Bollywood’s Own Stars And Sights: Travel To Mumbai - Travel Information

Situated on the Arabian Sea, at the very western edge of India’s subcontinent, lies the country’s most populous and prosperous metropolis. Mumbai, formerly Bombay until 1995, is a massive island city bursting with life at every turn. Mumbai is home to the Hindi film and television industry, also known as Bollywood, and offers hundreds of movie houses including the largest IMAX dome in Asia.

Travelers to Mumbai may find themselves struck by the incredible disparity in wealth and lifestyle among the island’s inhabitants; however, most travelers will also notice a general friendly cheer during their daily excursions. Almost all of Mumbai’s population is not native to the island, which creates an eclectic mix of ethnicities, beliefs, cuisine and culture that has encouraged acceptance among most of the people.

Mumbai from the Outside

Mumbai has one of the most heavily traveled ports in India, making the large Bombay metropolis India’s commercial and financial capital. Visit the spectacular Gateway of India, the magnificent basalt structure built for King George V and Queen Mary in 1911 that greets nearly all travelers arriving in Mumbai by boat. From here you can catch a ferry to Elephanta Island to witness the most famous and intricate cave temples of Maharashtra. For people watching, head down to the Marine Drive Chowpatty and enjoy the beach breezes, shop the street-side vendors and get yourself a relaxing head massage.

Within the city limits lies Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which serves as a necessary sanctuary for breathable air in the north of Mumbai. Make sure to catch Bombay’s famous prowling leopards during your visit. There are also many walking and boating tours available as a means to experience the city. This is the best way to get your initial bearings and learn the general history and architectural background of Mumbai/Bombay.

A Bombay Treasure Island

The Mumbai municipality is a literal treasure hunt for the adventurous explorer. Centuries of history are written in the architecture, museums, bazaars and personal accounts littered all about the lively neighborhoods. St. Thomas’ Cathedral is a reminder of the British rule in Bombay and also the oldest English building in the city. The remarkable contrast of the whitewashed church against the detailed and ornate backdrop of Mumbai is a noteworthy sight. Visit the Prince of Wales Museum, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum, and discover ancient remnants of Maharashtra while inside an architectural landmark set among splendid gardens.

Mumbai, and certainly all of India, is the place to be your adventurous self. The first step is finding airfare to Bombay right here on cFares. Once you touch down on the tarmac in Mumbai, indulge your senses in the flavors of curry, the treats of street vendors, and the delicacy of fresh sweet pastry. Expand your senses and stretch your mind in a yoga class or meditation session, many of which are open to the public. This is your opportunity to discover the most unique and welcoming city in India, dive in!

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Ten Things To Do During Your Christmas Island Vacation

Although a little island compared to some, Christmas Island still has a lot to offer any visitor. Here, there are a lot of things that you can do to maximize your stay. Here are ten things to do in the Christmas Island.

1.) Get to know Christmas Islands’ Culture

For you to get to know the island’s rich culture, visit Christmas Island at the months when there are festivals and celebrations. When you visit in April, you will get to experience the Anzac Day; in May, the Vesak Day; in August, the Month of the Hungry Ghost; in November, the Deepavali; etc. These are just some of the festivals and celebrations that you have to catch in this island.

2.) Visit Christmas Island National Park

In this national park, you will get to enjoy and admire a variety of this island’s flora and fauna. There are some creatures that are very abundant here in the Christmas Island yet are considered as endangered in some countries. This is what you are going to see in the national park, nature at its best.

3.) Go snorkeling

Christmas Island is a popular place if you want to go snorkeling. There are many reefs here that are homes to a myriad of sea creatures. Here, you will get to see dolphins and a variety of tropical fishes, so colorful that your stay in this island will definitely be worth it.

4.) Go scuba diving

If snorkeling is not enough for you and you want a more complete experience with Christmas Island’s marine wildlife, then go scuba diving. Not only will you get the opportunity to swim with the dolphins underwater, but you will also get to see some whale sharks at their natural habitat. No vacation in Christmas Island is real without scuba diving.

5.) Go bird watching

If you have had your fill of marine creatures, then go bird watching. This island is home to a wide species of birds. Any bird lover will surely appreciate Christmas Island.

6.) Go fishing

With the variety of fishes here, it is no wonder that Christmas Island is a great fishing spot. Catch your biggest fish ever and take photos of it to bring back home as a great souvenir. Plus, you also get to enjoy a fresh meal from your catch.

7.) Rent a yacht

What better way to explore the shoreline of Christmas Island than by renting a yacht? If you do not know how to sail, then take a guided tour along the coastline. In this way, you will really enjoy the beauty of Christmas Island’s shoreline as well as enjoy the feel of the water moving beneath your feet.

8.) Visit Flying Fish Cove

You can reach this cove through a yacht. Once there, there is a lot to do and a lot of places to explore. For starters, there are recreational activities such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, etc, or you can also stroll along the cove on foot.

9.) Drive around Christmas Island

There are many car rental companies here, and it is easy to rent a car. Renting a car and driving yourself around the island is a good way to get to know the culture as well as explore the place some more. You can stop at the national park for a nature walk or you can even go to the shopping center and famous restaurants.

10.) Experience the red crabs month

And Christmas Island will not be the same without the yearly mass migration of the red crabs to the sea where they will breed and spawn. The best month to experience this is after the beginning of the wet season. This is truly a sight to behold as this island is invaded by these tiny red creatures.

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Christmas Island

The Territory of Christmas Island is a small territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean, 2600 kilometres northwest of Perth in Western Australia, 500 kilometres south of Jakarta, Indonesia.

It maintains about 1,600 residents who live in a number of "settlement areas" on the northern tip of the island.

It has a unique natural topography and is of immense interest to scientists and naturalists due to the number of species of endemic flora and fauna which have evolved in isolation and undisturbed by human habitation.

While there has been guano mining activity on the island for many years, 63% of its 135 square kilometers is now National Park and there are large areas of pristine and ancient rainforest.

Christmas Island is most famous for the annual red crab migration. Millions of crabs leave the forest and crawl to the sea in order to lay their eggs in the ocean. During the migration, the crabs cover the routes to the coast so densely that they can be seen from the air. Volunteers shovel the crabs off the roads. Fun video of migration