Why? The largest and most cosmopolitan city in India, a holiday in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is an experience of contrasts, from the glitz and glamour of 'Bollywood' to the abject poverty of its beggars and the smog that hangs in the air. In essence though, travellers holiday in Mumbai to experience a microcosm of India; simply soaking up the atmosphere in the streets is sufficient to open the mind and the heart to what this awesome country is all about.
When? The climate of Mumbai is generally hot and humid throughout the year, but the best time to travel to Mumbai is in the nominal winter months between November and February, when conditions are slightly more bearable. Avoid the monsoon season between June and September when your Mumbai holiday is likely to be swamped by heavy rain and flooding.
Who for? A holiday in Mumbai is not for the faint-hearted, because the sheer size and scope of this city is daunting. Globetrotters who revel in people watching, and those who enjoy shopping for bargains in chaotic markets, are good candidates for a Mumbai holiday.
Overview
Situated on a peninsula halfway up the west coast of India, Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is India's economic powerhouse and home to more millionaires than any other city on the Indian sub-continent. As well as being the country's financial capital, Mumbai is also an important port, handling a third of all international trade, and a base for many of India's largest companies. However, among all this wealth and the Bollywood lifestyle are cases of extreme poverty with almost half of the population living in slums. In the last count the population was 21 million, and growing rapidly.
The Portuguese established this old Hindu city as a colony in 1509. In 1661 it passed to England as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza when she married Charles II, and became a vital trading base for the East India Company and later the Crown. The centre of Imperial Bombay, an area known as Fort, contains a breathtaking array of High Victorian buildings and is reminiscent of a prosperous 19th century English industrial city. The fascinating range of architectural styles reflects the British passion for the Gothic and demonstrates the wealth, panache and confidence of British Bombay. Prosperity has always been considered more important than religious homogeneity in Mumbai, and this is reflected in the range of places of worship throughout the city - churches and cathedrals sit alongside countless mosques, Hindu and Buddhist temples.
Like many Indian cities, the streets of Mumbai are congested with cattle, carts and motor vehicles and the air is thick with smog and the sound of horns, but despite this the city has much to offer and those en route to Goa should take time to discover Mumbai's colourful and fascinating history and its vibrant, energetic and friendly people. At worst, the experience will make Goa's beaches seem even more peaceful.