Bombay in one week in all seasons

Your stay begins at the Gateway Of India. Admire the Taj Mahal Palace and then walk through Colaba, go down to the end of the town in Navy Nagar. Here, you can find one of the most interesting churches of Mumbai, the Afghan Church. Return to your steps, head to Fort for a lunch break in one of the many parsis restaurants in the area. Stroll through the neighbourhood streets, around the Horniman Circle, Ballard Estate, and the country's stock exchange, and then admire C.S.T. station, the former Victoria Terminus station listed as World Heritage. Continue the visit by the Crawford Market and its surroundings. The old covered market abounds with stalls of spices and dried fruit. Return to the hotel to cool off and change before dinner.

After breakfast, go to the Gateway Of India: take the boat to the island of Elephanta. Tours and crossings should take you from 4 to 5 hours. Return to Colaba for lunch in one of the many cafés, restaurants, bars of the district (the Mondegar, Leopold...) and share with other tourists your first impressions. A visit to the Prince of Wales museum is required. Built to commemorate King George's visit, the museum was inaugurated in 1923. It offers exhibitions of art, archaeology and natural history, as well as important Western painting donations from the Tata family. In the evening, return to Kala Ghoda for a meal in Khyber. We will end the evening in an old Art Deco cinema still active, such as Regal in Colaba or Eros in Churchgate. A surrealist atmosphere guaranteed.

Take a taxi, head to Malabar Hill, residential area. A few moments on the beach of Chowpatty. A short trip to Mani Bhavan, the house of Mahatma Gandhi, then on the road for the Hanging gardens and Tower of Silence. Lunch break at Oh Calcutta, one of the best bengalaise cuisine restaurants. The afternoon will be devoted to the visit of the Jain Temple, Mahalaxmi Temple and Haji Ali Dargah. Before taking the train at Mahalaxmi Station, visit the Dhobi Ghât. Back to Churchgate station, then head to Marine Drive, on the roof of the Intercontinental Hotel, at the Dome, for a drink while watching the sunset on the "pearl necklace". Your day ends in a very nice way.

Take the train to Bandra at Churchgate Station: on the program shopping in trendy boutiques, stroll on the promenade Carter Road and then, lunch at one of the many trendy restaurants of Pala Hill. In the afternoon, go to Juhu by autorickshaw: visit of the ISKCON temple and the surrounding streets. In the late afternoon, walk along the Juhu beach to observe the multitude of mumbaikers coming to take the cost, while enjoying the Mumbai Street Food, a speciality of the city. Return by autorickshaw to Santa Cruz station and then to Churchgate by train.

Chor Bazaar, the market for thieves, is a kind of flea market, the largest in India, renowned for its antique shops. But if you have not revised your short manual of Victorian art, it is better not to risk it. On the other hand, you'll find very beautiful Bollywood posters from 1950s, 1960s and 1970s in good condition. Afternoon relaxation in a Spa with Ayurvedic massage at the Rudra Spa and Salon at Kemp's Corner.

Departure early in the morning at Borivali Gandhi National Park in Borivali. Greenery as far as the eye can see, hills, lakes, forests and lots of free animals, such as panthers, tigers, reptiles and lots of birds and especially the Kanheri Caves, a set of Buddhist rock caves. The Sanjay Gandhi Park is the lung of the city. Lunch in the neighbourhood then, go to Gorai to admire the World Peace Pagoda, a breathtaking Buddhist pagoda.

Some tourist agencies enjoy the success of the film Slumdog Millionaireand offer slums tours, especially that of Dharavi. The circuits are very interesting and will allow you to discover the life of the largest slum in Asia. You can also opt for a bike tour of the city, accompanied by a guide who will explain all the secrets of "Maximum City".