On the west coast of Maharashtra state, Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is the major metropolis of western India and the country's financial capital. It's a dynamic, over-crowded, outward-looking and in parts glitzy island city that has been embracing and absorbing foreign cultures and influences for 2,000 years. Small wonder that it's the home of Bollywood, the world's most prolific film industry. Impressive shopping arcades, fine restaurants and art galleries abound. Two major landmarks are the Gateway to India (built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary) and the grand old Taj Mahal Hotel - while nearby is the Apollo Bunder, an open seafront area teeming with street sellers and buskers. Don't miss the Prince of Wales Museum, the Jehgangir Art Gallery, some of the many churches, temples and mosques - and the main bazaar quarter clustered round Crawford Market. Time permitting, take a boat to Elephanta Island to see the rock-cut caves with their huge sculpted panels.