Mumbai (Bombay)

India’s most populous city may be a dynamic metropolis, but it is definitely not for the fainthearted. It probably acquired its original name from 16th-century Portuguese explorers, who called its location bom bahia, or “good bay.” In 1995 it was renamed “Mumbai” at the insistence of militant Hindu nationalists (the name being derived from the Hindu goddess Mumbadevi), but a clear majority of the city’s more affluent citizens still persists in calling it “Bombay.” Mumbai’s natural harbor makes it a busy port, and the city is also home to Bollywood, the center of the popular film industry. The southern part of the peninsula is the base for most visitors, containing upscale hotels, restaurants and museums.