Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and the economic powerhouse of India. It's an exhilarating city, fuelled by entrepreneurial energy, determination and dreams. Compared to the torpor of the rest of India, it can seem like a foreign country. Mumbai is the finance capital of the nation, the industrial hub of everything from textiles to petrochemicals, and it's responsible for half the country's foreign trade. To many visitors, Mumbai is the glamour of Bollywood cinema, cricket on the maidans on weekends, bhelpuri on the beach at Chowpatty and red double-decker buses. While it boasts an impressive Victoria townscape, a sculptured island cave temple and a national park that's roamed by wild tigers, the city's formal attractions pale in comparison to the nonstop theater of its streets. Flush with money, the city has an established social elite and an entertainment hungry middle class, which mean diversions are never in short supply. Mumbai lives and breathes cinema, enjoy a rollicking nightlife, boasts the best seafood restaurants in South Asia and has more shops and bazaars than you could ever hope to explore.

Chowpatty Beach
Chowpatty beach is in the heart of Mumbai. At present, this is where images of Ganesha are immersed after the ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi. On this beach the most famous are the Kiosks statues of Lokmanya Tilak and Sardar Patel, two of the most outstanding Maharashtrian freedom fighters, stand on the beach.

Gateway of India
The ceremonial arch was built in 1927 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911.Constructed in honey-coloured basalt, the gateway was designed by George Wittet, inspired by 16th century Gujarat Style.
Historically, the Gateway holds greater significance as the last of the British troops left Independent India by sea, marched through its portals.

Flora Fountain
It was completed in 1864 and was erected by the Agri-Horticultural society of Western India out of a donation by Cursetjee Fardoonjee Parekh. Built in imported Portland stone, but now defaced with white oil paint, it was originally meant to be named after Sir Bartle Frere, then governor of Bombay.

Crawford Market
Rechristened as Mahatma Phule Market, it was built in 1871 by William Emerson, the bas-reliefs, at a height, adorning the facade, were designed by J.L.Kipling at the School of Art, a stone's throw away. It is the largest wholesale fruit market in the country and a visit there can be a 'fruitful' experience, especially during the mango season.

Nehru Centre
The Nehru Centre looks like something out of a 1970's James Bond movie, but was actually designed by IM Kadri to reflect Nehru's vision of Indian modernism. It's a beautiful cylinder-shaped building that achieves unity despite depicting multiple forces pulling in different directions. It opened in 1986 and now houses the Discovery of India exhibition, an art gallery, theatre and restaurant.

Air: There is an extensive network of flights from Mumbai's Sahara (International) and Santa Cruz (Domestic) airports. International flights connect it to all the major cities of the world. There are domestic flights to all the major cities of the country.

 Train: Mumbai has trains connecting it to all the major cities of the country. Intra city trains in Mumbai are very good, and are the fastest and cheapest way to move around in Mumbai.

 Road: Mumbai is well connected to all the cities of Maharashtra by bus. Intra city bus services are also very good.

Mumbai can be visited any time of the year, though the hot and humid months of June, July and August are best avoided.