Mumbai

Understand

Mumbai (moom-BIGH) is a bustling, diverse metropolis with a flair of its own. The entrepreneurial spirit and pulsing pace of life provide a sharp contrast to much of the rest of India.

Name There has been much debate regarding the original name of the city. Some say the current name of the city Mumbai is the original name; and is an eponym derived from Mumbā (मुंबा), a local Hindu goddess, and āī (आई), meaning "mother" in Marathi. Others claim Bombay was an anglicised version of Bom Bahia, a name given by the Portuguese to mean "Beautiful Bay" and later made popular by the British as the name of the Bombay state. The name was officially changed from Bombay to Mumbai in 1995. Although both names are common, people who explicitly use "Bombay" are generally non-Marathi speakers, whereas "Mumbai" proponents primarily speak Marathi. In the West, "Mumbai" has become more commonly accepted in order to avoid controversy. The city is also fondly called āmchī Mumbaī (आमची मुंबई), meaning "our Mumbai".

History Though the seven islands that now make up the city have a long recorded history like any other place in India, their journey to form the city of Mumbai really started in 1498, when the Portuguese took them over from the Sultan of Gujarat. They built a settlement, forts, and churches (including the strange-looking Portuguese Church that stands to this day). However, they could not make much of their possession and the seven islands were handed over to England in 1661 as part of the dowry of Catherine de Braganza when she married Charles II of England. He wasn't very interested in the islands either, and he leased them to the British East India Company for £10 a year in 1668. The East India Company built the docks, the trading posts, and the fort that would form the nerve centre of the city. They also started off the long process of reclaiming land and joining the islands, an activity which went on until the 1960s. The port attracted industries, and the entrepreneurial communities like the Parsis, Gujaratis and Marwaris (from Rajasthan) migrated and set up trading companies and factories in the late 19th century. Industries attracted migrant labour from different parts of the country. The successive waves of migration shaped the character of the city and its neighbourhoods. The city that owes its existence to the efforts of the British was also the birthplace of the Indian National Congress, which played an overwhelmingly important role in the independence movement. The city whose mills were built by industrialists from across the country is the capital o

Getting there

By plane

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.

1 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM IATA). One of India's busiest airports and one of the main international gateways to the country. Many international airlines and low-cost carriers fly into Mumbai. (updated Mar 2026) 2 Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI IATA), Navi Mumbai. A new airport, opened in 2025. As of April 2026, it serves only domestic destinations, making it a good alternative to Mumbai-Shivaji for domestic flights. International flights are scheduled to roll out before the end of the year. (updated May 2026)

By boat Thane Creek is bustling with ferries to central Mumbai from various cities on the southern and eastern side of the creek, such as Alibag. Ferries from Ferry Wharf also allow cheap access to islands and beaches in the vicinity of the city and Elephanta. There are no scheduled international ferries to Mumbai, however cruise ships dock regularly.

By train

Hundreds of trains arrive daily from all over India, almost all major cities have a direct connection with Mumbai. Trains terminate at various different stations throughout the vast city, so make sure to note which station is relevant for your journey. Main reservation offices are at Churchgate, Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus for the Western line, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Dadar Central and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus on the Central line. There are unique ticket windows and quotas for foreign tourists. Bookings and tariffs on train tickets from anywhere in India from Mumbai can be found at the website of Indian Railways. Notice that while all trains are operated by Indian Railways, the Western and Central Lines function independently and reservations can only be made at certain stations. The private luxury service Maharajas' Express has travel packages between Mumbai and Delhi. A high-speed railway from Ahmedabad is under construction and is planned to open in 2027.

3 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus CR (code: CSMT). 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. Formerly named Victoria Terminus it was renamed in

Getting around

Most of Mumbai's inhabitants rely on public transport to and from their workplaces due to the lack of parking spaces, traffic bottlenecks and generally poor road conditions, especially in the monsoon. However, do ride in a taxi at least once in the city. Feel real adventure in a vehicle that feels like it might fall apart at speed with a driver who thinks he's Schumacher. For travelling using public transport, you can download the m-Indicator app for Android and iPhone. It contains useful information about bus and train routes, which can help you plan your commute.

