We found Bombay was in much better condition than Calcutta, but very expensive as well. The cheapest room in the tourist district was 45USD/night, far more than anything we paid before.
To expedite the sightseeing we booked a tour that took us to the landmarks. First we visited the old part of town to see some British era buildings, among them the pretty railway station from the previous post. The we went to the house where Gandhi used to live in the ’30s. Inside there was a photo as well as model exhibit explaining his life and work.
Then we went to see some slums. The first one was also the biggest. It is the slum where some scenes from Slumdog Millionaire was shot.
Then the tour took us the the slum were the poorest people live. This is the worst slum in Bombay.
Other slums are centered around a craft. For example, this slum’s inhabitants are engaged in washing. Most hotels and agencies in Bombay deliver them laundry and thousands of people make a living of washing. Not too many can be seen working because we arrived in the afternoon. Note the shanty houses in the rear, that is where the washers live.
The next slum was where the dish builders live. Apart from dishes, they also build various clay figures and decorative objects.
This is the recyclers’ slum. Here trucks deliver trash and old appliances so people can recover useful materials. The buildings in the right are actual houses.
Finally we visited the wood crafters’ slum. It was an interesting experience. The families live and work in the rear of the house, while the front is used as a storefront.

From what we’ve seen, the slums in India are far worse than those in South America.