Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus/Western Railway Station)
At the site of the Koli's original temple to Mumba Devi now stands Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus - one of Mumbai's most prominent buildings and architecturally one of the finest stations in the world. It is built in a style that combines Gothic and Indian influences. It was completed in 1885. Designed by F.W. Stevens the building commenced in 1878. This Italian gothic Building has a frontage of over 15,00 feet. The administrative offices form three sides of a rectangle enclosing an ornamental garden, the entrance gate guarded by a massive stone Lion and Tiger. The most prominent feature of this building is the high 160 feet dome crowning the centre. On top of the giant dome is a figure of a women with a torch held aloft to symbolise progress.

Chhota Kashmir
It is a colourful garden developed in the Aarey Colony area just near the Aarey Dairy. As the name suggests the beauty of this garden reminds the natural beauty of Kashmir. The garden is full of variety of colourful flowers, which blossom in all seasons round the year. The evergreen lawns of the garden, the tall coconut trees, and the beautiful palm trees grown here simply remind us of natural beauty of Kashmir. As the garden being one of the very popular places in the Aarey Colony, people often come here for a trip or picnic with prior permission. It is also a popular place where sessions of outdoor film shootings are held. This garden, being a best spot for picnic, is known as Picnic Spot and it is open for public during the day.

Gateway Of India
Mumbai's principal landmark, the Gateway of India is a huge archway on the water's edge at Apollo Bunder. It is the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city. This famous monument was built to commemorate the visit of the first ever British Monarch, King George V and Queen Mary in 1911.

Fantasy Land
Fantasy Land is situated in Jogeshwari East; it is another amusement park made up of modern mechanism games for children and adults like Essel World. It is also a venue for fun and games for visitors of all ages.

Essel World
Perfect for a one-day holiday, Essel World offers over 40 exciting rides, games, and attractions. The Water Kingdom is said to be the largest of its kind in Asia. This is Mumbai's only international-style theme park and amusement centre situated close to Gorai Beach. Special ferries get one cross to the park and the entrance fee normally takes care of a fixed number of rides. These include the standard roller coaster and adventure themes, plus a water world section where kids can literally run amok. Summer is usually crowded, but the place also offers low budget monsoon packages and special deals on weekends.


Mumbai Fort
The area north of Colaba is known as Mumbai Fort, since the old British fort was once located here. There are a lot of impressive buildings from Mumbai's golden period here. St. John's church, dedicated to the soldiers, who laid down their lives in the Sindh campaign of 1838, and the first Afghan war of 1843, is also worth a visit.

Marine Drive
Marine Drive located in the central Mumbai, built in the 1920s and 30s on land reclaimed from the sea, is Mumbai's most famous thoroughfare. It is also referred to as the Queen's Necklace because of the dramatic line of street lamps lit up at night. Recently it has come to known as Netaji Subhashchandra Bose Road with Nariman Point on one end to Babulnath, at the foot of Walkeshwar on the other.

Chowpatty Beach
Chowpatty beach situated at the end of Marine Drive has a moderate expanse of sand and is the only beach in the central part of Mumbai. One can witnesses many Hindu religious ceremonies taking place at Chowpatty like the Annual Thread-Tying Ceremony initiating young boys into the Brahmin caste, 'Nariel Purnima' towards the end of the monsoons and 'Ganesh Chaturthi' immersions.

Flora Fountain/ Hutama Chowk
This fountain situated in the heart of the city was erected in 1869 in honour of a British Governor of Bombay. Sir Brtle Frere. Flora Fountain marks a junction of five streets and known as the 'Picadilly Circus 'of Mumbai, which is decorated at its four corners with mythological figures, the Fountain is a structure in dull stone with a figure the Roman Goddess of flowers, at the top.

Juhu Beach
Juhu is one of the largest and frequently visited beaches of India. Located 18-km north of the city centre, it's a beckoning beach on the shores of Arabian Sea and is one of the posh localities of Mumbai where one can find the bungalows of the famous film personalities. Many shootings are held here too.

Mumbai High court
An attractive building in early English Gothic style, situated next to the Oval Ground is well worth a visit for its impressive architecture. Statues representing Justice and Mercy surmount the Central structure.

