Mumbai - Maharashtra?s capital and heartbeat

Posted by Sneha on August 17th, 2017

This capital of Maharashtra and financial capital of India is multi dimensional and provides a lot of exciting experiences.

Mumbai was initially an accumulation of seven islands on the Konkan coastline, which with the passage of time joined to form island city of Bombay. It further joined Salsette islands in the neighbourhood to form Greater Bombay. Bombay got its name from Bom Bahia, meaning "Beautiful Bay", given by a Portuguese. This was later popularised as Bombay state by the British.

Mumbai undeniably is the business capital of India and one of the major port cities in the country. Mumbai has a diverse nature and multi-cultural lifestyle. One can experience both extremes of the society in the city. On one hand it is the hometown of Bollywood and houses the highest number of ultra rich people and on the other, this city has India's largest slum population. The city developed its identity from the various communities that are settled in here mainly on the purpose of jobs and education.

The culture here is a fine amalgamation of festivities, religions, music, food, music and theatres. Mumbai is said to have most active nightlife in comparison to other cities. Just like the mixture of classes the city also houses people of all communities and thereby celebrates all festivals with grandeur and fervour.

When it comes to transport the local train is the lifeline of the city. One can also bank on the bus services provided by BEST for a public transport. If you prefer a private ride then you can book taxi in Mumbai with ease.

Coming to the famous tourist attractions in the city one should definitely visit some of the following places when in the city-

Marine Drive - Starting from the north of Nariman Point and ending at the famous Chowpatty beach, the Marine Drive is a 3 km long arc shaped road along the sea coast of South Mumbai. The coast lines the Arabian Sea and is the best place to watch the sunset in Mumbai. The Queen’s Necklace is a treat to behold in the evening.

Haji Ali Dargah - Situated at the backdrop of a beautiful view of the sea is the shrine of Haji Ali, a wealthy merchant turned into Muslim Sufi. People from all walks of life and religions come here to seek blessings.

Gateway of India - One of the most distinguished monument in Mumbai, The Gateway of India was built in 1924. Now it has become a popular tourist hub in the city. Located at Apollo Bunder Waterfront, the monument overlooks the Arabian Sea in the most beautiful way.

Siddhivinayak Temple - Located in Prabhadevi, Siddhivinayak is a Lord Ganesha temple, one of the most significant and frequented temples in Mumbai. Visitors visit this temple in large numbers on daily basis. It was built by Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil in 1801.

Elephanta Caves- An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Elephanta Caves is a specimen of rock cut art and architecture from the times of medieval India. It is an island and is located at a distance of 11 km from the city of Mumbai. It also provides an amazing view of the Mumbai skyline.

Not just within the city, but the outskirts of the city are equally popular and can be easily reached using Mumbai Outstation cabs. Lonavla, Matheran, Khandala, Pune, Manori and Alibaug are popular destinations.

Alibaug: Mumbai to Alibaug taxi can be availed to reach Alibaug which is a coastal town in the Konkan region well known for its sandy beaches, clean water and fresh, unpolluted, rejuvenating air. It is situated only 100 km away from Mumbai and is a popular weekend getaway. It has many serene and beautiful beaches, known for its mesmerizingly calm weather and dense coconut groves. Apart from the beaches, there are many historical and intricate temples in this region which are also interesting for tourists here.