Mumbai - An Explorer’s Paradise

At first glance the gorgeous beaches, classic churches, plentiful parks and of course the Film Industry may seem like the reasons behind the booming Mumbai Tourism Industry. But that’s not all! There are so many other things to do and places to visit in Mumbai.

Taj Palace, Mumbai

To begin with, Mumbai has brilliant transport. Whether it’s the the taxis, most of which run on meter or the train service that goes on till as late as 1 am, travelling in Mumbai is the easiest thing ever. Mumbai is also very well connected. There are plenty of flights and trains that connect Mumbai to Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata. Also, there are frequent flights from Mumbai to Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bangalore and other major cities.

Mumbai is like a dream come true for a tourist. The Marine Drive is a beautiful promenade along the beach while Essel World is the first amusement park of its kind to house a naval ship converted into a museum apart from the cool rides. The parks and gardens in Mumbai are popular picnic spots and the line of International Brands’ showroom as you drive from Juhu are sight you’ll find nowhere else. Yet another highlight is the cafe culture here. Interestingly, there are more popular cafes in Mumbai than in Delhi.

Though the weather in Mumbai is moderate, the monsoons bring in terrible floods. Places like Powai Lake, which otherwise is a nice tourist spot floods in monsoons. So skip the rainy season  for a happy stay in Mumbai.

The Peculiar Traits of Mumbai

Amidst the chaos, mayhem and the contrasting delight lies the “Gateway of india”, Mumbai. The city is home to Mumbaikars that includes dreamers, stalwarts and the common man who live each day celebrating life in its most unique ways. With its chronicled past and lively present the city has all the alluring characteristics to make it a great place to live. It is an amalgamation of some of the most contrasting features that includes the lofty skyscrapers to the biggest slum in India.

The weather of the city is again quite deviant from ordinary. Mumbai rainfall has some flavours of its own. The pristine washed up city that experiences the cool Arabian sea breeze also endures the wrath of Indra with the heavy downpours during monsoons. Sometimes it may food the roads that makes travelling from one place to the other difficult.

Mumbai is a city that never sleeps. Nightlife in mumbai is an absolutely electrifying experience with lively pub culture to the serene beaches that has a different experience during night. The various tourist places in Mumbai displays the culture and the legendary past of the city. These places suits the interest of one and all.

Taj Palace, Mumbai

Mumbai is also a very important port in the country. There are many popular beaches in Mumbai that lures tourists from all places as well as the locals tend to enjoy spending time there. The Marine drive beaches are the the most favourite among the all. The others beaches include like Juhu and Chowpatty.

The Mumbai airport or the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is one of the biggest and busiest airports in India. There are regular flights that that goes from Mumbai to Delhi or other metro cities like Chennai, Kolkata and more. The weekend getaways from Mumbai are also quite interesting and fun filled. One can choose to go from Mumbai to Goa which is 607 km away from the city or a road trip from Mumbai to Pune is a blissful experience.

What’s Buzzing in Mumbai!

Just the thought of a trip to Mumbai is enough to set one’s heart pacing. It’s fun. And there’s so much to see, do, eat and party!

Being the largest Indian city, Mumbai has more places to visit than most tourist destinations. Starting from the Gateway of India to what they call the Queen’s Necklace - The Marine Drive, Chowpatty - beaches popular for its mouthwatering chat, the cozy picnic spots at AAREY Milk Colony, shopping sprees at Colaba Market and more; get ready for the longest ‘to-see’ list ever.

That’s not all! There is also no dearth of popular religious sites in Mumbai. Mount Mary - Bandra, Iskcon Temple - Juhu, Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue - Gandhi Marg, Haji Ali - Worli and Siddhi Vinayak are some of the ‘must see’ places. Apart from religious point of view, some of these flaunt excellent architectural beauty and others narrate interesting episodes from the past days too. Take a walk along the grand colonial structures of the Victoria Terminus, Gateway of India (of course) and the Worli Fort for a rendezvous with the British architectural pieces. These should give you a good peek into both the historical and architectural attributes of Mumbai.

To know about the culture and lifestyle of Mumbai you need to be a part of the festive fun here. Ganesh Chaturthi (falls in September) for one, could be a good way to experience Mumbai. Everyone is on the streets, irrespective of caste colour and creed to just celebrate. The people in general are happy, helpful and fun loving and their sense of style and trendy fashion is something you mustn’t miss.