Rajabai Clock tower
Rajabai Clock tower, situated at the gardens of the Bombay University building rises above the portion of the library section. Consisting of five elaborately decorated storeys the tower is 280ft.in height. The top of the cupola is ornamented with sixteen statues depicting various Indian castes.

Jijamata Udyan Zoo
Rani Jijamata Udyan Victoria Gardens, laid out in 1861 houses the Mumbai's Zoo. It houses many of the rare and endangered species of animals and birds. The gardens are spread over 48 acres in Byculla, on the central side of Mumbai, surrounded by low income housing colonies or "Chawls". At the main entrance to the gardens is a clock tower, reminiscent of Italian renaissance, but the clock has stopped ticking a long time ago. The gardens boast of scores of trees, some of which are really old. Within the gardens is the Albert museum that houses a host of local archaeological finds among which merits a huge stone elephant at the entrance, which was found in 1864 at Gharapuri Island.

Balodyan Gardens
Balodyan Gardens are located near the charni road station in Mumbai. The honourable president of India Dr.Rajendra Prasad inaugurated these gardens on 24th February 1952, for encouraging and developing creativity in children. Only children and ladies are allowed into this garden. The garden is open on all days from 8.00 am to 12.00 noon and 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm.

Hanging Gardens
Also known as Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, the Hanging Gardens were built in 1880 and renovated in 1921. These gardens are popularly known as Hanging Gardens, because of their location on the slope of a hill. The terrace garden looks south from Malabar Hill towards Colaba, and affords a panoramic view of the city or a breathtaking sunset. It is built over three reservoirs, which store 30 million gallons of water pumped here for cleaning before being supplied to the town.

Kamala Nehru Park
The Malabar hill offers superb views of Mumbai. On top of the Malabar hills are the Hanging Gardens and Kamala Nehru Park. Built in 1952 and named after the wife of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, this park covers an area of 4,000 sq. yards and from here one enjoys a magnificent view of Marine Drive 'Queen's Necklace'.  

Places of worship

Mahalaxmi Temple at Mumbai
The Mahalaxmi Temple located at the northern foot of the Malabar Hill; a part of it is now called Breach Candy in Mumbai, is a popular holy site. This is one of the Mumbai's oldest temple dedicated to Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. There are effigies of several Hindu gods here. Many devotees visit this temple.

Jain Temple
Jain Temple dedicated to Adinath, the first "Teerthankar", located on Malabar Hill was built by the Jain community in 1904. The temple is totally built with marble. Jain temple is opulent, but is poorly maintained. Inside the temple frescoes depict various events in the lives of the 24 Jain apostles or Teerthankars. On reaching upstairs there is a black marble shrine beautifully decorated with celestial personifications of the planets, painted onto the ceiling.

ISCKON Temple
Isckon temple is better known as "Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple", situated at Juhu. Its a place for worship, meditation and spiritual knowledge, which advocates the principles of Bhagvad Gita as, taught by Lord Krishna.

Ayyappa Temple At Mumbai
A temple famously known as Mini Sabarimala Shree Ayyappa Temple that is situated atop a hillock surrounded by hills and valleys within the precincts of NCH Colony, Kanjur Marg (West), Mumbai. It is the first ancient Ayyappa Temple outside Kerala State. A tiny stream originating from the vicinity adds the sanctity and beauty of environment.

Babulnath Temple
Babulnath temple is situated at the end of Marine Drive and south of Malabar Hill, in the very heart of Mumbai City. It is nearly 1,000 feet above sea level, over looking the Arabian Sea. People visiting this temple can feel peace and tranquillity and one can also get an illusion of being on the Mount Kailash, the eternal abode of Lord Shiva.

Balaji Temple at Nerul
Balaji Temple at Nerul stands as an exact replica of the Balaji temple at Tirupati. The SLN sabha of Nerul decided to build a temple of Lord Venkateshvara and on 8th December 1991 the Shankaracharya Swamiji of Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham performed Bhoomi puja for the temple.

Mumbadevi Temple
Mumbadevi Temple dedicated to city's patron Goddess Mumbadevi is located in Bhuleshwar, Mumbai. She is considered as Mumbai's resident deity. The temple of Mumbadevi once stood on the site of the present Victoria Terminus in the central island. The present name of the city is derived from the Goddess Mumbadevi.

