Mumbai to Dubai

Mumbai (ex Bombay)

Situated on a peninsula halfway up the west coast of India,
Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is India's economic powerhouse, and home
to more millionaires than any other city on the Indian
subcontinent. As well as being the country's financial capital,
Mumbai is also an important port, handling a third of all
international trade; and a base for many of India's largest
companies. However, among all this wealth and the Bollywood
lifestyle are cases of extreme poverty, with almost half of the 21
million-strong population living in slums.

The Portuguese established this old Hindu city as a colony in
1509. In 1661, it passed to England as part of the dowry of
Catherine of Braganza when she married Charles II, and became a
vital trading base for the East India Company and later the Crown.
The centre of Imperial Bombay, the city contains a breathtaking
array of High Victorian buildings and is reminiscent of a
prosperous 19th-century English industrial city. The fascinating
range of architectural styles reflects the British passion for the
Gothic and demonstrates the wealth, panache and confidence of
British Bombay. Prosperity has always been considered more
important than religious homogeneity in Mumbai, and this is
reflected in the range of places of worship throughout the city:
churches and cathedrals sit alongside countless mosques, and Hindu
and Buddhist temples.

Like many Indian cities, the streets of Mumbai are congested
with cattle, carts and motor vehicles, and the air is thick with
smog and the sound of horns. But despite this, the city has much to
offer, and those en route to Goa should take time to discover
Mumbai's colourful and fascinating history, as well as its vibrant,
energetic and friendly people.

Dubai

Set against the backdrop of the Arabian Desert, Dubai has grown
rapidly into a futuristic landscape of skyscrapers, man-made
islands, shopping malls and beach resorts. There is a sense of
outlandish possibility about this modern and progressive city.

Dubai has become a truly global city and influential business
hub, growing particularly fast in areas such as aviation, tourism
and real estate. Standing as testament to its success are
architectural marvels such as the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest
building, the Burj Al Arab, widely billed as the world's only seven
star hotel, and the iconic Palm Jumeirah island, to name just a
few.

Dubai is a city of superlatives, home to the highest
skyscrapers, the fastest cars, the most luxurious hotels and the
biggest shopping malls. The enormous expatriate population, as well
as millions of tourists each year, can enjoy shopping, partying,
sunbathing and fine dining. From within these high standards of
luxury, visitors can also experience exotic Arabia in the bustling
souks of the Deira district, or a night in a Bedouin tent with
belly dancing under the starlit desert skies.

Dubai's attraction lies in the contrast between the ultra modern
and the enchantingly traditional, which gives the city a
personality like no other. From desert oases and unspoiled beaches,
camel races and old wind towers, to top-class shopping
opportunities and the finest international cuisine, Dubai has more
than enough depth to satisfy even the most seasoned of
explorers.