Mumbai – the second most populated city in India – is the capital of the state of Maharashtra, located on the island of Salsette in the Arabian Sea. The strongest Asian stock exchanges have their headquarters here. The world knows the city mainly as the capital of Indian cinematography, but Mumbai is, above all, about the millions of people living here – both, residents and tourists.
Mumbai is an enormous metropolis full of contradictory extremes, even to a greater extent than Bangkok. Striking contrasts are impossible to go unnoticed here. The city is urbanized, yet comprises a tropical forest within its borders. It has vast areas of slums and yet offers the most expensive real estate.
The heart of the city consists of buildings that date back to colonial times. The most characteristic estate of that era is the Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station. It was built in monumental gothic style. Take a closer look at its mastery details! When discussing the architecture of Mumbai, it is impossible to omit the most popular tourist spot and the second most often photographed place in India – the Taj Mahal. No wonder it is attracting so much attention – the combination of the Islamic and Renaissance styles results in a spectacular effect as if the hotel was taken out of a fairytale.
Want to feel the essence of the city? Visit one of the numerous bazaars where you can buy everything – from vintage stuff, through clothes and books, to food. The prices are considerably low and the original, exquisite items you may run across cannot be over-appreciated. Which marketplaces are especially worth visiting? Most of them are situated in the southern part of the city. We recommend the one located in a seaside district of Colaba and the other – the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai – in Lokmanya Tilak Marg.
Feel like having some proper Indian cuisine? Go to the Seasonal Tastes restaurant located on the 18th floor of Western Express Highway or to the Seven Kitchens at 462 Senapati Bapat Marg. Other popular places include Peshawari on Sahar Road, Shree Thaker Bhojanalay in the Thaker Bhojanalaya Building 31 or the Sea Lounge in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.