Siddhivinayak Temple
Siddhi Vinayak temple devoted to Ganesh, the elephant-headed God of Good Fortune is located at Prabhadev in Mumbai. Temples dedicated to Ganesh are very famous as Shree Ganesh is the first to be worshipped before beginning any new project or venture as he Vighnaharta, the destroyer of obstacles.


Walukeshwar Mandir, is one of the Mumbai's ancient Hindu Sites, dedicated to Walukeshwar (Lord Shiva) or Sand-Lord. According to the great epic Ramayana, it is believed that Rama paused here during his journey south to rescue Sita from the clutches of the evil Ravana, and created a lingam out of sand to worship Shiva.

Haji Ali Dargah
Haji Ali, built to honour a Muslim saint, stands almost 600 yards out at the sea. It is approachable only during low tide by a narrow rock causeway built above sea level.

Mahim Shrine
The most noteworthy feature of Mahim is the shrine of Makhtum fakih Ali Paru. Of Arab Origin, he studied and traveled extensively and was appointed law officer of Mahim. Makhtum fakih Ali Paru is noted for his commentary on the holy Koran. When he died in 1413, a shrine and mosque were built in his memory.

Jama Masjid
According to an old Urdu account, the original jama Masjid of Mumbai was situated near Dongri. It was removed and erected at Esplanade. In 1770 this mosque too was demolished by an order of Governor William Hornby, which forbade the existence of any building within 600 years of the walls of the Fort. The construction of the present Jama Masjid started in 1775 but work on it could not be completed till 1802.

The Afghan Memorial Church of St. John the Baptist is located in the Colaba area, which is the long arm of South Mumbai that stretches into the sea. The church was established in 1847 AD and consecrated 11 years later as a memorial to those who fell in the First Afghan War of 1843 and Sind campaign of 1838. At the entrance, there is a big black board, which reveals that it is an Anglican church dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. It is impressive with the wide Gothic Arches and beautiful stained-glass windows.

Cathedral Church Of St. Thomas
St. Thomas' Cathedral, the city's first Anglican Church is situated in the heart of the commercial fort area, in Mumbai. The foundation was laid in 1672 during the governorship of Gerald Aungier, and was opened to public on the Christmas Day in 1718, and subject to a number of later additions. Though simple in structure, the interior of the Church has some exquisite art adorations.

 

Accessibility

Air: Sahara International Airport is an important point of entry for many foreign airlines, and nearby Santa Cruz Airport serves domestic flights. Mumbai handles about 60% of the international and nearly 40% of the domestic air traffic in India. International flights connect Mumbai to all the major cities of the world.

Mumbai Airport has two terminals, Terminal I for domestic operations and Terminal II for international operations. Both terminals are situated about 4-km apart. Terminal I has two distinct terminal facilities viz. Terminal I-A and Terminal I-B which are situated approximately 750m from each other. While Terminal I-A caters to all domestic flights operated by Indian Airlines and Alliance Air, the Terminal I-B caters to all other domestic airlines.

Terminal II is one block of buildings, which has two units viz. Terminal II-A and Terminal II-B and are on either side of the Visitors Concourse. All Air-India flights are operated from Terminal II-B.

Rail: It is the railhead for the Western and Central Railways, and trains from the city carry goods and passengers to all parts of India. Two suburban electric train systems provide the main public transportation and they daily convey hundreds of thousands of commuters in the metropolitan region.

Road: Mumbai is well connected by a network of roads to the rest of India. There is also a municipally owned bus fleet over here.

Water: The facilities provided by its harbor, make Mumbai, India's major western port. Though other major ports have sprung up on the West Coast - Kandla to the north and Goa and Kochi to the south - Mumbai still handles more than 40% of India's maritime trade.