By train

The Mumbai Suburban Railway, commonly referred to as "Locals", is both an icon and a vital artery of Mumbai and a ride on it should be on every visitor's agenda. There are three primary lines in the city center — the Western Line, the Central Line and the Harbour Line. Combined, the network carries a staggering 9 million people daily.

Mumbai is a linear city and the Western Line Western travels from Churchgate to Dahanu Road via Mumbai's Western Suburbs. The Western line provides north–south connectivity. The Central Line Central travels from Mumbai CSMT to Ambernath via Mumbai's Central Suburbs and Thane, with some services running beyond to Karjat, Khopoli, and Kasara. The interchange point between the Western Line and the Central Line is Dadar Western Central . The Harbour Line Harbour has a common stretch between CSMT and Vadala Road. The Harbour Line splits into two spurs, the main one running to Mumbai's Eastern Suburbs and Navi Mumbai, up to Panvel. The Interchange point of this line with the Central Main Line is at Kurla. The other spur of the Harbour Line runs up to Mahim on the Western Line and runs parallel up to Andheri. The interchange stations with the Western line are Bandra and Andheri. Ticket prices start from ₹5 in second class (Class II) and ₹50 in first class (Class I). The carriages are largely identical, but the first-time rider is still well advised to pay the 10x extra, since second class gets packed like sardines if it's even remotely close to rush hour. The fleet is gradually being air-conditioned, but there are still plenty of non-AC trains about. These often run with the doors open, so don't be a statistic: over 2,000 people are killed on the rails in Mumbai every year. There would always be queues and it would be advisable to buy coupon booklets. Coupon booklet punching machines are available at all stations and the best thing is you will not have to stand in a huge line to buy a booklet. Another option is to buy a Smart card for Railways. It

See

Individual listings can be found in Mumbai's district articles

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.

Colonial buildings

The British built a magnificent city within the walls of Fort St. George, which lies at the southern extremity of the city. Some fine examples of the Gothic revival, Neo-classical style and Indo-Saracenic style are seen within this area. To get the best experience of the city centre, stroll around the wide streets of the area right from Churchgate to Colaba. These areas are all beautifully planned and have wide and clean pavements, unlike the rest of the city. Famous monuments to be seen in this area are the Gateway of India, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT, previously Victoria Terminus), the Municipal Corporation and Police Headquarters and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sanghralaya (formerly, the Prince Of Wales Museum). The famous Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is opposite the Gateway of India. The Mumbai University buildings and the High Court are also excellent examples of colonial architecture in the city. There are a lot of other modern structures to look at in this area. The area known as Marine Drive (right from Girgaon Chowpatty to NCPA) is home to a large number of buildings built in the Art Deco style. Mumbai is second only to Miami in the number of Art Deco buildings. some famous buildings in this style are the Eros and Regal cinemas. The Art Deco and Gothic buildings were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018.

Museums and galleries

Some of the India's most famous museums and art galleries are found here. The Kala Ghoda area in South Mumbai teems with them, particularly the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Prince of Wales Museum), and the National Gallery of Modern Art. Once again, most of them are concentrated in South Mumbai. Also worth planning a visit is Jehangir Art Gallery, also at Kala Ghoda, displays changing exhibits by notable artists. The plaza next to the gallery also regularly displays exhibits of various artists. In Nehru Complex in Worli is Nehru Centre Art Gallery at Worli is a gallery dedicated to young and promising talent along with established artists. Also within the complex is a permanent exposition, Discovery of India, whic

