Mumbai is big. It teems with dreamers and hard workers, wannabe actresses and thugs, stray dogs and exotic birds, artists and handymen, fishermen and crorepatis (millionaires), and so many more. It’s home to the world’s most prolific film industry, has some of Asia’s largest slums (and the world’s most expensive home), and the largest tropical forest in an urban area. It’s India’s financial engine, the center of Indian fashion, and the epicenter of religious tensions. If Mumbai is your first visit to India, be prepared. The city isn’t dangerous, but its furious energy, limited public transportation, and heavy pollution make it a challenge for visitors. The heart of the city contains some of the world’s grandest colonial-era buildings, but explore further and you’ll discover unique bazaars, hidden temples, radical chic enclaves, and India’s premier restaurants and nightclubs. [excerpt from Lonely Planet]