"Gateway to India Mumbai" Mumbai by PeterVancouver

I was standing on this spot in Bombay some 30 years ago, on my way from Mauritius to London. Not a lot has changed over that period, other than railings have been put around the monument, so you can no longer walk through the arch. The city itself has, however, been improved greatly with exclusions on rickshaws, including Tuk Tuks, all sorts of slow moving traffic, including bullock carts and, of course, the famous cows, which used to roam the streets holding up traffic. Hawkers are still prevalent in the main tourist areas but beggers have all but disappeared. Compared with New Delhi, Mumbai is, on the face of it, progressing well.

Slums alongside the runway of Mumbai airport

The slums alongside the runway of Mumbai airport. Despite the individual poverty of many who live in these conditions, which is without both running water or a legal supply of electricity, there are numerous entrepreneurs beavering away in these conditions in diverse mini industries which create some billions of rupees p.a. of exports for the country. The Government on numerous occasions have attempted to bulldoze the area but without alternative housing, the slums are rebuilt the same day

• In a nutshell:A great city to visit