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. Mumbai has a vibrant theatre scene with plays in many languages including English, Hindi, Gujarati, and Marathi. While South Mumbai has frequent performances, the best organised theatre effort is at Prithvi theatre, Juhu in the Western Suburbs. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy Indian classical music and dance. While not a patch on the Sabhas of Chennai, you will find frequent performances of Carnatic music in Shanmukhananda Hall, Matunga in North Central Mumbai. Check newspapers on latest shows as well as performances at prominent halls Mumbai is also usually the first stop for Western pop and rock stars visiting India, which they usually do when they are over 50. The Rock scene is very good in Mumbai. These are very safe to go to and are recommended for rock fans. Most bands cover heavy metal acts like Pantera, Six feet under, and Slipknot. To try to find places with specific music tastes try asking students outside Mumbai's colleges. Western classical music performances are rarer. However most classical music performances along with other art forms are regularly performed at NCPA and Tata Theatre, both next to the narrow strip at Nariman Point.

Chowpatty Jayenge Bhel Puri Khayenge; as it says in the lyrics of one of the Bollywood movie song, go to beaches (specially in the evenings) and enjoy local favourite 'Bhel Puri' while the sun sets in the Arabian sea. Take a harbour cruise; cruises from Gateway of India leave every 30 min daily except during the monsoon season (Jun-Sep). You can also rent the Taj's private yacht (has two sun decks and three bedrooms) for a cruise around the Mumbai Harbour if you can afford one. Get crowded, and try catching suburban trains at peak times. You are warned though. Dabba wallahs are a group of couriers in Mumbai who move two million household lunchboxes every day in a complicated system of delivery. Join for heritage walks. organised by two architects, these walks take you around various historic and architecturally significant areas of the city. Walks are organised on the third Sunday of every month (with a break from June through August for the monsoons) and the route varies each time. The walks last around 2 hours. Discounted rates for students and the physically challe

Buy

Individual listings can be found in Mumbai's district articles Visa, MasterCards and Indian RuPay cards are widely accepted in the city shops. Many shopping establishments also accept American Express, Diners and host of other cards. However, some of the small shops or family-run shops may not accept these cards and some handy cash can be of help here. ATMs are widely available and many debit cards accepted as well. If you have an Indian bank account or credit card, you may not need to carry too much of cash. If you are a foreigner, it is a good idea to carry some cash to avoid charges while using your credit or debit card. Many stores and websites accept payments using mobile wallets and Unified Payment Interface (UPI). Some of the popular payment apps are PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM and Amazon Pay. In general, costs in Mumbai are higher than the rest of India, though they are still much lower by Western standards. The shopping experience in the city is a study in contrasts. At the lower end of the spectrum are street vendors. Existing at the borderline of legality, entire streets have been given over to these hawkers and in many places it is impossible to walk on the footpaths, because they have blocked the way. On the other hand, these vendors often give you a great bargain though you will have to haggle a lot and be careful about what to buy. There's nothing like taking a local along to shop for you.

Family-run shops, Or one could do shopping at family-run shops, where the items are behind the counter and one has to ask the salesperson to get items from the list. The traditional way to buy sarees or jewellery is to go to a shop where you sit on a bedspread laid out on the floor and the salespeople bring out their wares one-by-one until you make a decision. Shops like Bharat Kshetra in Dadar have scaled this model up to such an extent that they have a two-storied complex where you can do the same. Shopping malls, Mumbai has been experiencing a boom in malls in the past few years. You can combine your shopping, dining out, and watching movies all in one place.

What to buy Antiques & second hand items, Visit Chor Bazar for the best options and bargains Burlingtons, in the Taj is a tailor specializing in Indian outfits. Buy some material and get some clothes made up by a tailor. It's an incredibly cheap way to get quality made-to-measure clothes. Usually only takes a couple of days. Carpets, rugs and shawls Cotton clothes, Mumbai is a great place to buy quality and cheaper cotton clothes. Amongst many notable shops and brands, Cottonworld is a p

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. Since March 2015, cattle slaughter is largely banned in Maharashtra, and therefore in Mumbai. Therefore, it is uncommon to find beef served in restaurants. For individual restaurants and other places to eat, go to the individual district pages.