Local Transportation: Unlike most other Indian cities, there are no auto-rickshaws (three-wheeler vehicles) in the city center. Rickshaws do ply at the suburbs. The minimum fare is Rs 7.50/-. Mumbai has a huge fleet of metered black-and-yellow taxis, it can be flagged down at any street corner and fares are paid by meter. Cool-cabs are also in, they are the blue and white air-conditioned ones. The fares are reasonable enough.
The lives of millions of people who live in Mumbai and suburbs opens with the starting of the local trains, namely the Harbour, the Central and the Western, which awaken the city to a new day. They are not as fast as the Bullet Train or as smooth as the trains plying on the magnetic tracts. But Mumbai's local trains are considered to be one of the most efficiently run commuter services in the world.

Accommodation

Being a major industial city  and  the financial hub of the country Mumbai offers all kinds accommodation. Colaba, downtown  has dozens of possibilities in each price range. A short way across the city centre, Marine Drive's accommodation is generally a little more expensive but more salubrious. Alternatively, Juhu, way to the north near the airports, boasts a string of flashy four and five star hotels, with a handful of less expensive places behind the beach. If one plans to make a quick getaway from the city, a room closer to the CST station is worth considering.

Restaurants & bars

Nightlife& cultural hotspots

Mumbai never sleeps. No matter what time of night you venture out, there are bound to be other's going about some business or other. The city has always led the nightlife scene in India and there are bars and clubs to suit every taste; jazz dens compete with Salsa, Tabla dance fusions and Funk.

Mumbai 's alternative but decidedly yuppie crowd meets at the Ghetto Bar before heading down to the gay, glitzy or groovy clubs around Colaba and Juhu.

Mumbai is also a cultural centre attracting the finest Indian Classical music and dance artists from all over the country.
Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan,
K. M. Munshi Marg - the headquarters of the International Cultural (Hindu) Organization
Cowasjee Jehangir (CJ) Hall
Birla Matushari
Tejpal Auditorium
Shanmukhananda Hall
The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) - auditorium frequently present concerts and recitals. NCPA also offers modern Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi and English Language plays as well as Western chamber music, while a smattering of platinum selling Western rock artists appear at Mumbai Stadium.

Mumbai has an unusually easy-going attitude to alcohol; popping into a bar for a beer is very much accepted, for men atleast even at lunchtime. On any night one will find Mumbai's pub full of hustle and bustle. So one can rest assured that any trip to Mumbai will be far from boring.

Chowpatty Beach and Colaba Causeway, where one will find Leopold's and the Cafe Mondegar form the focus of the traveller's social scene, but if one wants to sample the pulse of the city's nightlife, venture up to Bandra and Juhu.

CAFE MONDEGAR
Colaba Causeway.
Specialty: Draught beer by the glass or Pitcher, Imported Beer and deliciously Fruity Cocktails. The atmosphere is very relaxed, the music tends towards Rock Classics and the clientele is a mix of Westerners and Students.

THE GHETTO
30 Bhulabhai Desai Road, near Breach Candy, Mahalakshmi
Specialty: The alternative Mumbai scene where young arty, theatre-types gather to play their music with attitude and write profound thoughts on the walls. Beer is served by pitcher accompanied with all time hits of Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. This joint also has some pool tables where one can catch up with some old friends. The graffiti on the wall will surely provide one with some amusing moments.

THE INSIDE STORY
Cafe Mondegar, Colaba Causeway, Next to the Regal Cinema
Specialty: The Mondegar's exclusive inner sanctum is a English pub with a dark atmosphere and a mostly male clientele plus bouncers.

JAZZ BY THE BAY
Next to the Pizzeria, 143 
Specialty: The Official Channel V pad is a convenient place to crawl to after treating oneself with Pizza. There are often Jazz festivals with bond Indian and Foreign artists performing, as well as DJ spinning the latest chart hits at weekends.

LEOPOLD PUB
Ist Floor Loepold's, Colaba Causeway
Specialty: Swanky, self-consciously Western-style Bar Nightclub with bouncers. Beer is also served.
Note: No Single Men Admitted.

LONDON PUB
39 D Chowpatty Seaface
Specialty: Designer frosted glass bar with quality sound system and comfortable bar stools.

THE TAVERN
Fariyas Hotel , Colaba
Specialty: "English-style" pub, complete with wooden beams, and loud music.

