Thereason for the presence of so many superb 5 star hotels in Mumbai isthat it is one of the biggest producers of movies in the world.
Itis also the financial capital of India and one of the top tencommercial ports in the world. This is an ancient city and exploringits identity as a Film city and financial hub can be a lot offun.
Mumbaiis named after Mumbadevi. The city was earlier known as Bombay. Thecity is a conglomerate of seven islands which are now well connectedwith each other through land reclamation. These seven islands areMahim, Worli, Colaba, Mazagaon, Parel, Bombay Island and Old WomansIsland (Little Colaba). A thousand years earlier these were tinyfishing hamlets. Mumbai has been ruled over time by Askoka,Satavahanas, Rashtrakutas, Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Portuguese andthe British East India Company. Today Mumbai is the capital ofMaharashtra, one of the states which make up independentIndia.I
tis interesting to note that some of these islands came into thepossession of the British through the dowry of Catherine of Barganzawho married Charles II of England. Other islands were leased to theBritish for a paltry sum of 10 pounds a year.
Anyonevisiting Mumbai has to visit the Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi.This is a 200 years old temple and prominent because Mumbai reversGanapati. A part of Mumbai life is the black taxi with the yellowtop. You can get to all the interesting tourist spots in it. Oneplace worth exploring is the Gateway of India. This was built nearthe seafront in Apollo Bunder to commemorate the arrival of KingGeorge V with Queen Mary in the year 1911.
Avisit to Mumbai cannot be complete without visiting one of the Filmstudios and seeing a Hindi or Marathi movie being shot. This has tobe followed by a visit to Chowpatty beach where you must try thepaani puri and the vada pau. The weather in Mumbai is pleasant andthe people are courteous and gentle.
Thepower and glory of Mumbai came into its own with the opening of theSuez Canal. There was a great rush for India from England. Thegenesis of all the great 5 star hotels in Mumbai lies in the greatboarding houses of the nineteenth century. The most prominent Hotelsin Mumbai havea sea view and are close to Marine Drive, which is a center of lifein this vibrant city.
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