Mumbai (or Bombay as it used to be called) has a major hub airport and therefore visitors to South India may pass through. There is a wide range of comfortable hotels and some interesting sites to visit.

Mumbai (Bombay) is the capital of Maharashtra

Local Language:
Marathi

Area:
603.4 sq km (the 4th largest urban agglomeration in the world – 19 million people)

Interesting Fact:
Bollywood produces more films than Hollywood

Relaxing on the coral atolls and islands of the Republic of Maldives can easily be combined with a holiday in South India as many airlines that fly to India also fly to Malé.

Capital:
 Malé

Local Language:
Dhiveh

Area:
298 sq km (but considerably more if you include the sea!)

Interesting Fact:
the lowest lying country in the world