Mumbai—Bombay, the name brings different images to different people.
The urbs prima in Indis, premier city in India; home to Bollywood—India's Hindi film industry, the financial capital of India, city that turns dreams to magic and makes them come true; one that never sleeps, which dreams even when awake, that's always under threat but ever resilient and on the move, one that shows the way, that leads the pack, and is the barometer of what India is to the outside world.
A place that takes three hours to reach by air from the Middle East, and two hours to reach the 5-star hotel in town at Colaba from the airports in the suburbs of Andheri and Santacruz.
A city of contrasts, of attitude, of the power of money, of time and talent, of rich and poor and their co-existence that seems almost surreal, where time is money and money a lot more, where 9:16am means 9:16am and not 9:45am or 10am, where a 2-hour commute to work is normal for more than half the working population, where local trains are the lifeline of the city, where fortunes of Bollywood film stars rise and fall each Friday, and where cricket is a religion for the masses and its star Sachin Tendulkar more than a mere mortal.
Welcome to Mumbai—the city that never sleeps.
The sentiments expressed in Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York would be a perfect example for Bombay too. Bombay, Bombay, If I can make it there, I'm gonna make it anywhere…
The crowds and the pace of Mumbai comes as a surprise to the first time visitor, let alone tourists from abroad. You can feel the energy once you step outside the airport or alight at the railway station. Each city has its specialties that go beyond the usual tourist spots of museums, parks, entertainment zones, beaches, popular restaurants, nightspots, and happening places in town.
To savour those specialties one has to feel a city. Explore the surroundings, take a walk around your hotel, observe people, find variety in the sights, sounds, smells, colours, mornings, afternoons, and nights of the city.
Here are Five 'Must Do' things when in Mumbai.
A visit to Mumbai is incomplete without:
- Tasting street food: Vada pav, pav bhaji, kala khatta gola, bhelpuri, panipuri
- Using local means of commuting: Auto rickshaw (riksha), taxi, double decker bus, slow local train, and fast local train
- Wining, dining, pubbing, and partying: In town, South Mumbai, and the suburbs of Central and North Mumbai
- Visiting tourist attractions
- Playing, watching, or discussing cricket: In bylanes with kids, in the parking space of housing apartments, on the Maidans (grounds), and in office at work. Any time is the right time to discuss cricket in Mumbai, even while hanging out a local train
You haven't seen Mumbai even after all the sightseeing, eating, wining, dining, pubbing, partying, and working; if you haven't:
- Eaten a vada pav from the stalls outside N.M. and Mithibai colleges at Vile Parle
- Experienced the flavour of pav bhaji at the eateries on Tardeo, Nariman Point, and Fountain
- Gorged on the delicacies at Bade Miya near the Taj Mahal hotel in South Bombay.
- Feasted on Reshmi Kabab biryani at Cafe Noorani, followed by Ganga Jamuna at Haji Ali juice centre
- Drowned a pitcher at Café Mondegar and Café Leopold at Colaba Causeway
- Bought antiques from Chor Bazaar
- Spent an evening watching the sun set from the parapet of Nariman Point
- Stood on the terrace of a Nariman Point highrise apartment and wondered how exorbitantly priced the small, matchbox-like flats seem
- Enjoyed a late evening ride in a Victoria (an open horse drawn carriage) from Gateway of India to Chowpatty seaface
- Bargained hard for clothes at Fashion Street and Linking Road
- Jostled with Dabbawallas while waiting for the Churchgate fast.
- Given way to Koli fisherwomen shouting 'Macchhi ka paani', fish water, on the staircase of any suburban railway station
- Been to Haji Ali, Mahalaxmi, Mahim Church, Siddhi Vinayak, and Mount Mary
- Been a part of the faithfuls thronging the variety of meat and sweetmeat shops that are a gastronomer's delight during evenings and nights of the holy month of Ramadan (Ramzan) at Mohammed Ali Road, Minara Masjid, Fort
- Spent a lazy weekend sitting on the parapet at Marine Drive watching the changing colors of the evening sky with the sun's rays glistening like diamonds on the crest of waves reaching the shores from the Arabian Sea
- Watched a Bollywood movie shooting at Film City, Goregaon
For the adventurous types:
- Hang out a peak hour suburban local train, feeling the wind on your face, and the adrenaline rush and energy that comes while alighting from the train. For those that want to give it a try, spend an hour in the evening trying to 'get' a foothold in a Borivali fast or a Virar fast local train from a suburban station like Bombay Central, Dadar, or Bandra. It is an experience of a lifetime.
Although don't mention this as an experience for someone that does it daily, or you would get a scornful glance that suggests you better be somewhere else. Those that take the trains daily would gladly exchange that part of their life for something less stressful and more peaceful. Still trains are the best option for reaching any place in Mumbai on time.
- Wait for a darshan—a public appearance of Big B Amitabh Bachchan outside his bungalow, Prateeksha, in Juhu
Special thanks to our man in Mumbai, Satish Vijaykumar, for Mumbai tips straight from the trenches. View photos of Mumbai from Satish's photostream on Flickr.
What's your favourite place in Mumbai? Why do you like Mumbai? What's your preferred hangout in Bombay? Let us know. We welcome your thoughts and there's always room for addition to 'must do things when in Mumbai'.
Related Links:
- Mumbai on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia on the Internet
- History of Bombay
- Find restaurants in Mumbai
- Mumbai train and bus routes
- Links to local administrative services in Mumbai
- Mumbai auto rickshaw fares
- Mumbai taxi fares
- Mumbai suburban local train route map
- Map of Mumbai
- Mumbai newspapers
Indian Express, Financial Express, Economic Times, DNAIndia, MumbaiMirror
- Mumbai eveningers
Mid Day and Cybernoon
- Blogs on Bombay
- Bombay city videos on YouTube
- When in Mumbai (Bombay), speak as Mumbaikars (Bombayites) do. Here's a dose of Bombay slang for you.
- View images of Mumbai, as captured, through the lens of a first-time visitor to the city. Watch Guy Kawasaki's 'Three days in Mumbai' slideshow.
- Books on Bombay and Mumbai.
Enjoy your visit and share experiences about your adventures in Mumbai.
Cheers and happy travelling to Mumbai, India's magical city. There's always Mobissimo India to search for competitive airfare prices to Mumbai.
