4 Things Mumbai is known for

Mumbai is known for its glamour and the fast lifestyle. Hotels in Mumbai are full throughout the year with people on business, as well as for leisure. Read on to know about the things that make up Mumbai, and what you should not miss when in the city.

The sea

Mumbai offers the best views of the Arabian Sea thanks to its many beaches and promenades. Some of the famous ones are the Juhu Beach, Girgaon Chowpatty, Versova Beach and Aqsa Beach.

Worli sea-face
One of the best-maintained promenades is the Worli sea face, where you will find joggers, and tourists as well as people walking their dogs, or just out on a walk.

The Bandra Bandstand
The Bandra Bandstand is home to many Bollywood stars. The Bandra Fort is walking distance from the Bandstand.

Marine Drive
Marine Drive, also known as the Queen’s Necklace, is a must-visit. The 3.5km long curved beachfront promenade is a treat for all kinds of travellers.

The history

Due to its historical significance, Mumbai has several magnificent monuments and architectural wonders. These historic sites not only preserve the city’s history but have also added more beauty to Mumbai.

The Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is a huge stone monument which stands tall on the Arabian seashore with four bartizans and detailed latticework. This is where the Viceroys and Governors would arrive from the sea in colonial times.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST)
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Formerly known as Victoria Terminus, CST is claimed to be the most scintillating railway station in the country with its Gothic architecture.

The Elephanta caves
The Elephanta caves comprise of many temples containing various idols of gods and goddesses. These rock-cut caves portray the Indian style architecture and are a known world heritage site.

Art and culture

Mumbai has a rich art and cultural heritage. The art and culture scene is flourishing in the city. Check out the following places to get a taste of it.

The Prince of Wales Museum
The Prince of Wales Museum (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya) has artefacts from the Mughal Empire and rare heirlooms from Europe, Nepal, Tibet, Japan, and China. They also have a coin section which is worth paying a visit.

The Jehangir Art Gallery
The Jehangir Art Gallery at Kala Ghoda will give you a glimpse into the city’s art culture. It has showcased the works of MF Husain, SH Raza, Akbar Padamsee, Ram Kumar, Anjolie Ela Menon and a few other local artists.

Theatre is an emotion in Mumbai. Today there are more than 1,500 play performances in a month in four main languages: Hindi, English, Gujarati and Marathi which give a tough competition the monolingual theatre culture of New York or London.

Hotels in Mumbai offer packages that include a guided tour to these places.

The food

Mumbai is famous for its delectable local dishes, seafood, chats and sweets.

Every nook and corner houses food stalls offering hot and spicy chaats. Some of the popular chaat dishes to relish are Vada Pav, Aloo Chaat, Dabeli, Pani Puri, Pav Bhaji, Bhel Puri, Dahi Vada and so on.

Mumbai, being a coastal city native to fishermen, seafood is an essential part of its cuisine. Some of the main seafood items to savour in Mumbai include Fish Koliwada, Prawns tikka, Bangda Fry, Surmai curry, and Bombil fry.

Mohammad Ali road offers scrumptious non-vegetarian street food. You can devour delicious Biryanis, Nalli Nihari, Quail, Shawarma, Keema, Seekh Parathas and other items from the stalls lining the narrow lane. Mawa jalebis and Malpuas that are available here are popular too.

If you have a palate for fine dining, hotels in Mumbai boast of five-star restaurants that can beat some of the best in the world.

The Leela Mumbai is among the few five-star hotels near the Mumbai airport. This adds to your convenience. Apart from this, the hotel deals at The Leela Mumbai include customised packages and can even include a guided tour around the city on request.