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| This is a very basic guidebook. |
| The information in it was compiled from various reliable sources to serve as a quick reference for your journey. |
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| What's inside? |
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Mumbai is India's centre of economy and entertainment. It is rich in local culture and has attractions of different origin, having been under the reign of Western forces. Our travel guide will take you through Mumbai, bringing you to sample the best food, see the best sights and be at the most happening places. Make our guide your companion in Mumbai today!
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| India's national animal is almost gone! |
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| Fund collecting in progress... |
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| The national animal of India is the Bengal tiger but unfortunately, its number is dwindling and the Bengal tigers are now listed as endangered animals. Tigers are found prominently in India and Malaysia but the Bengal tigers are found mostly in India and in smaller populations in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
White tigers are actually Bengal tiger which have a genetic mutation that causes the change in colour of their fur and eyes. They are rarely found in the wild. Tigers ('pantera tigris') originated from Siberia and moved down south when the climate became colder. They have incredible vision and are able to see six times better than us! The pattern of stripes on their skin and their paw prints are unique to each tiger. These features are used by wildlife officials to identify each animal and track their movements.
Demand for tigers' skin and bones for Chinese medicine has caused thier numbers to dwindle. Poaching, illegal forestation and clearing of their habitats have threatened their existence. Statistics show that there were less than 2000 tigers in the 1970's, prompting the Indian government to initiate Project Tiger in 1973. Tiger reserves, wildlife national parks and wildlife sanctuaries were set up to protect the tigers and the number of tigers have been increasing since then.
There are 27 tiger reserves and wildlife parks in India. There are two in the state of Maharashtra which are Tadoba-Andhari and Melghat, so do make it a point to go there when you are in Mumbai to check out why the tiger is branded the 'King of the Jungle'. |
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| What's an a4trip guidebook? |
| An a4trip guidebook is a travel guide that'll provide you with the information you'll need to plan your trip and to find your way around. Our guidebooks are downloadable in PDF format, and are designed to be so compact, you can take it with you everywhere you go. |
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| How can I pay for a guidebook? |
| We accept credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express (USA only) and Discover (USA only) via PayPal. Your transaction will appear as 'PAYPAL*A4TRIP' on your credit card statement. |
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| Help! Why can't I download the guidebook? |
| Don't worry, just get in touch with us and we'll deliver the guidebook right to your inbox. |
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| Just how often do you update your guidebooks? |
| We try to update our guidebooks at least once a month. |
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| Have more questions about a4trip? |
| Just Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you. |
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Mumbai is located on the west coast of India and is the world's most populated city in the world with an approximate of 14 million inhabitants. Due to its natural harbour, Mumbai was highly sought after by various empires in its history before finally coming under the reign of the Portuguese and the British. The British gave the name Bombay to the archipelago of seven islands that make up the city. Nevertheless, the city's Marathi and Gujarati-speakers continued to refer to the city as Mumbai. It was only most recently in 1996 that the name Bombay was changed to Mumbai in accordance with the policy of using historical local names for renaming colonial institutions.
Mumbai is all about the 2 E's: economy and entertainment. Mumbai is India's largest city and its centre of economy. It is home to the stock exchanges, the Reserve Bank of India and corporate headquarters of Indian companies and multinational organisations. What is perhaps more thrilling is that Mumbai is also home to the enthralling world of Bollywood - India's Hindi film and television industry. Thoughts of perfectly choreographed dance moves, hunky actors, beautiful actresses and Miss Worlds immediately come to mind at the mere mention of Bollywood.
Mumbai's richness in heritage and culture is demonstrated in its having 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Elephanta Caves. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), previously known as the Victoria Terminus, is India's busiest railway station that took 10 years to complete and has unique Gothic architectural designs. The Elephanta Caves are located on Elephanta island in the Arabian sea. The caves contain sculptures of Hindu deities that were created during the Gupta empire. It was the Portuguese who gave the island its name, and the cave also houses a temple to the Hindu god Siva.
There are just so many exciting places to see and visit in Mumbai! First, head to the Gateway of India. Mumbai's most popular landmark, this yellow arch was built to commemorate the visit of King George V in 1911. Your next recommended stop would be Mani Bhavan. The residence of India's iconic Mahatma Gandhi, it is now converted into a museum and houses letters Gandhi wrote and other personal belongings.
To cool yourself and get an adrenaline boost, head over to the Esselworld. It is a theme park and its 'Water Kingdom' is the largest water theme park in the world! Later on, enjoy the beautiful sunset along the Marine Drive which runs along the Arabian sea and offers a spectacular view of the sun setting. The Marine Drive is also known as the Queen's Necklace, referring to its C-shape being lighted up with streetlights.You might want to time your visit to Mumbai to coincide with the Kala Ghoda Bazaar happening every Sunday in November to January. Street performers and musicians entertain you as you walk from stall to stall selling handicraft, food and art items.
The most preferred food in Mumbai is the vegetarian Maharastrian platter or thali. The platter consists of 4 chapatis, vegetable, curd, rice, salad and optional sweet-dishes. Mumbaikars (the people of Mumbai) are also fond of their fast food which are Pav Bhaji and Pani Puri. Pav Bhaji is a mix of an assortment of vegetables and spices and Pani Puri is a light snack made of puffed puris, sprouts and spices. Mumbai has its own 'burger' too, the Vada Pav. The Vada is made of boiled potatoes coated with flour and deep fried and eaten with Pav, a round shaped bread. A note of precaution though: Food poisoning is a major concern in India. Travellers should only drink bottled water, eat at the better restaurants, avoid salads and always make sure that meat, seafood and egg dishes are properly cooked and served hot.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji airport is located in northern Mumbai. Upon arrival, opt for a metered taxi or a rented car with a driver. Self-driven cars are not recommended as the streets of Mumbai are chaotic. Mumbai's public busses and suburban trains are usually crowded, but thankfully most of the attractions are located centrally and are accessible from one to another by foot. Taxi drivers do not expect tips but waiters and hotel staff do expect some. Baksheesh is common in India. It is given before the service rather than after, to ensure better service.
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