Mumbai / Bombay- the city that never sleeps
Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and has evolved into a global financial hub. For several decades it has been the home of India's main financial services, and a focus for both infrastructure development and private investment. From being an ancient fishing community and a colonial centre of trade, Mumbai has become South Asia's largest city and home of the world's most prolific film industry.
The seven islands (Bombay Island, Parel, Mazagaon, Mahim, Colaba, Worli, and Old Woman's Island (also known as Little Colaba) are these islands or constituents of the Mumbai city. ) that came to constitute Mumbai were home to communities of fishing colonies of the Koli people. For centuries, the islands were under the control of successive indigenous empires before being ceded to the Portuguese Empire and subsequently to the East India Company when in 1661 Charles II of England married Catherine of Braganza and as part of her dowry Charles received the ports of Tangier and Seven Islands of Bombay. During the mid-18th century, Bombay was reshaped by the Hornby Vellard project, which undertook reclamation of the area between the seven islands from the sea. Along with construction of major roads and railways, the reclamation project, completed in 1845, transformed Bombay into a major seaport on the Arabian Sea. Bombay in the 19th century was characterised by economic and educational development. During the early 20th century it became a strong base for the Indian independence movement. Upon India’s independence in 1947 the city was incorporated into Bombay State. In 1960, following the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, a new state of Maharashtra was created with Bombay as the capital.

Mumbai Sights
Gateway of India, situated at Apollo Bunder. It was built as a triumphal arch to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911, replete with four turrets and intricate latticework carved into the yellow basalt stone. Gateway of India The majestic Gateway of India arch facing out to Mumbai Harbor at the tip of Apollo Bunder is the most recognized monument of the city. Derived from the Islamic styles of 16th-century Gujarat, it was built to commemorate the 1911 royal visit of King George V and Queen Mary. It was completed in 1924.
Prince of Wales Museum. This Gothic and Moorish style building is crowned by a sparkling white dome, and houses a priceless collection of art, sculpture, china and other antiques. Drive past the old colonial buildings like Victoria Terminus (undoubtedly the British Raj's piece de resistance, featuring carved stone friezes, stained glass windows and flying buttresses), Mumbai University and Rajabai Clock Tower. 
Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat, the open-air laundry of the city. Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat is a surviving relic of the past; this massive and fascinating open air laundry provides an insider view of the city. Thousands of washer men bring laundry from all over Mumbai, to be hand washed in long rows of concrete wash pens.
Victoria Terminus (UNESCO Heritage Site) is an architectural landmark and the city's most extravagant Gothic building, which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. It is one of the busiest railway stations in India. 
The High Court is an elegant 1848 neo-Gothic building inspired by a German castle.  
St Thomas Cathedral is the oldest English building standing in Mumbai .The cathedral is an interesting mix of Byzantine and colonial-era architecture full of colonial memorials.
Mumbai is famous for its bazaars. The most popular ones being Crawford Market (interesting architecture), Colaba Causeway, antiques in Chor Bazaar (Thieves Market), Linking Road (low price, attractive apparel), Zaveri Bazar(Gold Shops).
The Bhau Daji Lad museum (Victori and Albert Museum) was established in 1872 as the erstwhile Victoria and Albert Museum, Bombay. As Mumbai’s first Museum, it showcases the city’s cultural heritage and history through a rare collection of Fine and Decorative Arts that highlight Early Modern Art practices as well as the craftsmanship of various communities of the Bombay Presidency. The permanent collection includes miniature clay models, dioramas, maps, lithographs, photographs, and rare books that document the life of the people of Mumbai and the history of the city from the late eighteenth to early-twentieth centuries. 
Haji Ali:  Situated 500 yard in the middle of the ocean (accessible by foot during low tides), this is the most famous Mosque (& tomb) in Mumbai. On Thursday and Friday thousands flock there to receive the blessings of the departed saint.
Mumbai is famous for its bazaars. The most popular ones being Crawford Market (interesting architecture), Colaba Causeway, antiques in Chor Bazaar (Thieves Market), Linking Road (low price, attractive apparel), Zaveri Bazar(Gold Shops).
Dharavi
Around 60% of the citizens of Mumbai live in slums and Dharavi, with a population of at least half a million, probably has become the most famous one of them, especially after the success of the movie “Slumdog Millionaire”.
The guide takes you through thecommercial area of the slum. Especially waste recycling is a big business in Dharavi and the residents and workers who scavenge materials from all over the city bring them to the little workshops in order to clean, process and recycle them, from old aluminium cans to plastic chairs. But also foodstuffs like biscuits or pottery items are produced in Dharavi. The visit of a roof right in the center of the settlement allows you to get an impression of the vast dimensions of the place and the number of people who must be working and living there.
Khotachiwadi is a Heritage village in Girgaon, Mumbai and  Mumbai's oldest preserved settlement. It is comprised of a collection of charming vernacular-style houses, a unique example of 19th century architecture that has survived the onslaught of the modern builder. As you stroll down the unique streetscape of this heritage precinct, you will pass narrow streets are lined with colourful villas built in the old Indo-Portuguese style by local East Indian families- Christians who are thought to be the original settlers of Mumbai. There used to be 65 of these houses, now reduced to 28 as old buildings are being pulled down to make way for new skyscrapers. These Houses are made of wood, with a large open front verandah, a back courtyard and an external staircase to access the top bedroom.  
The Dabbawalas have been delivering food for 131 years!
Mumbai Dabbawalas are a unique tradition. Since 1890, Dressed in white outfit and traditional Gandhi Cap, an Army of 5,000 Dabbawalas pick up home-cooked meals – mostly from the customers’ own houses – and deliver them to their workplace in time for lunch daily through a chain of command involving collecting & sorting the boxes based on a complex route coding system and moving the boxes through the local train network of Mumbai and hand carts to deliver before lunch.
What makes the dabbawalas even more special is the fact that the post lunch, empty boxes are returned to the originating home.When literally translated, the word "dabbawala" means "one who carries a box". 
Kanheri Caves :  The Kanheri Caves nestled inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park on the outskirts of Mumbai have inscriptions, sculptural panels and ancient paintings depicting the history of Buddhism in Maharashtra.
The caves comprise more than 110 different rock-cut monolithic excavations were built 1,400 years ago. The name originates from the Sanskrit word Krishnagiri, which literally translates to black mountain. The hills in which the caves are carved into are made of volcanic rock, and therefore the colour. 
The scale and extent of excavations, with its numerous water cisterns, epigraphs, one of the oldest dams, a stupa burial gallery and excellent rainwater harvesting system, indicate its popularity as a monastic and pilgrim centre.
 

Nearby Destinations :

• Aurangabad : 330 Km /  7.5 hrs

Travel Information
Connectivity :
Nearest Airport : Mumbai Airport (15 km / 35 mins)

​Best time to visit and Climate :
Best time to visitMumbai is during the winter & spring months when the weather is glorious.  The monsoon months to be avoided as sometimes Mumbai experiences serious waterlogging.