Welcome

Rajasthan Tours

Welcome to the city that never sleeps! Pulsating, Alive, On the Move, Vibrant, Fun - this is Mumbai or as it is still frequently referred to Bombay. The most modern city in India, it captures the spirit of the changing pace set by liberalization and modernisation.

Once a cluster of seven islands, Mumbai was presented to King Charles II in 1661 as part of the dowry when he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal.

Over the years, as colonialism gave way to independence, Mumbai has transformed itself into an entity with thriving markets, business houses and many different communities reflecting a cosmopolitan and trendy atmosphere rarely seen elsewhere. On the surface, it represents the ever-changing face of today's India - the old coupled with the dynamic new, and yet at its very core, the heart of the city is steeped in Indian customs and values.

Gateway of India

It is the capital of Maharashtra state, and its official language is Marathi although English and Hindi are widely spoken and understood. The fast-paced life has given rise to hordes of "fast-food outlets" on almost every road, offering lip-smacking choices of Mumbai's very own pau bhaji, bhel puri and kababs. There is no dearth, though, of multi-culinary delicacies dished out in posh restaurants by expert chefs. Mumbai is a shopper's delight with bargain buys, exclusive boutiques, ethnic markets and mini bazaars. This busy city is also the hub of a thriving cultural life, with a constant stream of performances in music, dance and drama. The seat of the Hindi film industry, known locally as Bollywood, it produces the largest number of films in the world. Mumbai caters to the adventurous and the romantic through its sporting activities, nightclubs, pubs, theatres, beaches and restaurants. Old and new, rich and poor, classical and modern -- its all here for you to savour and enjoy!

Following the first war of Independence in 1857, the East India Company was accused of mismanagement, and Bombay reverted to the British crown. With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, and the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, exports, specially cotton, from Bombay became a major part of the colonial economy.

The Great Indian Peninsular Railway facilitated travel within India. This network of commerce and communication led to an accumulation of wealth. This was channelled into building an Imperial Bombay by a succession of Governors. Many of Bombay's famous landmarks, the Flora Fountain and the Victoria Terminus, date from this time.

The water works, including the Hanging Gardens and the lakes were also built at this time. The Bombay Municipal Corporation was founded in 1872. However, this facade of a progressive and well-governed city was belied by the plague epidemics of the 1890s. This dichotomy between the city's symbols of power and prosperity and the living conditions of the people who make it so continues even today.

The construction of Imperial Bombay continued well into the 20th century. Landmarks from this period are the Gateway of India, the General Post Office, the Town Hall (now the Asiatic Library) and the Prince of Wales Museum. Bombay expanded northwards into the first suburbs, before spreading its nightmare tentacles into the the northern suburbs. The nearly 2000 acres reclaimed by the Port Trust depressed the property market for a while, but the Backbay reclamation scandal of the '20s was a testament to the greed for land.

The freedom movement reached a high pitch of activity against this background of developing Indian wealth. Gandhi returned from South Africa and reached Bombay on January 12, 1915. Following many campaigns in the succeeding years, the end of the British imperial rule in India was clearly presaged by the Quit India declaration by the Indian National Congress on August 8, 1942, in Gowalia Tank Maidan, near Kemp's Corner. India became a free country on August 15, 1947. In the meanwhile, Greater Bombay had come into existence through an Act of the British parliament in 1945.

Gateway of India
Gateway of India is regarded to be the starting point for most tourists who want to travel around the Mumbai city. This 26m-high structure has four turrets and intricate latticework carved into the yellow basalt stone. Mumbaites, as well as the foreign tourists come down to this place in the evening and take a cool rest from day's exhausting work schedules.

Marine Drive
Marine Drive is the place where Mumbaites hang out to cool down a while from the steamy hurried and busied life. As street lamps orderly line up on the edge of the beach, it is also known as called Queen's Necklace. Several Hindu religious ceremonies are taking place at Chowpatty like annual thread-tying ceremony, nariel-purnima and Ganesh Chaturthi immersions. Stalls on the beach, selling Bhelpuri, Kulfi and Paan make the chowpatty zesty.

Juhu Beach
Juhu is one of the most popular and posh beaches of India. This fizzing beach on the shores of Arabian Sea is the place where one can find the bungalows of Bollywood stars. Tourists can enjoy horse and donkey rides, dancing monkeys, acrobats, cricket matches, toy sellers etc. here.

Essel World
Essel World offers over 40 exciting rides, games, and attractions. The Water Kingdom is said to be the largest of its kind in Asia. It is a perfect destination for a one-day holiday.

Mani Bhawan
It has Gandhian literature, photographic exhibits, framed letters and 3-D tableaux of key events in Gandhi's life are displayed here. Gandhi's room and belongings including his books, his trademark 'Charkha' (spinning wheel) and 'Charpoy' (rope bed) are displayed here. It is place, where Gandhi first learned how to use the spinning wheel.

Jehangir Art Gallery
There is huge rush of artistes in this gallery to show one's works. Many of the artistes have to wait a couple of years to exhibit their works in this gallery. The building of the gallery is an enormous beautiful mansion. Jehangir Art Gallery is one of the Mumbai's well-known art galleries.

Chowpatty
Another sandy attraction of Mumbai is the Chowpatty beach in the suburbs of the city. Chowpatty is perhaps the most famous beach of Mumbai, flooded by the usual hustle and bustle of roadside vendors, screaming kids, Ferris wheels, pony rides, wayside astrologers, monkey shows, Moreover, the bhelpuri shops and sometimes the film shoot or a street play also adds to the festive atmosphere of the beach.

Bollywood
Next to Hollywood, Mumbai is world's largest production centre for films. The Film City: 'Bollywood', as it is called, produces the second most number of films in the world every year.
 

By Air
Mumbai has more flights connecting it than even the national capital New Delhi. All major airlines fly to and from Mumbai to most of the important cities of the world. The international terminal of Mumbai is known as Sahar and the domestic terminal is known as Santa Cruz.

By Bus
The most of the neighboring states like Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have their state bus company offices located here.

By Rail
Central Railways runs services to the east and north, the Western Railways also runs trains to North India from Churchgate and Central stations. Some of the important connections by rail.

You will visit “Mumbai” during the below Tours of Rajasthan

11 Days Golden Triangle and Ajanta Ellora Tour (Including Mumbai) 
11 Days / 10 Nights
Delhi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur - Udaipur - Mumbai - Aurangabad - Ellora - Ajanta - Mumbai