Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) is a densely populated city on India’s west coast. A financial center, it’s India’s largest city. On the Mumbai Harbour waterfront stands the iconic Gateway of India stone arch, built by the British Raj in 1924. Offshore, nearby Elephanta Island holds ancient cave temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The city’s also famous as the heart of the Bollywood film industry.
Landmark British colonial buildings include Chhatrapati Shivaj Terminus, an ornate train station melding Gothic Revival and Mughal architecture. The castlelike Bombay High Court features octagonal turrets. Immense Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is a museum displaying ethnographic and natural history collections. Chor Bazaar is known for its antiques, while Mangaldas Market has textiles, and Zaveri Bazaar is filled with jewelry shops. Marine Drive terminates at popular Chaupati Beach. On the city’s outskirts in Sanjay Gandhi National Park is Kanheri, a cave system carved by Buddhists beginning in the 1st century B.C.
When to visit: Mumbai has a tropical climate, with hot and humid weather. Although a year-round destination, peak travel periods include May–Jun, just before the torrential Jun–Sep monsoon rains. Ganesh Chaturthi (Aug/Sep, dates vary) celebrates the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh and has huge processions. Dec–Jan, also a popular time to visit, is dry, with warm days and mild evenings. The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (Feb) brings visual arts, music, dance, literature and more to various points around the city.