Specialty restaurants Popular search engines to find restaurants easily include Justdial, AskLaila and DizyLocal. The search engines shall provide the address, contact details, and user ratings (if available) of the specific eatery (if name is provided), or list of eatery catering to the specialty (e.g. Seafood, Pubs, Chinese Food, etc.) depending on the location suggested (e.g. Worli, Bandra, South Mumbai etc.). The suggested restaurant to have food at is Achija. It is spread across various branches that cover almost all parts of Mumbai. Achija's main dish is pav bhaji. Achija is always bustling. It also offers Jain pav bhaji making it a multi-religion meal. Apart from Pav Bhaji, it also provides dosa, idli, uttapam etc. Don't forget to try out the malai kulfi and falooda.

Seafood, Apurva (Fort right off Horniman Circle). If you want to eat some authentic Indian (Konkan) seafood you must visit the Bharat Excellensea. It is next to the Horniman Circle and the Reserve Bank of India. It is becoming pretty expensive. In the slightly higher price range, Trishna (at Kala Ghoda in Fort) and Mahesh Lunch Home (also in Fort) are very popular among both locals and tourists. Chinese, India Jones, (Hilton Towers Mumbai), Mainland China (Saki Naka), Ling's Pavilion (Colaba), Golden Dragon (Taj Mahal Hotel), Great Wall (Renaissance), Spices (JW Marriott), China Gate (Bandra), China White (Bandra). Bandra offers a range of Chinese Restaurants. Royal China at VT (behind Sterling Cinema serves some of the best DimSum the city has to offer). The new CG83 at Kemps corner is brilliant and the signature restaurant of Nelson Wang. Also new is Henry Thams. The food is brilliant as are the prices, however the bar is much more popular than the restaurant. Combination Oriental, India Jones (Hilton Towers Mumbai), Pan Asian (at Maratha Sheraton), Seijo, and Soul Dish (Bandra), Joss (Kala Ghoda) has some of the best East Asian food in the country and at moderate prices (compared to ho

Drink & nightlife

Pubs and bars Individual listings can be found in Mumbai's district articles Mumbai is one of the most liberal cities in India when it comes to attitudes to alcohol. Bars exist at virtually every street corner and many of them advertise themselves as "family" bars and restaurants, which indicates that they are primarily restaurants where one can also have a drink. Other places are primarily bars, some of them might be sleazy. In South Mumbai and in the Western Suburbs, you are likely to find many places where foreigners hang out. Mumbai is much more accepting of women drinking than the rest of India. A woman ordering a drink is unlikely to raise eyebrows even in mid-range bars, though if you are alone, you might need to look out for your safety. Nightlife in Mumbai spans the gamut from performances at five star hotels to discos. Dance bars which involve young, fully clothed women dancing mostly to Hindi film and pop music, have been shut down by the government for "corrupting the morals" of those who frequent those places. While the state high court has ruled that the crackdown was illegal, it will be a while before they open again as there are some technicalities involved to be sorted out. In Mumbai, alcohol is much more easily available than many cities in India.

LGBT options There is already a lively late night, if somewhat subterranean, scene for gays, as well as social and political networks. However, you need to do your homework before arriving, as LGBT gathering spaces and organizations are not published or available at local newsstands. However, Bombay Dost (Bombay Friends) the only magazine catering to the community, after 7 years of running was closed and relaunched in 2009. Much of Mumbai's LGBT scene is coordinated using social networking sites and groups. Use extreme caution; robberies, hustlers, and even police entrapment are not unheard of.

Coffee shops There many coffee shops in and around Mumbai. Try the Cafe Coffee Day and Barista chains. Also, three Starbucks stores were opened in Mumbai in late 2012, and more are likely to follow. These are the best around town and also serve some pretty neat coffee for cheap. There's the Cafe Mocha chain of coffee shops which also serve fruit flavoured hookas — South Asian smoking pipes. If a small coffee and cookies place is what you are looking for, try Theobroma, it has an outlet at Cusrow Baug in Colaba. Those looking for a more native form of coffee can try the filter coffee, a milky coffee with origins from South India, from any Udupi restaurant.

