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The city formerly known as Bombay is an exciting, cosmopolitan spot -- a major financial hub, tourism officials have dubbed it “The Commercial Capital of India” -- along the country’s western coast. Art and high fashion are found throughout the city, but cruise passengers will find top-notch shopping waits just off the central harbor, in the stores of the waterfront Marine Drive. This is the fast-paced home of Bollywood, India’s answer to the American movie-making machine.

But peaceful green spaces, stretching from the wildlife refuge of Gandhi National Park to the rolling beauty of Malabar Hill, also await here. So, too, do fascinating historic monuments -- must-see spots include The Gateway of India, a ceremonial structure built for visiting royalty, and the Elephanta Caves, a Hindu shrine dating to the first century. Visiting Brits will find plenty of colonial influences here, too, though the fully stocked Price of Wales Museum to Crawford Market, a former fort turned farmers’ bazaar.

Language: English, Hindi     Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)