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Explore and experience theGateway of Goodness
Mumbai is a thriving and lively city, producing more wealth and culture than any other city in India. It’s no doubt that Mumbai in the 21st century is a tremendously exciting place to be. Over the last few years, there has been a prolific growth in the media and entertainment sector, magazines are launched every couple of months, dozens of new television channels have started operations and voluminous books about the city have invigorated international interest in Mumbai. For the global traveller, flying in to T2 at Mumbai the city has never been more attractive. Mumbai offers the unique experience of being not one city, but many worlds.
When it comes to the music scene here, one cannot get enough of it. There is a thriving culture of classic rock, metal, a burgeoning local hip hop culture, a revival of interest in jazz and the occasional regional pop and rock act performing in the language of their home state.
India has nearly a 5,000-year history of traditional holistic therapies, such as Ayurveda and Yoga and you can experience almost all of them in Mumbai. There are wellness centres across the city, from barebones facilities like the Kerala Ayurvedic Health Spa, which offer age-old treatments, to swanky five-star spas.
Mumbai’s local art scene started with three private galleries that began in the 1950s and, a small, elite group of collectors. The number of galleries in and around the city has steadily increased in the following years.
Apart from the weekly dose of new releases, Mumbai gets added shots of cinema through the three international film festivals – the Mumbai International Film Festival, Mumbai Academy of Moving Images festival and the Asian cinema-focused Third Eye festival.
There are a number of theatre festivals in the city throughout the year, including the popular Prithvi Theatre festival. Most of Mumbai’s theatre is performed in English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati. Mumbai’s most innovative theatre is Marathi, which has a strong modern history of experimental drama.
While classical dance continues to rule the stage, contemporary performances have also found their space in Mumbai, and institutes specialising in Western styles such as salsa, modern dance, ballroom and Latin ballroom dances have gained prominence.
Indian cuisine is as diverse as the country itself and nearly all of them are available in Mumbai. The best of the five-stars and the new standalones offer food that compares well with top quality restaurants the world over.
With malls springing up in every locality and international brands dotting the streets, shopping is a great experience in the city. Colaba is king for kitsch and trinkets. Bandra is where boutique stores are abound with an eclectic mix of imported jeans and T-shirts, as well as home-grown designer-wear.
Wondering where to start in one of the most captivating cities in India? Check out our picks of things to do in Mumbai.