Sleep

Individual listings can be found in Mumbai's district articles It is very difficult to find good-budget hotels in Mumbai. If you are a tourist or a business traveller, you may have to stay in South Mumbai, which is where both the business district and the touristy areas are. Lack of space means that even the cheapest hotel charges stratospheric tariffs. The state of public transport and traffic means that it is not really a good choice to stay anywhere else. In any case, things aren't much better if you are looking for hotels close to the CSMI airport. You should be looking at the Western Suburbs in that case. There are many guest houses at Colaba, where you find most of the budget foreign travellers stay. Other budget hotels are found near railway stations, such as Dadar or Santacruz, but most of them are absolute dumps. One safe and economical place to stay in Mumbai is the YMCA. Reasonably priced accommodations are available at the Colaba, Bombay Central, Andheri and CBD Belapur Branches. One inexpensive alternative is to live with a local family as a paying guest. A list of available families can be obtained from the Government of India tourist office (+91 22 2220 7433) opposite Churchgate Western . On the other hand, if money is of no object, you can stay at the Taj in Colaba (the oldest in India), the Leela Kempinski, the ITC Grand Maratha, or the JW Marriott Mumbai, Renaissance Mumbai Hotel & Convention Centre.

Go next

Ambernath (55 km (34 mi) NE - take a train to here) — See the Lord Shiva Temple (16th century) Chiplun (290 km (180 mi) S, on Konkan railway route between Khed & Ratnagiri Stns) — Here are the Chiveli Vagheshwari Temple and the Pandavas Caves Ratnagiri (300 km (190 mi) S, 6-7 hr journey in train from Mumbai, same comfortable using a (A/c & Non A/c) bus) — Ratnadurga Sea Fort, Thebaw Pagoda Palace Rajapur (350 km (220 mi) S, 8.5 hr) — Visit the Yeshwantgad, an island fortification Badlapur (50 km (31 mi) NE - to get in is by Local Trains (EMU), hourly) — Fort, Water Park Dombivli (30 km (19 mi) NE; 40 min in a fast train from CST to reach 'Kopar Stn.', by bus ~1 hr 30 min) Kalyan (60 km (37 mi) NE; by train towards Karjat or Kasara would reach Kalyan in around 45-55 min) - Visit the Fort Navi Mumbai — see the Belapur Fort ruins and watch cricket at DY Patil Stadium Thane (N 40 km (25 mi)) — also called Lake City due to the 30 lakes in and around the city Raigad — district of Maharashtra lies just south of Mumbai. It is famous for its beaches and forts. You can get there by road or by ferry from Mumbai. The important ferry routes are: Ferry Wharf, Mazagaon, Mora (Uran). Ferry Wharf, Mazagaon, Rewas (near Mandwa). These are in budget range. Gateway of India, Rewas. Fast boats and Catamarans operated by private operators. Service approximately every two hours, suspended during the monsoon season, i.e. May-Oct. From Rewas, take a bus or car to Alibag. Hill Stations — following are some of the hill stations that can be weekend gateways from Mumbai: Matheran (102 km (63 mi), 1.5 hr) — can be reached both by road and by train. For train option, take a suburban train to Neral and take hour long toy train to reach Matheran top. Alternatively it can be climbed Lonavala (111.5 km (69.3 mi), 1.5 hr) — best reached by road. Suburban trains do not ply to Lonavala, and may need to exchange train at Karjat or take en route long-distance train Khandala (101 km (63 mi), 1.5 hr) — check Lonavala Dapoli| (200 km (120 mi) S - by bus) -is a popular hill station also beaches, historical temples, caves and forts scattered around Mahabaleshwar (242 km (150 mi), 7 hr) — best reached by road Lots of nearby destinations can be reached by short flights: Goa, Ahmedabad, Karachi and Rajkot, to name a few.