 1823, the Literary Society of Bombay became
affiliated with it and was known as the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
since 1830

Banganga - is a place in the Malabar Hill area of Mumbai City. It is believed that
in mythical times the great Lord Rama, an incarnation of God Vishnu, shot an arrow
in the ground to provide for fresh water for drinking. The place where the arrow hit the
ground there issued out a stream of fresh and sweet water from a tributary of the
Ganga, over a thousand miles away.

Chor Bazaar - is an area in South Mumbai famous for its second-hand goods.
Although the name Chor means "thief" in Hindi, the name is actually a corruption of
the word Shore which means noise. The area is one of the tourist attractions of the
city

Crawford Market - (officially Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Market) is one of South
Mumbai's most famous markets. It is named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal
Commissioner of the city. The market is situated opposite the Mumbai Police
headquarters, just north of Victoria Terminus railway station at a busy intersection.
The market houses a wholesale fruit, vegetable and poultry market. One end of the
market is a pet store. Most of the sellers inside the market nowadays sell imported
food items.

Elephanta Caves - are the focal point of the Elephanta Island, located in the
Mumbai harbour off the coast of Mumbai (Bombay), India. In 1987, the caves were
designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.It is visited by many domestic and
foreign tourists. In recent years, complaints have been made that visitors mistreat
this important cultural and historic site

Essel World - is the first and largest amusement park in Mumbai, India. It is
situated on a green, landscaped island with an area of 64 acres, located just a few
kilometers outside city limits at Gorai.

Fashion Street - refers to a cluster of about 130 to 140 clothing shops on MG
Road in South Mumbai, India. Readymade garments are one of Mumbai's chief
exports, so the same clothes sold at leading US and European retail stores can be
purchased on Fashion Street for a fraction of their price abroad. Furthermore, many
proprietors haggle. Besides clothing, there are also several shoe and jewelry shops.

Gateway of India - is a monument in Mumbai. Located on the waterfront in
South Mumbai, the Gateway is a basalt arch 26 metres high. The Gateway is
traditionally the first thing visitors arriving by boat would see of Mumbai. Behind the
Gateway steps lead down to the waterfront, where boat trips can be had to locations
such as Elephanta Island.

Haji Ali Dargah -  is a mosque and dargah (tomb) located on an islet off the
coast of Worli in Mumbai. Lying as it does in the heart of the city, the dargah is one of
the most recognizable landmarks of Mumbai.

Hanging Gardens - in Mumbai, also known as Ferozeshah Mehta Gardens,
are terraced gardens perched at the top of Malabar Hill, on its western side, just
opposite the Kamala Nehru Park. They provide lovely sunset views over the Arabian
Sea and feature numerous hedges carved into the shapes of animals.

Juhu - is a suburb of Mumbai. It is famous for its sprawling beach, the Juhu
Beach. It is surrounded by Arabian Sea in the west, Santacruz and Vile Parle in the
east. Juhu is one of the more affluent areas of Mumbai. Many Bollywood stars own
bungalows in Juhu, famously including Amitabh Bachchan, Amrish Puri, as well as
the Deols and numerous other stars and starlets. It is comparable to the Bel-Air,
Malibu and Beverly Hills suburbs of Los Angeles.

Marine Drive - is a 3 km long boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai.
It is an inverted 'C'-shaped six lane concrete road along the coast which is a natural
bay. The road links Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill.

Nehru Planetarium - Mumbai of Nehru Centre was inaugurated on 3rd March
1977 by the then Prime Minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi. Over the years, this has
grown into a Centre for scientific study of astronomy and space science. During the
last 30 years of its inception Planetarium generated thirty-one astronomical
presentations, which were viewed by 10 million astronomy lovers.

Borivali National Park - officially known as the Sanjay Gandhi
National Park, is a rare National Park that lies within city limits. The park lies on
the northern fringes of suburban Mumbai, India. It encompasses an area of 104
square kilometres and is surrounded on three sides by one of the world's most
populous cities. It is possibly one of Asia's most visited National Parks with 2 million
annual visitors. The park is also the largest park in the world located within city limits.


HOW TO REACH
By plane - Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (IATA: BOM),  India's
busiest airport and one of the main international gateways to the country.

The airport consists of two terminals : International Terminal (Terminal 2, Sahar) and
a Domestic Terminal (Terminal 1, Santacruz). Both terminals use the same airspace
but are 4 km apart. There is a free shuttle bus connecting them.

By boat - Numerous travel organizations now offer cruises to Singapore,
Malayasia, Dubai, etc. Though the cruise industry is still developing, Mumbai can be
reached by such cruises.

Mumbai has one of the best natural harbours in the world, handling 50% of the
country's passenger traffic, and much of India's cargo. It is also an important base
for the Indian Navy. Ferries from Ferry Wharf allow cheap access to islands and
beaches in the area.