Mumbai, Top Things to See and Do, Bollywood to Bombay

Once made up of seven islands, Mumbai, formerly Bombay, sprawls down a long finger of reclaimed land, bordered on three sides by the Arabian Sea. It’s a magnet for all things Indian, rich and poor, a buzzing hive on the palm-fringed holiday coast heading down to Karnataka and Kerala.

Fascinating, shocking or endearing, the gateway to India has lots to offer for culture or leisure. Top of the list is Bollywood but the real India lives on the streets among the last memories of the colonial past.

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Bollywood and Indian Cinema

Bollywood is the largest branch of the Indian film industry, combining the names of Bombay and Hollywood. The success of Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire' propelled Mumbai onto the world stage while recent box office records include the 3 Idiots and Dabbang, the story of a ‘dysfunctional family coming together in a crisis’. Mumbai and Bangalore studios have also been used by Hollywood for special effects and animation, for instance in Avatar.

A Bollywood tour usually means a glance through studio gates and a drive past the fabulous homes of top stars. One tour company, however, was recently granted access to some fascinating locations. Bollywoodtourism can take you inside the 'dream factory' though the vast Film City remains out of bounds to the general public.

Mumbai, the Gateway of India, Top Things to See

Popular attractions include the following:

• Marine Drive, with its palm-lined seafront promenade facing the sunset, its art deco buildings, celebrity homes and luxury hotels, and garlands of light after dark.
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the railway station formerly known as Victoria, a UNESCO Heritage site bristling with turrets and domes, blending Victorian Gothic and Indian architecture.
• The Dhobi Ghats where scores of men and boys clean the city’s linen in open air tubs. They collect and return every item in pristine condition, miraculously to their rightful owners.
• The National Gallery of Modern Art, the Mani Bhavan Museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and the Victoria and Albert Museum rich in archaeological finds.
• The Gateway of India, Mumbai’s iconic monument and top tourist spot where boats invite you to sail around the natural harbour.

Top Things to Do in Bombay, Street Food, Cricket and Shops

Mumbai loves cricket and watching a game is a must for any fan. The local team has collected 39 titles in the Ranji Trophy, the top domestic competition, and 15 wins in the Irani Trophy. Mumbai has provided many top batsmen for the Indian team such as the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

Shopping in Mumbai is for every budget and taste. Buy gold in Zaveri, trendy but affordable clothes in Fashion Street, splash out in designer boutiques or bargain for leather, jewellery, antiques and more in Crawford market or Chor bazar.

Dining also offers endless choices but trying out street food, Indian style, is part of any visit to Bombay. There are tasty kebab rolls, puffed rice with spices and mashed potato patty while in upmarket venues one can sample some of the delicious seafood from Goa.

The holiday coast beckons but Mumbai is well worth a stop. The city suffered its share of troubles in past and recent times but in this vast melting pot of cultures, the experience is overwhelming, like nowhere else in India.