mumbai
Mumbai is the fastest moving and most affluent city in India. A popular sight is the 8th century shrine on Elephanta Island, which is reached by boat. Among the sculptures is the magnificent Maheshmurti, or Hindu Trinity, representing the three aspects of Shiva - the creator, the preserver and the destroyer.
Other key sights include the Gateway of India, the collection of Indian paintings and sculptures at the Prince of Wales Museum, Jehangir Art Gallery, Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach, the Hanging Gardens of Malabar Hill and the Crawford Market.
Mumbai is also home to India's fashion industry and Bollywood, the famous Hindi language film industry.
Located on the south-western Maharashtra’s coast, Mumbai is India’s most populous city with over 20 million inhabitants. Northern Mumbai is home to Sanjay Gandhi National Park, famous for the Kanheri Caves and Jain Temple, attracting more than 2 million visitors each year. The city is the financial hub of India, dominating the cotton textile industry and housing Front Bay, a natural harbour in the Ulhas River estuary. Seven islands constitute Mumbai, including Salsette Island, which is the main and most populous of the seven islands. Locals also enjoy a moderately hot climate with an average annual temperature of 28°C.