J49
Juhu Residency Hotel
Specialty: With a packed up Dicotheque, J49 is one place in Mumbai, worth checking Out if one is a party regular. Those who like experimenting with their drinks, try the spiced tequila shots served either in a bell pepper or with a chili in the glass, depending on one's preference. The other offerings on the drinks card are just as interesting. Whether one prefers a tall, cool drink or a dynamic cocktail or simply shooters to drain down the system, the alcohol is innovative and affordable.  

NIGHTCLUBS

The nightclubs scene in Mumbai has come a long way from the Filmi dance and chart-busting discos of a few years ago, as the moneyed jet-set now expect to hear the latest House, Trance, Fusion and Funk that is hitting the decks in the USA and the UK. The five star hotels tend to operate "Couple-Only" policies and entry is restricted to hotel guests and members. Other discos and clubs charge per couple on the door and many operate "Ladies Nights" when women get in free.

THE 1900s
Taj Mahal.
Specialty: Pounding disco, free to guests bur otherwise for members only. Witness the cream of Mumbai society at their air-kissing best.

COPACABANA
Marine Drive.
Specialty: Dark Smoky atmosphere, Latino music and lots of Tequila with FREE shots for the ladies. A must check out for the groovy ambience or for just chilling out.
Timing: 10.00pm onwards

FASHION BISTRO
16 Marzban Road, Next on Sterling Cinema
Specialty: The Latest arrival on the nightclub scene and definitely the place to be scene. Mannequins display designer creations in one room, with a bar and dance floor with deafening music in another.

GO BANANAS
Kamats Plaza Hotel, Near Santa Cruz Airport.
Specialty: Plays hit records and, on certain nights, allows singles onto its small dance floor.

RAZZBERRY RHINOCEROUS
Juhu Hotel, Juhu Beach.
Specialty: A good size dance floor with Entrance for couples only, this place serve fairly priced Chinese, Western and Indian Food.
Timing: Closes at midnight on weeknights and at 1.00 am at weekends.

SHEETAL AGAIN
Speciality: Small pub with an enthusiastic crowd, tiny dance floor, loud sound system and DJ's playing international dance hits. Although singles are allowed in, the comfortable seating is reserved for the paired up. Woe betide any man who tries to dance on his own; the DJ will call for him to leave.

THREE FLIGHTS UP
Apollo Bunder, Colaba
Specialty: Claims to have the longest bar in Asia, and is certainly the biggest club in Mumbai. There is a no-smoking policy on the dance floor and along with the innovative food on offer, makes the place definitely worth trying.

FIRE & ICE
Fire & Ice Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel
Specialty: A gigantic dance floor, bombastic sound system, multi-laser show, huge ex-convict bouncers with earphones and attitude.

J49 Juhu Residency Hotel
Specialty: Cleaverly placed mirrors, Egyptian statues placed in discreet corners, fancy lights give this outlet a very young and a hip image. Unlike the other cramped discothèques of Mumbai, J49 has got lots of space and the therapeutic trance and techno music rocks the floor here.

Mumbai has a  vibrating and pulsating life. A confluence of varied cultural currents and cross currents have given Mumbai a unique position of the most multi-ethnic city of India. The capital city of Maharashtra State, formerly known as Bombay lies in the southwestern part of India and occupies a peninsular site originally composed of seven islets lying off the Konkan coast of western India. Oozing with the cocksure self-confidence of a maverick moneymaker and "Bindass" (carefree) attitude, Mumbai is also country's financial and commercial hub and has a principal port on the Arabian Sea.

A traditional centre of India, Mumbai offers an enticing range of handwoven and handprinted silks and cottons as well as trendiest new materials made from polyester fibres. The Imposing tower of Mumbai's Stock Exchange building at Dalal Street is a well-known city landmark and plays a vital role in the city's business scene. Nariman Point is a specimen of the wonders modern building science can perform. Visitors usually impressed by its sleek skyscrapers, which resemble Manhattan in  New York .

The natural beauty of Mumbai is unsurpassed by that of any city in the region. The entrance into the harbor from the sea discloses a magnificent panorama framed by the Western Ghats (mountains) on the mainland. The wide harbor, studded with islands and dotted with the white sails of innumerable small craft, affords secure shelter to ships, particularly when storms lash the coast. The largest of the harbor's islands is Elephanta, which is famous for its 6th century cave temples.

