Call Now : 09937011834
tours@toshali.org,
 
Follow Us: Facebook Twitter
Home India Hotels India Tours Holiday Packages Weekend Breaks Travel Guide Tailor Made Holiday Contact Us
tours
Enquiry Tour/Packages
Name: Phone:
Email: City:
Adult Arrival Date:
Chaildren Departure Date:
Comments: Captcha

Mumbai - City of seven islands OR Gateway of India OR Bollywood of India OR City of Dreams

STATE - MAHARASHTRA
 
DISTANCE - 1407 KM From Delhi, 1407 KM From Pune,185 KM From Nashik

CONNECTION

By Air : Mumbai can be reached through frequent flights from major airports in India. The international terminal Sahar, now known  as Chatrapati Sivaji International Airport, operates round the clock. The domestic airport Santa Cruz is about 5km apart and can easily be reached through regular shuttle buses between the two terminals.

By Rail : Mumbai is a major railway focal point of the country. It is the headquarters to two railway zones, central and western. While Central Railways handles services to the east and south, Western Railways has services to the north from Churchgate and Central stations.

By Road : Mumbai is well connected by a network of roads to the rest of India. Mumbai has one of the best public bus systems of any major Indian city called BEST buses. Mumbai has a huge convoy of metered black-and-yellow taxis as well.

ABOUT MUMBAI

Mumbai is the capital of the state of Maharashtra, formerly known as Bombay and the most populous city in India with a mix of past, present and future. The total population of Mumbai is 16 million people with residents from all over India lending diverse cultures to the melting pot. Mumbai consists of seven islands that are connected to the mainland by bridges, and it has always been a trading port, attracting merchants from other parts of India. Many of the merchants were promised religious freedom and land grants by the British.

Mumbai is the commercial and entertainment capital of India producing items such as software, textiles and petrochemicals. Mumbai is also home to India's film and television industry, known as Bollywood.

Mumbai- A city that never sleeps, if you want to feel fresh young and recharged then Mumbai is for you. Flooded with discotheques, Restaurants and night clubs Mumbai in actual is the Las Vegas of India. Mumbai is a city where every night seems like a festival night. So, with heartiest happiness we welcome you to the city of wonders, Mumbai.

PLACES OF INTERESTS IN MUMBAI

Gateway of India : The Gateway of India is the main attraction of Mumbai city. It was built to celebrate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911, Situated at the Apollo Bunder, the gateway holds greater historical significance as the last of the British troops that left India by sea, marched through its portals. The monument is complete with four turrets and intricate latticework imprinted into the yellow basalt stone.

Mani Bhawan : Mani Bhawan is one of the important places to visit in Mumbai. Presently functioning as a Gandhi memorial, it used to be the Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It is from this famous house No. 19, called Mani Bhawan, that Gandhiji was arrested in 1932. This two storied building inherits a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo feature on the Mahatma's life, some memorabilia, an old Gandhiji's charkha and a film and recording archive. A minimum entry fee is required to get into the Mani Bhawan.

Prince of Wales Museum : The Prince of Wales museum is another major attraction of Mumbai. Built in the year 1914, it is surrounded by a beautiful landscape forming an ideal getaway for the people of Mumbai. The museum houses art, sculpture, rare coins, and old firearms and a priceless collection of miniature paintings. The Prince of Wales museum is regarded as one of the best museums in the country.

Marine Drive : A leisurely walk down the Marine Drive is the best way to discover Mumbai. This winding elongate of road with tall buildings on one side and sea on the other extends from Nariman Point to Malabar Hills. Due to its curved shape and many street lights, it was once called the Queen's Necklace. A popular sea front, Marine Drive is also the main thoroughfare linking for the Malabar Hills to the southernmost points of Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Nariman Point, and the Fort.

Juhu : Nicknamed as the uptown bourgeois heaven, Juhu Beach is a place that attracts a large number of visitors throughout the year. Characterized by walkers, screaming children and courting couples, the beach covers an area of about 5 kilometres. Juhu beach is attractively studded with many five star hotels offering the customers a marvelous view of the coast. The beach remains noticeably crowded on weekends. Moreover, the beach activities like camel rides, pony rides, acrobats, performing monkeys and entertainers will keep you enthralled all the time. Keep away from hawkers.

Hanging Gardens : The Hanging Gardens makes another must witness site in Mumbai. The park was built during the early 1880s over Mumbai's main reservoir at the top of the Malabar Hills. The reason of its location being to cover the water from the potentially contaminating activity of the nearby Towers of Silence. Located just opposite the Kamala Nehru Park, this terraced garden, also known as Ferozeshah Mehta Garden, is famous among the locals as well as tourists. The garden provides lovely sunset views over the Arabian Sea.

