The city of Bombay was officially renamed Mumbai in January 1996.  The mumbaites believe that this name came from the goddess 'Mumba', worshipped by the original Koli inhabitants.  When the Portuguese arrived they called the harbour Bombaim, which may have stemmed from 'buan bahia', meaning 'good bay' in Portuguese, or was a corruption of the original Koli name. Despite poverty and eye-watering pollution, it is so dynamic that paupers still flock there in hopes of becoming successful entrepreneurs. Mumbai is the stronghold of the Indian film industry. Throughout the year Western and Indian music concerts and festivals and Indian dance shows are performed in Bombay. , Mumbai is the industrial hub of everything from textiles to petrochemicals, and responsible for half of India's foreign trade.

The Ganesh Chaturthi :- Ganesha is the god of wisdom and prosperity and is invoked before the beginning of any auspicious work by the Hindus. According to mythology he is the son of Shiva and Parvati, brother of Kartikeya. Ganesha is the munificent god of wisdom and Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in his honour and in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and many other parts of India. In Bombay alone, more than 6000 Ganesha statues are commissioned collectively by factories. Upto 10 metres in height these statues are carried on decorated floats. Little Ganeshas are placed in nukkads or street corners and in homes, and poojas are performed daily. The festival is so popular that in Mumbai the preparations begin months in advance. Images of Ganesha are installed and elaborate arrangements are made for lighting and decoration, and celebrations are on for 7-10 days. The Chaturthi is the last day dedicated to the elephant-headed god, and thousands of processions converge on the beaches of Mumbai to immerse the holy idols in the sea. This immersion is accompanied by drum- beats, devotional songs and dancing.

Gudi Padava :- It is a day of great festivity and rejoicing. People get up early and clean their houses, decorating them with intricate rangoli designs. A silk cloth is tied to a pole with a brass goblet or kalash atop it, which is supposed to drive away evil from the house. This is raised aloft and worshipped. The Maharashtran New Year's Day is celebrated in March/April, on the first day of Chaitra.

Mount Mary Fair :- Mount Mary is an old church situated in Bandra. In September, a week long fair is held in the precinct of this church. This fair is popularly known as the Bandra Fair and is celebrated on the Mother Mary's birthday. People of all faiths throng here to seek her blessing. The streets take on a carnival-like atmosphere, with shops and mini-bazaars offering everything from food, shopping opportunities and joyrides. Street plays, musical concerts, book readings and food festivals also become a part of the celebrations.

The climate of Bombay, according to the traders, was so unhealthy. The weather is extremely hot from March to May. The rainy season, brought mostly from monsoon winds from the southwest, last from June to September and is followed by the post-monsoon season, which last from october to November, hen the weather is hot again. Best time to visit November until March; April until mid June hot followed by monsoon until end of September.

Gateway of India

One of the major landmarks of Mumbai is the Gateway of India. Situated at the Apollo Bunder, the Gateway of India was built in honour of King George V and Queen. You may enjoy a ferry ride across the harbour to the Elephanta Island. At the Island, the Shiva temple is a must visit for its exquisite rock-cut structures.

Prince of Wales Museum

A major tourist attraction in Mumbai is the Prince of Wales museum. The lovely landscape of the Museum is worth visiting for its collection of art, sculpture, rare coins, old firearms and a priceless collection of miniature paintings. Built in the year 1914, the museum remains one of the best museums in the country.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as the Victoria Terminus is one of the architectural wonders of Mumbai. The elegant British building of 1888 makes Mumbai terminus one of the finest stations in the world. Exquisite sculptures of animals and birds decorate the façade and the statue of Queen Victoria adorns the dome.

For the art lovers, the Jehangir Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Modern Art are must visits in Mumbai. Similarly, the nature lovers should not miss the Hanging Gardens, Victoria Gardens and the Kamla Nehru Park of Mumbai.

Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach, Malabar Hill and the Juhu Beach are the other places of tourist interest in Mumbai.

There are several places around Mumbai that make excellent weekend trip and excursion options. The Buddhist caves of Karla and Kanheri are amongst the best excursions. For the nature freaks the hill stations of Matheran, Khandala and Lonavala make great holiday destinations close to Mumbai.

Siddhivinayak Temple

One of the most popular places of worship in Mumbai is the Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple was rebuilt on the site of a 200-year old temple. The black stone idol of Lord Ganesh, in the temple is two and a half feet in height and two feet in width. Several devotees throng this temple in the Prabha Devi area of Mumbai.

Jain Temple

Situated on the Malabar Hill is the Jain temple of Mumbai. The frescoes of the temple depict various events in the lives of 24 Jain Tirthankaras. Pilgrims from far and away visit Mumbai to worship in the temple.

Mahalaxmi Temple

The Mahalaxmi Temple of Mumbai is dedicated to Mahalaxmi, the goddess of wealth. The temple is situated on B. Desai Road - residential and shopping area of Mumbai. The holy temple attracts thousands of devotees every year.

St. John's Church

The Afghan Church or the St. John's Church is a place of tourist interest in Mumbai. The church is dedicated to the British soldiers, who lost their lives in the Sindh and Afghan campaigns during 1838 and 1843.

Mumba Devi Temple

The Mumba Devi temple is dedicated to Goddess Mumbadevi, the patron of Mumbai city. Goddess Mumbadevi is often referred to as the resident deity of Mumbai. The city derives its name from this sixth century old temple. Several devotees flock to this temple at Bhuleshwar.

Shopping in Mumbai

Culturally, Mumbai is renowned for its film industry, which is also called Bollywood. Cinema is very popular throughout India and the city is responsible for the majority of the Hindi-language films that are made in the country. The annual Mumbai International Film Festival of Mumbai is a major event in the cinematic calendar. The film festival is staged at various venues across Mumbai during the month of February.