Imagine the color and fun of a Bollywood movie brought to life and you'll have a pretty good feel for what Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is all about. The most populous and by many measures the most vibrant city in India--which is really saying something here--Mumbai is India’s center of finance, foreign trade, film, and, for an increasing number of planners, meetings.
With a population of 13 million and growing, Mumbai is located on Salsette Island, off the west-central coast of India. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is 19 miles from the city center, and has international flights from a number of carriers, including North America-based Delta, Northwest and United. Mumbai is also well-served by regional boat and train transport.
Befitting a city of its size, Mumbai offers everything from beach resorts to luxurious city hotels fit for a king. For planners, the property to know about is the Renaissance Mumbai Hotel and Convention Centre. Situated on a lake in the north of the city, the 286-room hotel claims the largest convention center in India, at 2.3 million square feet.
The JW Marriott Mumbai is another standout property, with 326 guest rooms, nine meeting rooms and 11,173 square feet of meeting space. The hotel is located in the fashionable Juhu area and overlooks the waters of the Arabian Sea--it's also a good place to spot Bollywood stars at the lounge or in one of the restaurants.
Because the city is responsible for 40 percent of India's foreign trade, rest assured that Mumbai has everything a business traveler could want in terms of food and nightlife. But the hectic pace of big city life is tempered here by its many religious and natural attractions.
Mumbai is one of the few world cities with a major national park inside its borders. Sanjay Gandhi National Park encompasses 41 square miles, and highlights include the worship halls sculpted into stone at the 2,400-year-old Kanheri Caves, two temples, a small zoo, and safari outings to see the many species of wildlife that call the park home.
Other attractions include the Elephanta Caves, built between the 6th and 8th centuries and filled with Hindu sculpture. The caves are on an island about one hour away from Mumbai by boat. On the way there check out Mumbai's most famous monument, called "Gateway to India." Built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911, the arch is the first thing Western visitors arriving to India--when all international travel was done by boat--would see.
Another must-see is Mani Bhavan, the house where Gandhi lived and did much of his work to free India from British rule. To give attendees a taste of Bollywood, consider a tour of one of the many film studios in Mumbai; some tour agencies can even arrange a visit from a Bollywood celebrity at your event.
No matter what you finally decide to see and do, a visit to Mumbai is sure to leave your attendees with stars in their eyes.