Kamla Nehru Park : Kamla Nehru park, located at the top of Malabar Hills is another site to visit in Mumbai. Overlooking the Marine Drive, the park houses "Old Woman's Shoe", wonderfully cut hazes and roomy walkways. Moreover, the park also provides you a extravagant view of the city and the sunset. The Kamla Nehru park also makes a favourite gateway for the locals here.

Chowpatty : Another sandy gateway of Mumbai is the Chowpatty beach in the suburbs of the city. Chowpatty is perhaps the most famous beach of Mumbai, characterized by the usual hustle and bustle of stallwalahs, people snoozing under the shade of its stunted trees screaming kids, Ferris wheels, pony rides, wayside astrologers, monkey shows, and even the odd self-styled gymnast demonstrating their skill for a fee. Moreover, the bhelpuri shops and sometimes the film shoot or a street play also adds to the festive atmosphere of the beach. A beach of action, Chowpatty makes a must visit in Mumbai.

Tower of Silence : A atypical site to visit in Mumbai is the Tower of Silence. Mumbai has a large number of Parsi population. The Parsis have the custom of leaving their dead in the open. These particular places are called "Towers of Silence", where the vultures come to eat the dead. For the Parsis, this is regarded as the final act of charity. Mumbai's Towers of Silence, have virtually disappeared today. Only a handful remain that attract a considerable number of tourists every year.

RELIGIOUS PLACES IN MUMBAI

Mumbai owes its name to Mumbadevi, the patron goddess of the city. Mumba Devi temple is venerated as the Shakti temple in Mumbai and holds a great eminence within Maharashtra.

Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir : Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is one of the most popular and most visited temples located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai. Originally built up by Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil in 1801, the temple is visited in hordes by all the sects of the society.

Walkeshwar Temple : Walkeshwar temple is among the most ancient temples of Mumbai having earned a heritage status for its architecture and popularity among the pilgrims. Originally built by the Silharas around 1050 years ago on Malabar Hill, Walkeshwar temple derives its name from Valuka Ishwar meaning Lord of Sand.

Mahalaxmi Temple : Mahalaxmi temple is among the oldest temples in Mumbai. Situated on the picturesque locale of Breach Candy at the Northern foot of the Malabar hills, the Maha Laxmi temple is thronged by millions of devotees each month.

ISKCON Temple : ISKCON temple or Hare Rama Hare Krishna temple at Juhu in Mumbai is among the most visited sacred temples dedicated to Lord Krishna or Lord Radha Rasabihari. Managed by ISKCON, the temple is built on the prime land of Hare Krishna Land sprawling over 4 acres.

Babulnath Temple : Babulnath Temple is one of the ancient temples of Mumbai. Situated at the end of Marine Drive, the temple has Lord Shiva in the form of Babul tree as its presiding deity.

Jain Temple : Jain temple of Mumbai also makes the interesting place to visit in the city. Located on the Malabar Hill, the Jain temple houses frescoes depicting various events in the lives of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras. It also has a black marble shrine decorated with celestial personifications of the planets painted onto the ceiling. A large number of devotees as well as tourists come here every day.

WHEN TO GO MUMBAI

The fascination for the Island City of India, Mumbai, never gets exhausted. People plan trips according to their holidays and suitability, yet one should refer the weather and peak travel season of the city before scheduling the trip. Mumbai, being located on the coastline, observes humid and sultry climate throughout the year. Summers elongates from March to May, where high temperature doesn't allow enjoying the capital of Maharashtra.

WEATHER FORECAST

Weather of Mumbai is fluctuating one as it is a coastal area and the weather is highly influenced by the presence of Arabian Sea. Generally May is the hottest month of the year and the average temperature remains between 32C- 40C. January is the coldest month in Mumbai and the average temperature remains about 18OC. The proximal distance to the sea lends a humid effect to the weather in Mumbai throughout the year.

Summers season in Mumbai is from April to Mid June followed by monsoon from Mid June to Mid September. The rain in Mumbai is extremely heavy and the annual rainfall of Mumbai is around 200cm. Winter in Mumbai lasts from November to February and during this season the weather of Mumbai is really pleasant. During the winters the temperature varies in between 15-250 C and all these climatic features of Mumbai makes it different from other Indian cities.