Mumbai's architecture is a mixture of florid Gothic styles, characteristic of the 18th and 19th centuries, and contemporary designs. The older administrative and commercial buildings intermingle with skyscrapers and multi-storey concrete-block buildings. Within the eye of a roaring storm of traffic, lie other vestiges of the British Raj, the 'maidans'. The central Bazaar districts afford glimpses of the sprawling Muslim neighbourhoods, as well as exotic shopping possibilities.

Mumbai's cultural life reflects its ethnically diverse population. The city is truly multicultural, and representatives of almost every religion and region of the world can be found in Mumbai. Almost half of the population is Hindu; but the city also encompasses important communities of Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, and Jews. The Jews form one the oldest group of occupants of Mumbai. Almost every Indian language and many foreign languages are spoken over here. Marathi, the State language, is the dominant Indian language in Mumbai, followed by Gujarati and Hindi.

The city has a number of museums, libraries, literary and other cultural institutions, art galleries, and theatres and perhaps no other city in India can boast of such a high degree of variety and quality in its cultural and entertainment facilities.

Mumbai is the stronghold of the Indian film industry. Throughout the year Western and Indian music concerts and festivals and Indian dance shows are performed. The Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, housed in a building of Indo-Saracenic architecture, contains three main sections of art, archaeology, and natural history. Situated nearby are the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai's first permanent art gallery, and center of cultural and educational activities.

Fairs and  Festivals /facts

The Kala Ghoda Fair is a celebration of arts and crafts held on every Sunday from November to January. This fair is held in Mumbai near the Jehangir Art Gallery. Kala Ghoda, the much touted art district of the city, brings together the works from artistes in the fields of music, dance, theatre, film, and of course, art, offering an interactive cultural mélange for Mumbaites. The Kala Ghoda Association was established in 1988, with the aim of improving the existing infrastructure of the area, and giving it a distinct identity as Mumbai's art district. The Kala Ghoda Festival also hopes to be a catalyst for the revival of art across Mumbai.

 Mount Mary Church is an old church situated in Bandra, the suburb of Mumbai and every year in September a week long fair is held in the precinct of this church. This fair is popularly known as the Bandra fair and is celebrated on the occasion of Mother Mary's birthday. Lakhs of people of all faiths throng this place to seek the blessings of Mother Mary. The Marathi speaking communities refer the Mother Mary as "Math Mauli". Local people strongly believe that the Mount Mary fulfils their genuine wishes if prayers are made earnestly and faithfully. From the site of the church one gets breath-taking view of the Arabian-sea and enjoy the sunset.

Banks:
HDFC, 101-104 Tulsiani Chambers, Free Press Marg, Nariman Point
HDFC, Tirupati Apartments, Bhulabhai Desai Road
ICICI, Andheri Sagar Avenue, 1st Floor, S V Road, Andheri (West)
ICICI, Backbay Extension Counter ICICI Building, 163, Backbay Reclamation
State Bank of India, Madame Cama Road
State Bank of India, 'Manoday', Dattapada Kaneri Road, Borivli (East)
Citibank, Air India Building Madam Cama Road Nariman Point
Citibank, Bombay Mutual Building 293, D.N. Road Fort

ATMs:
HDFC, Tirupati Apartments, Bhulabhai Desai Road
HDFC, "EL-DORADO", Narayan Dhuru Marg, Opp. Veer Savarkar Marg, Prabhadevi
ICICI, Nariman Point, Mumbai Free Press House, Ground Floor, 215, Nariman Point
ICICI, Ground Floor, Mamta, Appasaheb Marathe Marg, Opposite Orange Office, Prabhadevi

Tourism Offices:
Government of India Tourist Office, Churchgate

MTDC Main Reservation Office
C.D.O Hutments, Opp. LIC Bldg, Madame Cama Road

MTDC Mumbai Office
Express Towers, 9th Floor, Nariman Point

Hospitals:
Bombay Hospital
Bombay Port Trust Hospital
Breach Candy Hospital
Hinduja Hospital
Jaslok Hospital
J J Hospital
Kasturba
K E M Hospital