Mumbai is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and was formerly known as Bombay before its name change in 1995. It is a bustling city full of life, its energy is evident on every street corner where the sights and smells of Mumbai welcome you to an experience that is quite unique. From its historical attractions through to its fantastic food and entertainment, Mumbai is a city that should be added to any traveller’s list of places to see in India. The Gateway of India is one of the city’s main tourist attractions, a location that visitors flock to in their thousands. Constructed under British Rule, it was completed in 1924 and overlooks the Arabian Sea. This magnificent monument was designed by Scottish architect, George Wittet and was constructed in an Indo-Sarcenic Revival style. Hop aboard a ferry at the Gateway of India for a 10 kilometre journey to reach Elephanta Island where you’ll find the Elephant Caves (Gharapurichi Leni). There are two sets of caves here, five of which are Hindi and two Buddhist where all contain intricate sculptures; this truly is a fascinating sight. Haji Ali Dargah consists of both a mosque and a tomb. It was constructed in 1431 and contains the tomb of Muslim merchant, Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. Another striking structure is the Hindu Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh, it can be found in the southern neighbourhood of Prabhadevi. If you feel like spending a day at the beach, head to Girgaum Chaupati where you’ll find a long stretch of sandy shore in the heart of the city. Boasting sensational sunsets, it is a great location any time of the day where you’ll come across all kinds of entertainments, including camel and horse riding, fortune-tellers and snake charmers. If you’re going to visit one museum in Mumbai, make sure it is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahlaya. Containing 50, 000 exhibits reflecting ancient Indian history, you can spend well more than a day exploring its fascinating collection of artefacts. With an estimated population close to 20 million people, Mumbai is the largest city in India and one of the biggest on the planet. Home of India's burgeoning movie industry and the main centre of commerce in the country, Mumbai, formerly Bombay, is an Asian mega-city of ever-increasing importance. more... Located 50kms outside the heart of Mumbai on the Ahmedabad highway, the Royal Garden Resort is as much a hotel as it is a water/amusement park for children. If you've staked out a hotel in the middle of the city and have brought children along, then this place will help you and your family cool down and get the kids in a better mood. There are numerous swimming pools and slides on offer here as well as a mini amusement park. The catch is you will have to stay here overnight to make use of the facilities, but the accommodation is of a high quality and great value. Phone: +2501. more... Mumbai Festival : lasting about 2 weeks every January, the Mumbai Festival is the major event of the year, taking place in the coolest month for maximum enjoyment. There’s theatre, dance, music, fashion and food on offer, all with a familiar taste of Mumbai; and the party keeps going all day long. This is perhaps the best time of year to be in the city – don’t miss it. more... Head to the Chowpatty end area of Mumbai's most famous coastal strip and join the hundreds of thousands of locals that have had the same idea. This is the foremost promenade in the whole of Mumbai and therefore attracts huge crowds. It's a place of discreet romance, family gatherings and long sunsets that simply has to be visited to get the full Mumbai experience. People-watchers will be in heaven. more... Source: www.hoteltravel.com