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS IN MUMBAI

Mumbai, India offers visitors a rich array of events and festivals throughout the year that highlight its unique cultural identity and history. HotelTravel.com highlights the key events and festivals in Mumbai from month to month, providing visitors with a huge choice of possible choice to play that once in a lifetime holiday around. Each one brings to life why Mumbai is so representative of people from India. Click the events and festival links below for further information.

New Year’s Day : the Western New Year is not really celebrated in India but in more Westernized Mumbai where alcohol is widely available, things are different. The big hotels will have parties and expatriates and foreign travelers to the city celebrate New Year’s Eve like anywhere else, so there is always something happening, especially in southern Mumbai.

Mumbai Festival : lasting about 2 weeks every January, the Mumbai Festival is the major event of the year, taking place in the coolest month for maximum enjoyment. There’s theatre, dance, music, fashion and food on offer, all with a familiar taste of Mumbai; and the party keeps going all day long.

Elephanta Festival : held on ever-popular Elephanta Island, this festival is a big one for tourists with traditional song, dance and food lasting 2 days that features big names in the Indian music industry. Take the specially-run ferries from the Gateway of India to get here.

Holi : undoubtedly the most colourful festival of the Indian calendar, Holi marks the beginning of spring with the throwing of coloured powder believed to ward off illness with the changing of the season

Gudi Padava : the start of the New Year in Maharashtra state, Gudi Padava sees drinks placed on top of colourfully decorated ‘gudis’ or bamboo poles which line the whole of the city. It’s usually held in uncomfortably high temperatures, but if you feel up to the heat, its well worth it.

Janmashtami : held either in July or August according to the Hindu calendar, Janmashtami is a wonderful spectacle for the casual observer. Celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Lord Krishna, the event is typified by human pyramids of men extending into the Mumbai sky, trying to crush pots of curd hung up along the streets. Don’t ask why: just stand well away from the falling pottery and curd, get your camera out, and marvel at the amateur acrobatics on display.

Ganesh Chaturthi : just as the monsoon begins to dry up around the end of August and the beginning of September, this colourful festival comes to life over 10 days. It’s one of the biggest and brightest Mumbai has to offer and features millions of images of the Hindu elephant god Ganesh. Processions often bring main thoroughfares to a standstill, so do things on foot to make the most of this Mumbai must-see.

Mount Mary’s Feast : held on Mount Mary, a small hill in Bandra suburb and home to a famous Catholic church, this event makes a change from the mostly Hindu events. Festivities take place over a whole week and begin on the Sunday following 8 September, the birthday of the Virgin Mary, mother of Christ. The fair attracts swarms of people no matter what faith.

Ramadan : Nearly one in five people living in Mumbai is Muslim so the holy month of Ramadan is a big deal even if the local population is mostly Hindu. Tourists can’t really get involved in this as it’s about fasting and prayer. The dates change every year according to the lunar Islamic calendar.

Diwali : India’s main event is huge in Mumbai, a festival that takes over much of the city and doesn’t let go for 5 days of colour and light. Diwali is the festival that marks the victory of good over evil with lit candles and lanterns. Usually takes place in October but sometimes in November.

Eid : The end of the holy Islamic month of fasting means more prayer but also feasting as Mumbai Muslims deck themselves in their finest clothes for a family holiday of relief and celebration.

Christmas : with a Christian population of nearly one million people, including the centre and greater Mumbai, and many more visiting at this time of year from abroad, the city makes a big deal over Christmas.

FOOD AND RESTURANTS IN MUMBAI

Similar to the coastal states of India, Marathi food also contains lots of fish and coconuts. Vegetables are an integral part of the diet here, just like in all other parts of India. Grated coconut is used in many dishes, but coconut oil is not used as a cooking medium most often. Lots of Peanuts and cashew nuts are used in vegetables and Peanut oil is the main cooking medium of Maharashtra.

Mumbai owns some of the best selected restaurants in India. These restaurants offer a wide variety of food. Gujarati thalis, Muslim kababs, Mangalorean seafood, Parsi dhansaak, North Indian tandooris and Goan vindaloo, Maharashtrian Platter Or Thali, Fast Food, soups, chidva, Shrikhand, Chikki.

Golden Chariot Restaurant & Bar ( Andheri West), Golden Wave Restaurant (Santacruz East), Garden Court Restaurant (Orlem), Garden Court Restaurant (Malad West), Independence Day Brunch In Mumbai, Leonidas’s Chocolate Pyramid, The Resort’s (Festival in Malad West), Aurus (The Family Restaurant), DELHI ZAIKA( the pure taste of india) etc.

© 2012 MyBudgetTrip.com All Rights Reserved. Use of this site is subject to the Booking Terms, Site Terms and Privacy Policy. Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional