Vibrant, energetic and friendly, Mumbai is a colourful city with an infectious atmosphere, and is the place to see the finest Victorian buildings in all of Asia.
It’s British colonial history stretches back to 1661, when it was presented to King Charles II as part of the dowry when he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal.
Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is now home to the prolific Bollywood film industry as well as many bustling markets and bazaars, mosques, temples and other interesting buildings.
A mesh of colours and sounds, history and culture, Mumbai is a delight to explore.
Elephanta Island
From the pier a coach takes you to the Gateway of India, where you board a covered launch for the hour-long cruise over to Elephanta Island, passing Neva Sheva and Butcher Island along the way.
The island contains a series of man-made caverns hewn out of the rock from the fifth to the eighth centuries AD. Originally known as Gharapuri or ‘The Fortress City’, it was the Portuguese who named it Elephanta, after a large stone elephant sculpture they found nearby.
After disembarking at the island’s busy harbour, you head to the main cave for a guided tour of its sculptures. The most spectacular is Mahesamurti, an 18-feet-high edifice representing the Hindu deities of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
After free time to explore, enjoy the leisurely cruise back to Mumbai.
Included excursion
Duration: 4 hours and 30 minutes
Kanheri Caves Tour
Leave behind the bustling streets of the city and head to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park at Borivali on this inspiring half-day tour.
Here you can explore the serene Buddhist Kanheri caves. Dating back to the first century BC, the rock-cut caves were originally used as a resting place for travelers between the towns of Sopara and Kalyan, later becoming more permanent residences for those seeking seclusion, prayer and meditation.
The main hall houses the seven-foot high Lord Buddha.Take time to wander around some of the more easily accessible caves, marvelling at the ancient carvings on the stone walls and enjoying the amazing view from the hilltop.
Enjoy a buffet lunch and a beer at a local restaurant before returning to the ship.
Optional excursion
Duration: 6 hours
Mumbai by Night
See the wonders of Mumbai, all the more evocative at night, on this panoramic coach tour.
Your journey will take you past many of the city’s sights including the Gateway of India, Chowpatty Beach and the glittering lights of Marine Drive.
You also see the Victoria Terminus, the main railway station of Mumbai named after the Queen-Empress on Jubilee Day 1887. It is a neo-Gothic building complete with stained glass and flying buttresses.
Your guide will bring the city to life with an informative commentary throughout.
Optional excursion
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Mumbai City Tour
This sightseeing tour shows you many of Mumbai’s highlights. Your drive takes you first to the Prince of Wales Museum, where you can discover a veritable treasure trove of Indian Art.
En route you will see the Mumbai High Court, Flora Fountain and many other sights. You then head for the Jain Temple, a beautiful marble shrine built in 1904 and dedicated to the Jainish apostle Adinath. Your final stop is the former Mumbai home of Mahatma Gandhi, Manu Bhawan, now a museum.
Located on Laburnum Road, a quiet lane named after its shady trees, it is in this house that Gandhi was arrested in 1932. The museum houses a reference library with over 2,000 books, a photo feature on Gandhi’s life and his old ‘charkha’ (spinning wheel).
Throughout the tour there will be opportunities to take photographs, including stops at the Gateway of India, a stone archway built to mark a visit by King George V, and the bustling Dhobi Ghats, Mumbai’s vast open-air laundry areas where thousands of garments flutter in the breeze – a unique sight.
Included excursion
Duration: 4 hours and 30 minutes
Temples of Mumbai
Discover the beautiful temples of Mumbai on this fascinating tour. Head first to the Siddhivinayak Temple, one of the most popular temples in the city where throngs of believers congregate to worship an idol of Ganesh.
Next explore the Mahalaxmi Temple, which sits atop a long flight of steps on the coast. It is devoted to Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth.
You then call at the Babulnath Temple, originally built over 200 years ago and dedicated to Shiva. You then drive to Manu Bhawan, the Gandhi Museum, to browse the interesting artefacts related to the spiritual leader’s life.
Your tour concludes by stopping to view the vast open-air laundries known as Dhobi Ghat (traffic permitting).
Optional excursion
Duration: 4 hour and 30 minutes