Needless to say, Mumbai has no shortage of wonderful sights to see. From the Elephanta Caves to the Hanging Gardens, India’s largest city is in many ways its most varied for tourists and its most rich in terms of tourism attractions. The southern region of Mumbai offers the best attractions, but make sure to escape from this relatively comfortable tourist zone and enjoy the wonderful nuances of the rest of the city.

Chhatrapati Shivaji railway terminus
More a railway station than a tourist attraction, formerly known as the Victoria terminus, this is perhaps one of the most splendid stations in the whole of Asia. The huge colonial structure is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Venetian Gothic style dating back to 1888. It’s also a major departure and arrival point for train services to and from numerous Mumbai suburbs and destinations farther afield.

Elephanta Caves
These carved shrines dedicated to Shiva are centuries-old and one of Mumbai’s premier tourist sites and the host of the Elephanta Festival every February. The Portuguese vandalised this important site when they arrived nearly 500 years ago but the caves remain as splendid today as ever. Catch a ferry from the Gateway of India ferry terminal to get here.

Ferozeshah Mehta Gardens
Perched up on Malabar Hill, the Hanging Gardens as they are commonly known, are a great place for a stroll featuring well-trimmed flora and a number of fountains. The best part about this popular spot though is the excellent vantage point: the gardens offer among the best views of Mumbai and are therefore incredibly popular with happy snappers taking photos of friends and family.

Gateway of India
Built in dedication to former British monarch King George V when he visited India at the beginning of the last century, the Gateway to India, like many other colonial relics, has been adopted by the independent India as its own and a powerful, sturdy icon of the city. Located right on the harbour front in southern Mumbai, many visitors end up here without planning to, so you will no doubt see it during a trip here. This is also the departure point for numerous ferries.

Haji Ali Dargah
Fast closing on its 600-year birthday, this iconic mosque just off the coast of Worli has remained a significant Mumbai landmark for centuries. Thousands of people show up on Thursdays and Fridays for prayers but anyone of any faith is allowed into the complex. Vague plans have been floated around to raze the site to the ground and replace it with white marble as engineers say the current structure is too old and battered for renovation, so get here soon before it’s too late.

Mumbadevi Temple
Responsible for the new name when Bombay was officially dropped, Mumbadevi Temple is thought to be 2,000 years old, originally built by local fisherman. Located at Buleshwar, this is one of the city’s best-known temples. If you only go to one religious site other than the Elephanta Caves while in Mumbai, make it this one.

Marine Drive
Head to the Chowpatty end area of Mumbai’s most famous coastal strip and join the hundreds of thousands of locals that have had the same idea. This is the foremost promenade in the whole of Mumbai and therefore attracts huge crowds. It’s a place of discreet romance, family gatherings and long sunsets that simply has to be visited to get the full Mumbai experience. People-watchers will be in heaven.

Mumbai is a massive city overflowing with a quality selection of attractions and activities. If you need a respite from visiting all of the fascinating historic attractions, you can spend some time at the many bazaars and markets, where you can examine the local lifestyle up close and shop for amazing bargains and souvenirs as well. There’s also some decent beaches where you can relax and take advantage of the ability to have an alcoholic drink – not something you can do just anywhere in India.

Catch a Bollywood flick. In the home of Indian cinema and indeed the most prolific movie industry on the planet, to not see a film here is close to taboo. Most last nearly 4 hours long so you’ll get good value for money and guaranteed singing, dancing and plenty of crying for your rupees.

Enjoy the surf and sand – Mumbai style. Many of the beaches in Mumbai are certainly entertaining with frequent opportunities for foreigners to meet other families and talk with the locals.

Haggle to your heart’s content. With its mega malls and even larger bazaars, Mumbai drives a hard bargain; if you manage to get down to 25 per cent of the original asking price, you’re not doing badly.

Play cricket at the Maidans. Teeming with youngsters and fully grown cricketers alike, the Maidans is a great place for a stroll and an impromptu game of cricket, a national obsession that is as fierce in Mumbai as anywhere else in India.