Mumbai
Mumbai, also known as Bombay, is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial capital of India.
Located on the Konkan coast along the west coast of India, it has a deep natural harbour. As per the 2011 Census of India, it is the most populous city proper in India, with a population of almost 12.5 million, while the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which is among the most populous metropolitan areas in the world, has a population of over 20 million. The city forms part of the Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts and is administered by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which was established in 1888.
Getting to Mumbai
Mumbai has excellent connectivity with most of the major cities around the world, including New York, London, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur to name a few. If you are flying from Europe it is generally cheaper to fly from London, and there are many frequent flights available. All domestic sectors are linked to Mumbai, making it the second busiest hub in the country next to Delhi.
- 01Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
One of Asia’s busiest airports and one of the main international gateways to the country.
- 02Navi Mumbai International Airport
It is a good alternative to Mumbai-Shivaji Terminal 1 for domestic flights.
- 03Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus CR
Completed during the British Raj in 1888, this architectural masterpiece is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and worth a visit even if you are not catching a train.
- 04Mumbai Central WR
The other major railway terminus in central Mumbai, trains from Western states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and some parts of Northern India terminate here.
Worth seeing
There is a lot to see in Mumbai, but the typical "tourist" sights are concentrated in South Mumbai. By Indian standards, Mumbai is a young city and much of the land comprising the city did not exist until it was claimed from the sea over three centuries ago. It is therefore a pleasant surprise to find rock cut caves such as the Elephanta, Kanheri, and Mahakali within city limits.
Things to do
There is a lot to do in Mumbai, but lack of space means that for outdoorsy activities, you need to head north, often outside city limits. In North Munbai and Thane, you will find opportunities for water sports like H2O at Girgaon Chowpatty. There are two golf courses in the city, the more famous one is in Chembur in the Harbour Suburbs.
Where to eat
The dining experience at an upscale restaurant in Mumbai is more or less the same as anywhere else in the world. You can find cuisine from the Middle East, Western Europe, North America and China easily. But to get a real flavour of what's unique to Mumbai, you will have to go a little lower down the scale and experience the street food and Irani cafes.
Getting around Mumbai the local way
- Get in}} Thane Creek is bustling with ferries to central Mumbai from various cities on the southern and eastern side of the creek, such as Alibag.
- Get inFerries from Ferry Wharf also allow cheap access to islands and beaches in the vicinity of the city and Elephanta.
- Get inThere are no scheduled international ferries to Mumbai, however cruise ships dock regularly.
- Get aroundIt will be difficult to find a taxi in the suburbs as they have been out-competed by the cheaper auto-rickshaws there.
- Get aroundAnother scam is auto-rickshaw drivers charging the (higher) taxi fare and even show you a tariff card which should be used for taxi fares only.
- Get aroundAuto-rickshaws are only allowed to operate beyond Bandra and Sion.
- Get aroundIf you are not used to Indian roads, an auto-rickshaw ride can be heart-stopping, death-defying, laws-of-physics-bending.
- Get aroundAuto-rickshaws are slower than cars and have terrible suspensions.
From Wikivoyage: Mumbai, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Dr Vikramjit Kakati (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
