MUMBAI - The metropolis of Mumbai is the heart of multicultural India, its economic powerhouse and cultural centre.
Gateway of IndiaMumbai, the grand port city on the shores of the Arabian Sea, provides the perfect gateway to India. Its history, rich with tales from the original Koli fisherfolk to Hindu and Muslim dynasties, the Portuguese and the British, has given it a legacy more cosmopolitan than anywhere in the region. Today's Mumbai is an economic powerhouse, vibrant with entrepreneurial energy.
The Gateway of India, the arch of triumph of the British was built to mark the visit of King George V in 1911. The Gateway also marks the end of the Raj, with the last of the British regiments departing from these very shores 36 years later.
The Prince of Wales Museum, designed in the Indo-Saracenic style, includes exquisite sculptures from the Elephanta Island, terracotta figurines from the Indus valley, Gandharan Buddhas, miniature paintings, porcelain and weaponry.
Victoria Terminus, the city's most exuberant Gothic building that looks more like a lavishly decorated palace is the railway station from where India's first train was launched in 1853.
Victoria TerminusOther places to visit include the British Heritage district of the Old Fort area, Mahatma Gandhi's inspiring Mumbai House Mani Bhawan and Dhobi Ghat, a laundry system unique to Mumbai.
In the heart of the vibrant commercial district, The Oberoi, Mumbai is a serene retreat from the pace of the city. This elegant hotel offers impeccable service, understated luxury and excellent facilities including an exclusive spa and fitness centre and several dining options. Tiffin offers world cuisine from fresh, hand rolled Sushi favourites to delicacies from the Continent. Traditional Indian fare is served at Kandahar, while Vetro presents fine Italian cuisine in a contemporary setting. The Bayview Bar overlooks the sweep of the bay with its shimmering lights at night while live music sets the tone for a relaxed ambience. The spa and fitness centre offers a range of Ayurvedic treatments as well as western therapies. The Oberoi, Mumbai is the perfect place to start your journey of discovery in India.
At dawn, you can wake up to the sight of the Arabian Sea, lapping against the shoreline. In the evening, a spectacular picture begins to unfold as the sun sinks into the western horizon. And at night, you will look out onto one of the most beautiful sights in the city, a string of lights glittering like a necklace on the promenade that arcs around the seafront, known quite aptly as the 'Queen's Necklace'.
