Mumbai is situated on the western coast of India and was originally a cluster of seven islands around which the modern city has grown. The city derives its name from Mumbadevi, the patron Goddess of the Kolis, a fishing community and its oldest inhabitant.

SIGHT SEEING
The Gateway of India
The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit in 1911 of King George. It overlooks the sea on one side and the Taj Mahal Hotel on the other. J.N. Tata, one of the city's great Parsi patrons, built this hotel in 1903 supposedly after he was refused entry into the Watson's Hotel, for being 'a native'. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vaastu Sanghralaya (The Prince of Wales Museum) and the National Gallery of Modern Art are nearby.

Fort
This area occupies the site of the old British built fort and is the established commercial hub of Mumbai. The Victorian architecture in the area is reminiscent of the European roots of the city.  Heritage walks in this area which has the finest concentration of heritage structures in the city, are very popular with tourists.

Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus (CST)
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus better known as Victoria Terminus, is a splendid example of Gothic architecture. Richly carved buttresses, domes, turrets, spires and stained-glass windows make it hard to believe that this grand building is one of the main stations of Mumbai and accommodate almost half a million commuters daily. Has been declared 'a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Crawford Market
This colourful market north of CST, also known as Mahatma Phule Market, was built in 1869. It used to be the city's wholesale produce market before it was strategically moved to New Bombay. Bas-reliefs by Rudyard Kipling's father, Lockwood Kipling, adorn the Norman-Gothic exterior.

Marine Drive
The Marine Drive runs along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point all the way up to the foot of the Malabar Hill.

Popularly known as the Queen's Necklace, this curved promenade is literally like one with its dazzling band of street lights. It was built on land reclaimed from Back Bay in 1920. It is one of Mumbai's favourite sunset-watching spots.

Pherozshah Mehta Gardens (Hanging Gardens)
Perched atop Malabar Hill, opposite the Kamla Nehru Park, these terraced gardens also known as Hanging Gardens provide a lovely sunset view over the Arabian Sea.

Chowpatty Beach
Quiet during the day, the Chowpatty Beach transforms into a magical fair ground in the evenings. A stroll down Chowpatty and its long string of food stalls is an essential part of the Mumbai experience. The beach was frequented by freedom fighters during the Quit India movement. A statue of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak marks the spot where the great leader was cremated.

Kamala Nehru Park
Laid in 1952 an the slopes of Malabar Hill the garden /children's park offers a panoramic. view of Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach. It was named after the wife ofIndia's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Haji Ali Mosque
The gleaming white mosque and tomb ofHaji Ali appears to be a fairy island in the Arabian Sea. In reality, it is situated at the tip of a causeway and can be approached only during low tide.

ManiBhavan
When Mahatma Gandhi visited Mumbai he made this old style building his home. The house belonged to his friend Shri Revashankar Jhaveri. Today Mani Bhavan has been converted into a museum and a research centre with a library and an auditorium. The room in which Gandhi lived, is open to visitors.

EXCURSIONS
Elephanta Caves
The rich lore of the Hindu Trinity is timelessly carved on the peaceful rocks of Elphanta Island, offshore (10 km) from the Gateway of India. The trip is truly worth its while on boats that ply between the Island and Apollo Bunder, every hour till early afternoon. The caves were perhaps carved sometime be~en 450 AD and 750 AD. They depict the life of Shiva and his beloved Parvati in their Himalayan abode of Kailash. The Maheshmurti or the 20 ft high rock-cut Shiva - the destroyer as also Brahma - the creator, and Vishnu - the preserver, is among its many world renowned carvings that are on par with those of Ajanta and Ellora. The caves are included in the list of World Heritage Sites.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Sanjay Gandhi National Park, better known as "Borivali National Park" is set in hill ranges around the suburb of Borivali in Mumbai. The main attraction of this large protected area of forested hills is its wild life population. One can have encounters with several species including Spotted Deer, Black Naped Hare, Barking Deer, Porcupine, Palm Civet, Mouse Deer, Rhesus Macaque, Bounet Macaque, Hanuman Langur, Indian Flying Fox, and Sambhar. Regular Lion Safaris are arranged within the park.

Kanheri Caves
The Kanheri Caves are situated in the heart of the national park. Like those at Ajanta, these caves were built as Buddhist monasteries (viharas) and temples (chaityas) between the second and ninth centuries BC The largest cave or the Great Chaitya Cave is an impressive colonnaded temple with a pagoda.

Lonavla and Khandala
The twin hills of Lonavla and Khandala are in the Sahyadri ranges. The hill stations sprawl over an approximate area of 38 sq km and are a popular get away.