Gateway of India

The Gateway of India is Mumbai's signature monument — a majestic basalt arch built in the early 20th century to commemorate a royal visit, standing proudly on the waterfront where the city meets the Arabian Sea. It was, symbolically, the last British troops' exit point from India.

Today it's the beating heart of tourist Mumbai: boats depart from here to Elephanta Island, photographers and balloon-sellers work the crowds, and the grand Taj Mahal Palace hotel provides a spectacular backdrop. At dawn, before the crowds, it's genuinely serene.

• ›The arch framed against the sea and the Taj hotel.
• ›A ferry ride from the adjacent jetty to Elephanta.
• ›The buzzing evening atmosphere on the plaza.

It gets very crowded midday — go early. Combine with a stroll through the colonial architecture of Colaba and Fort.