Cheap flights to Mumbai or cheap flights to Bombay? Which to search for? Bombay became Mumbai in 1995, named in honour of Mumbadevi, the Hindu goddess, but many locals still call it by the name that Portuguese explorers bestowed on it in the 1600s - Bombay from "Bom" (good) and "Bahia" (bay). Whatever you call the city, you'll never forget your visit.
Mumbai is a city of perpetual movement. It never stops. The streets throng with humanity; about 20 million people call it home. It has a "New York"-type energy, and the gap between rich and poor is yawning wide. The mansions of the millionaires contrast sharply with the slums, where half of Mumbai's population live.
There are a few landmarks that the first-time visitor should not miss. One is the Gateway of India, built by the British in 1911. From there, many visitors will take boat trips to Elephanta Island to visit the ancient cave temples.
From Kamala Nehru Park, at the top of Malabar Hill, there are sumptuous views of the city, Chowpatty Beach and Marine Drive. At night, the lights twinkle and shine, resembling nothing so much as a diamond necklace, hence the unofficial name the Queen's Necklace.