Travelling in Mumbai can be the last of your concerns. The ample travel options only up the fun quotient. It’s safe to travel even in the last train that leaves at 1 am. Don’t be surprised to see women travelling late at night. Mumbai is known as one of the most friendly places for students, let alone working women. Most taxis run by meter and people are friendly (just don’t address people as bhaiya, they take offence). People will go out of their way to help you find your way.

Gateway of India

Exploring the surrounding areas is also equally easy. Mumbai is so well connected that tourists often plan a quick trip from Mumbai to Lonavala or Goa. It takes about 2 hours from Mumbai to Lonavala. And, if you think you haven’t got enough of beaches, head to Goa. Mumbai to Goa is an overnight journey.

Since Mumbai is centrally located you can easily get a flight (mostly direct) or train to Kochi, Chennai, Mahabaleshwar, Delhi, Chandigarh or Kolkata for that matter. So you can either plan a holiday in Mumbai itself or extend it further.

Lastly, read up on the Mumbai weather. The moderate weather is a reason why people travel to Mumbai all through the year. But preferably, avoid the rains. Monsoons hinder travel and worsen the traffic scene. You don’t want to be exploring the city that never sleeps in gumboots and umbrellas! The best time to visit Mumbai is between October and March.

Amazing Sights of Delhi

Delhi, the capital of India is a land of chronicles blended with mystical glory of myriad religions, sects and cultures. There are various tourist places to visit in delhi that suit preferences of different people. Nurtured in the lap of the majestic river Yamuna, Delhi is the very soul of India. Represented in the Indian epic Mahabharata as Indraprastha, the capital of the legendary Pandavas, the city boasts of an amazing history and rich cultural heritage.

The glorious past of this city is entwined to the fabrics of modernism, Delhi portrays the new face of contemporary Indian society. One must visit Delhi if to experience the soul of India. However, the weather of delhi always hits the extremes. In summers it can get as hot as 47 degree celsius and in winter it can chill your bones as the temperature drops down till 1 degree celsius. Monsoons are accompanied with heavy flooding due to intermittent rains. The best time to visit Delhi would be from July to February, keeping off the high winter period from mid-December to mid January. Starting from July to September the time is best for sightseeing around the city. So, it is always better to keep a check on the current Delhi weather before setting out for the city.

There are many places to explore around Delhi. One can go from Delhi to Shimla to escape the scorching heat in the summers. It is also one of the most popular getaways from Delhi. You can either opt for bus or train to get to this beautiful hill station. It is 9 hours by road to from Delhi to Shimla.

Delhi is also an ideal destination for religious visits. The ISKCON temple New Delhi has completely different feel to it. So, even if you are not on a religious visit to the city you will enjoy the serenity and the peaceful ambience of the temple. Also, the Jama Masjid new delhi is one of the most beautiful monuments in the city that one must visit. Located in Chandni Chowk of Old Delhi, this majestic masjid stands proud with the glory of the past.

Captivating Wonders of Delhi

What else would you call a city with such extremities? Weather, architecture, food, shopping there is everything here. And that too in extremes! Exploring Delhi and the tourist places near Delhi is like finding a treasure box. It's full of surprises.

You'll find art – classic and contemporary, a line of fine architecture studded across the Lutyens Delhi, the forts and mosques scattered around Old Delhi and some remnants of the 1857 mutiny lie hidden in North Campus. See if you can find the Mutiny Memorial and the Ashokan Pillar there.

Top sightseeing spots in Delhi

• Red Fort        
• India Gate
• Humayun's Tomb        
• Garden of Five Senses    
• Lotus Temple    
• Delhi Haat   

Find details on what more to see visit: http://www.ixigo.com/what-are-the-top-sightseeing-spots-in-delhi-fq-1000103

Humayun's Tomb

Feast in Delhi

Then there is the food scene in Delhi that you can't speak enough of. The top end restaurants in Delhi can be found in the malls and around Khan Market and Hauz Khas Village. Once at Hauz Khas Village, you can also have a peek at the cafe culture that Delhi boasts of. Also, get a taste of the bakeries (Wenger's, Connaught Place and Elma's Bakery only to name a few) and the street food in Delhi.

When in Delhi Party like a Delhiite

Sip a drink or snap your fingers to some great music (live music if you are lucky), the nightclubs in Delhi are spread all across the city. Practise your best moves cause it's always party time in Delhi!

Best time to visit Delhi

But before you decide on where to eat, what to do, it's important that you pick the right time to travel. Delhi is too cold in winters and scorchingly hot in summers. And Delhi rainfall is mucky. September to November is the best time to visit Delhi.