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Mumbai truly is the gateway to India, as it is the most liberal, easy going and cosmopolitan of all Indian cities. The home of Bollywood, this jewel sits on the edge of a sapphire sea, laden with exotic treasures. The history of Mumbai is one steeped in mystery and mysticism. It has been known until recently as Bombay, and is the largest city in India, and with a population surpassing 17 million it is one of the most heavily populated cities in the world.
Think of Mumbai, as the New York of India and you will soon get an idea of the fast paced and lively buzzing urban metropolis it has become. Effervescent nightlife, bubbling over with new sights and sounds. Long sun dappled days filled with enchanting new experiences. A heady and cosmopolitan centre for culture, the arts, fashion, film and finance. You could almost think that Mumbai was that capital of India.
The wealth of Mumbai is greatly influenced by its geographic position. As it was originally a collection of seven islands, which later became joined together, the sea has always played a great part in the life of Mumbai. Now it is one of the largest ports in India, and it has always been a site of great economic influence, with traders coming from the four corners of the globe to sell their merchandise and buy fine silks and spices.
The islands were leased to the East India Trading Company for the princely sum of ten pounds a year in 1668, and were soon built up with dockyards, and warehouses. Eventually a fort was built as well as a trading post, and this became the centre of the growing town of Bombay.
Today it is the entertainment and economic hub of India, and one of the top ten centers for commerce in the world. Both the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India are sited there, as are many international companies.
Hindi is the official langue of the Indian sub continent, however English is the second official language, with twenty-one other official languages as well. You will find that most people speak English in Mumbai, so you will find yourself totally at ease whether you are in Mumbai for pleasure or for business, thanks to the coherent use of the English language throughout.
The standard of accommodation in hotels in Mumbai is excellent, and no less than you would expect from such a thriving and cosmopolitan urban gem. You will find an exceptional quality of service and a level of attention to detail that far exceeds the norm. Swept from the airport to your hotel you will find a twenty-four hour concierge who will take care of all your needs, and knows everything there is to know about where to go and what to see. No problem is too big or too small for them to hastily transform yours into a pleasant stay.
The hotel rooms in Mumbai are spacious, light and airy. There is a special sparkle to the sunlight in India that you will find nowhere else in the world. Accommodation as you would expect is top notch, and you can choose from splendidly appointed double rooms, to family rooms, luxury suites, to panoramic penthouses and hotel apartments. Whichever one is right for you, you will find it welcoming, elegantly furnished and air-conditioned.
For business travelers there are formal business suites, conference facilities, and boardrooms with all the technology you would expect in your own office. Fast Internet service is available to keep you in touch with your offices round the world. Mumbai is a major economic centre so you will find everything you need for business in your hotel at your disposal.
When it's time to relax and let all the stresses of big business and high finance fall from your shoulders, there is no better place to slip effortlessly into the open arms of luxury than in Mumbai hotels. Rooftop swimming pools with vistas that go to infinity over the sparkling topaz and emerald ocean, ships painted orange and red from a serendipitous sunset. Palm fronds swaying gently above your head as you recline on a poolside lounger, a discreet and attentive waiter to bring you refreshing cocktails.
Hotel spas of the caliber seen in Mumbai are of the standard you would expect to see in New York or London. Have the latest beauty treatments and therapies in tranquility and luxury by highly trained professional therapists, offering everything from manicures, pedicures and facials, to non-surgical face-lifts. Or just take a relaxing spa bath or a therapeutic massage to reawaken your body and soul. The Ayurvedic science of life was invented in India and Ayurvedic treatments are naturally extremely popular in Mumbai spas.
Blissfully carefree, you relax in the evening in the languid hotel bar before taking dinner in the hotel restaurant, resplendent with cuisine from Indian, Chinese, and Fusion, to French, Italian, English and Spanish. Fine wines are a plenty on the well-appointed wine list, as well as international beers, and spirits. Mumbai attracts top chefs from around the world, so you will find the standard of fine dining is far from provincial.
Hotel architecture is wide ranging, and while there are many colonial buildings, you may find that the clean lined modern or eco chic hotels are more to your taste. There is an elegant air of princely grandeur to the hotels in Mumbai, and the superb level of service they provide the guest is world class for either the holiday or business traveler.
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