Formerly known as Port Natal, Durban first rose to prominence during the 1850s, and quickly became the second most important port in South Africa. The status as the country's main trading centre with the Far East and India meant that many immigrants flowed into the city and soon developed their own areas within Durban, and built many of the temples that still adorn the skyline.
Durban was also one of the first areas of the country that developed as a major tourist destination in its own right, rather than for the animals that live there, and has some grand hotels, as well as more modern resort complexes all along the beach area, both inside and outside the city.
In the post Apartheid era, Durban is often held up as an example of peaceful coexistence, and is one of the safest cities in the country for tourists to visit, as well as being one of the most tolerant.
