Mumbai, Maharashtra
Gregory David Roberts hit the nail on the head when he wrote that “More dreams are realized and extinguished in Mumbai than any other place in India”. Home to every walk of life imaginable, Bollywood stars and their drivers, fisherman and business tycoons, it is India’s most populous and metropolitan city. Home to Colaba and Fort, south Mumbai, with its impressive blend of Victorian, Gothic, and Art-Deco architecture, is where most tourists stay. Perambulate Marine Drive and stop for a mandatory photo-op at Gateway of India (where you’ll find plenty of company). There are some excellent walking and slum tours and if you really want to get into the thick of it visit Chor Bazaar.