The earliest inhabitants of the seven islands of Mumbai were the Kolis, a fishing community. They called the islands "Mumba-aiee (mother Mumba)" out of a reverence for Mumbadevi, their patron deity. Over history, the seven islands were linked and conglomerated, forming a city which commands the currency and commerce of India.

The origins of modern Mumbai hark back to 1662, when Catherine of Braganza, the sister of the King of Portugal, married Charles the II. The Portuguese, who then ruled the islands, included them as part of the wedding dowry. In 1668, when the coffers of England were almost empty, Charles the II sold his dowry to the East India Company, a trading venture, which fully appreciated Mumbai’s natural advantages; a magnificent harbour sheltered from the monsoon winds encouraged the Company to shift its headquarters from Surat to Mumbai. The Company established docks, a printing press and a mint and invited rich merchants and ship builders to the city, promising freedom of worship. Armenians, Gujaratis, Parsis, Jews and Christians soon arrived, giving Mumbai its cosmopolitan character and the work ethic which survives even today.

Mumbai is the financial and commercial capital of India. It has the largest proportion of taxpayers in India and its share markets transact almost 70 per cent of the country’s stocks.

Mumbai offers a lifestyle that is rich, cosmopolitan and diverse, with a variety of food, entertainment and nightlife available in a form and abundance comparable to that in world capitals.

The largest number of Victorian buildings in the world are juxtaposed with some of the most modern. Four golf courses, speciality race courses and polo grounds, numerous cricket arenas and facilities for other sports - ranging from bridge to chess and billiards - are available at clubs across the city.

The world famous Prince of Wales Museum houses an exquisite collection of Rajput and Mughal miniatures, as well as rare pieces of Tibetan, Japanese and Chinese art. Mumbai is the home of the Hindi film industry, known as Bollywood, distinguished by prolific records in production. Cinemas showing the newest films from the West, theatres with Indian and English plays and dance and music performances can be seen in auditoria all across the city.

Mumbai has dynamic transportation links with the rest of India and the world. The trading ports, Mumbai and Nhava Sheva, offer connections with major ports worldwide. The international airport at Sahar (recently renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) and the domestic terminal at Santa Cruz (also called Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport) receive major airlines of the world, as well as the services of domestic airlines. The Western, Central and Harbour railway lines connect the city to distant suburbs and destinations across India, while the BEST (Bombay Electrical Supply and Transport) buses provide services relied on by 9.926 million people in Mumbai.

Pune, the second largest city in Maharashtra, is the state's cultural capital, with a population of 2.5 million people. About 170-km from Mumbai by road, Pune was the bastion of the Maratha empire. Under the reign of the Peshwas - key ministers in the Maratha Empire - Pune blossomed into a centre of art and learning. Several far-reaching revenue and judicial reforms were also initiated in the city.

The British developed Pune as a military town when they captured it in 1818. Educational institutes there include the College of Military Engineering and the University of Pune, which offers a diverse choice of engineering, agriculture and technical courses.

A number of industries were located in Pune after Independence, as the city had well-connected road and rail links and a pool of technical and professional personnel.

Bajaj Auto, the world’s largest manufacturer of scooters and three wheelers, TELCO (Tata Electric and Locomotive Company), the manufacturer of India’s primary commercial vehicles and trucks, and the luxury car-maker, Mercedes Benz are located here. Software companies are the newest entrants into Pune's vibrant atmosphere. With the setting up of these new industries, there has been a corresponding increase in both the population and standards of lifestyle; today Pune is rapidly maturing into a prime industrial town, while retaining all its old charm, a unique blend of British and Maratha influences.

Nashik is located at a distance of 195 km from Mumbai by road on the Bombay-Agra highway. It is also a major pilgrimage centre. The greatest event in Nashik is the sacred Kumbha Mela, held to commemorate a mythological story. The mela (a religious carnival) occurs every 12 years (equal to one day for the gods) and attracts millions of people from India and abroad. This event is held alternately at Nashik, Hardwar, Ujjain and Allahabad, which are among the major pilgrimage centres in the country.

The nerve centre of Vidarbha (eastern Maharashtra), Nagpur - the 'orange city' as it is known - is located in the heart of India, with a population of about 1.7 million people. It is dotted with many picturesque sites, including the civil lines and well-laid-out gardens. Nagpur has much to offer by way of relaxation. It was the old capital of the Bhonsale rulers, the former Central Provinces and Berar. The city is noted for its antiquity and is about 868 km from Mumbai by road.

Nagpur is a growing industrial centre and the home of several industries, ranging from food products and chemicals to electrical and transports equipment.

Aurangabad derives its name from Prince Aurangzeb (who later became a Mughal emperor), who made it his regional capital when he was Viceroy of Deccan. His legacy is reflected in the architecture of the city. Even today, Aurangabad is a hub of culture and history in the Marathwada region. The Bibi-ka-Maqbara is the only example of Mughal architecture in the Deccan plateau; it was built in 1679 as a tribute to Aurangzeb’s wife, Begum Rabia Durani, by his son.

Close to the city of Aurangabad are the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves, an architectural marvel. Through the caves, visitors can trace the evolution of three great world religions - Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.

Aurangabad is famous for Paithani saris, himroo shawls and bidri work (zinc with silver embedding).