First I want to prepare you…

The city differs from other cities in India, like Jaipur or Goa.

It`s likely the atmosphere that may confuse you. You`ll be met by a strange smell, loud and annoying noises from car honks, Rickshaws, bicycles, locals yelling, nagging or following you. And the streets are always packed (people, cows, goats), wherever you go.

And not to mention; the visible poverty in Mumbai.

When you enter the center of the city, you`ll see locals with amputated limbs, begging for money at almost every corner. You`ll see thousands, if not millions of people, living on the streets.

They live everywhere: Right by the highways, under the bridges or even outside your guesthouse...

People living, sleeping and eating by the highway	Ugly building...	Nice building...

In touristy areas, locals will even follow you through several blocks just to sell you something (like an instrument or to grab your ear wax).

I experienced that a poor little girl followed me for 5 blocks so she could get some rupees. I went inside a bookstore to buy a book. She still followed me. When I bought a book, she was still there! She followed me till I took a Rickshaw. Then I gave her some rupees, cause I couldn`t take the stalking anymore…

So, as a backpacker, you will experience this when you`re in Mumbai. I`m not telling you this to scare you, but to prepare you as much as possible. I wish that someone told me...

Anyway, people are different. That`s why I think you should stop by Mumbai, so you can make up your own opinion about this city!

In one of the slums	Traffic in Mumbai	Locals washing on the street

Why and when did Bombay become Mumbai?

Before visiting India, I`ve always thought that Bombay and Mumbai were two different cities.

Well, I was wrong. Very wrong.

Bombay became officially Mumbai in 1995 when some Hindu politician won the elections in the state.

After the election, Bombay was renamed to Mumbai, after the goddess Mumbadevi. As I`ve understood it, "Bombay" was a name that they didn`t approve because it was "a corrupted English version of Mumbai." And it was a part of a larger movement to strengthen the identity of Marathi in the Maharashtra region.

Mumbai Articles

Looking for a place to sleep?

Here are the guesthouses we tried!

Click here!

Read about the excellent food in this city!

CLICK!

Where to party

Don`t know where to party?

Here are some ideas!

Go here!

Ready to shop?

Find out here where you can find cheap shopping!

You'll get prices as well!

WELCOME!

What to do in Mumbai?

Here's our sightseeing trip, covering the basic sights in Mumbai!

You don't want to miss this!

Click here!

Get to know Dharavi -- the biggest slum in Mumbai!

Is it really just a slum...?

Find out!

Come here!

You`re done with Mumbai, where do you want to go next?

Heading South to Palolem?

Ready for the Pink City of Jaipur? -- Thought so, click!

Taking the airplane to Bangkok?

Prepare yourself and read this short version of India Culture

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