Razzle-dazzle, Indian-style—that's Mumbai, the former Bombay, the country's seaside financial capital and trendsetting East-West nexus. India's greatest port and the capital of Maharashtra state, Mumbai perches on the Arabian Sea, covering an island separated from the rest of India by a winding creek. A world unto itself, Mumbai hits you with an intensity all its own. It is distinctly tropical, with pockets of palm trees and warm, salty breezes—and its culture is contemporary, vibrant, and often aggressive, reflecting both the affluence and poverty of the nearly 20 million people crowded onto this island. Behind all this, weathered Victorian mansions, some still privately owned, and grand public buildings, many beautifully lit at night, stand as lingering reminders of the British Raj. More »
Photo: Corbis
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