Visiting Mumbai Information - Guide for Tourists Visiting Mumbai

Mumbai is the capital of the state of Maharashtra and is approximately 1400 Kilometers from New Delhi. Mumbai is considered to be the financial capital of India. It is also the movie center of India referred to as Bollywood, India's comparable to Hollywood.

Mumbai was formerly known as Bombay. In 1995 the cities name was officially changed by the Maharashtra State to Mumbai which is more in line with Marathi language that is common in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Hindi and English are also spoken in Mumbai and English speaking tourists should have no language problems in the city of Mumbai.

Mumbai has so much to offer to visitors when it comes to places to see and things to do.

Some of the popular tourist attractions in Mumbai

• Chowpatty Beach
• Hanging Gardens
• Juhu Beach
• Prince Charles Museum

Gateway of India

The Gateway of India was built during the British rule in the country. It was built in 1924 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Mumbai. This is a popular tourist spot.

There are boat trips available from here for short trips to view the skyline of the city from the sea. Boat trips to visit Elephanta Caves also start from here. The Taj Mahal hotel is situated across the road from the Gateway of India.

The Gateway of India was designed by British architect George Wittet. There are no charges for visiting. Close to Gateway of India:

• Jehangir art museum is near Gateway of India
• Flora Fountain near Gateway of India

Elephanta Caves Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves have various rock cut Temples present in the caves said to be as old as the 5th century. These rock cut temples are dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and are rich in sculptural content. Elephanta Caves are about 10 Kilometers from the Gateway of India.

Visitors can take a motor boat ride from here to go to Elephanta Island. The Caves are open to visitors from 9 am to 5 pm everyday except on Mondays. The ideal time to visit is November to March.

During the monsoon season the boats from Gateway of India do not provide service to Elephanta Island. Entrance Fee: Rupees 10 for Indian Citizens where as foreigners are charged Rupees 250. Chowpatty Beach The only beach in the heart of Mumbai City is Chowpatty Beach which is at the top end of Marine Drive.

While you can’t swim at this beach there is a festival like atmosphere here in the evening with lots of vendors selling fast Indian food and several forms of children's rides and entertainment. During evenings and especially on weekends there is a carnival type atmosphere at the beach. Several hawkers walk around selling various goods.

Some walk around offering massages right on the sandy beach. Chowpatty beach is certainly not a clean area and people throw food cartons etc all over the place. However if you visit Mumbai it is something you should consider visiting and experiencing for yourself.

Local residents living in high rise buildings find a stroll along Chowpatty beach refreshing and an ideal picnic spot. While you can’t swim at this beach, there is a festival like atmosphere here in the evening with lots of vendors selling fast Indian food and several forms of children’s rides and entertainment and things such as tarot card reading etc.

Hanging Gardens

These Gardens are located at the top of Malabar Hills on its west side opposite the Kamala Nehru Park. Due to the height of its location the Hanging Gardens provide an excellent view of the sunset over the Arabian Sea. The Queens Necklace ( Marine Drive) can also be viewed from these Gardens. This terraced garden also has several hedges shaped as animals to blend in with the greenery. A shoe house is a popular attraction to many children.

Haji Ali's Mosque

The Haji Ali shrine was built to honor the Muslim Saint Haji Ali. This mosque was built in the middle of the sea with only a narrow path leading to it. The Haji Ali shrine is located on a small island on the Arabian Sea only about 500 yards from the coast.

There is a walkway which connects the shore to the shrine and it can only be used during low tides. During the monsoon rains and high tides the walkway is completely covered with sea water and not usable. The shrine is very close to the Gateway of India if you wish to visit it while in Mumbai.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu (Formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum)

The Prince of Wales museum was built to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales during the British rule in India. The name has now been changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu. This museum is located on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Mumbai.

It is a few minutes from the Gateway of India. Photography is allowed provided no flash is used and a separate ticket is purchased to use your camera. The museum is open to the public from 10:15 am to 6 pm except on Mondays.

Juhu Beach

Juhu Beach is a famous beach in Mumbai. It is situated on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Juhu, a suburb of Mumbai. Juhu is considered an affluent suburb of Mumbai and several Indian film stars from the Indian cinema have residences in Juhu.

Early in the morning people usually enjoy a walk or jog on Juhu beach. This is the place where you can enjoy drinking coconut water straight from a coconut and also enjoy the cool sea breeze. At night the beach has lots of food stalls serving fast Indian food.

There are horse and camel rides also available for visitors.

Marine Drive Mumbai

Marine Drive in Mumbai runs along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea. This is one of the popular hangouts for tourists as well as local residents. Marine Drive starts from a place called Nariman Point and ends at Malabar Hill in somewhat of a U shape and hence is popularly also called the Queen’s Necklace.

The best view of the queen’s necklace is during the evening when the lights are on from Hanging Gardens. Enjoy the cool sea breeze along Marine Drive in the evenings and take in the spellbinding view of the sunset over the Arabian Sea. Along Marine Drive there is also the Taraporewala Aquarium which has a collection of fresh and sea water fish.

Visitors are not permitted to take photographs inside the aquarium. We took a photograph and had our camera confiscated, it was eventually returned to us after we agreed to remove the film and hand it over to them.

Ellora Caves

The Ellora Caves are located in the village of Ellora approximately 30 kilometers from the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Ellora is famous for its monumental caves. There are 34 rock-cut Temples at Ellora that date back from 200 BC to 600 AD.

Of the 34 Temples there are 17 Hindu, 12 are Buddhist and 5 Jain Temples. The Temples are spread over a distance of more than a mile. All the caves face west.

The best time to visit Ellora Caves in October to March. Entry is allowed to visitors from 9 am to 5 pm everyday except Mondays.

• Haji Ali's Mosque
• Elephanta Caves
• Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple
• Water Kingdom
• Essel World
• Malabar Hills
• Rajabai Clock Tower
• Gateway of India

Shopping in Mumbai

Mumbai's shopping splits roughly into street bazaars, mid-range market streets and upmarket malls. The bazaars are cheaper and more atmospheric; the malls are where the city's middle class actually shops.

What to buy

• Clothing and accessories — cotton kurtas, Indian and Western wear, leather bags and shoes; Mumbai is a garment-manufacturing hub so prices can be very good.
• Fabric and saris — the wholesale fabric markets around Kalbadevi and Mangaldas have everything from cotton to brocade.
• Gold and silver jewellery — Zaveri Bazaar is one of the largest bullion and jewellery markets in India.
• Antiques and curios — colonial-era furniture, vintage Bollywood posters, bric-a-brac at Chor Bazaar.
• Produce, spices and dry fruit — Crawford Market.

Where to shop

• Colaba Causeway — the classic tourist strip behind the Taj Hotel; pavement stalls for trinkets, pashminas, books, jewellery and bags, plus fixed-price shops behind them. Bargain on the pavement.
• Fashion Street (near Cross Maidan, opposite Bombay Gymkhana) — rows of open-air stalls selling cheap Western clothing; aggressive bargaining is expected.
• Linking Road, Bandra — trendier fashion, shoes and accessories; half street-stall, half branded store.
• Chor Bazaar (Mutton Street, around Bhendi Bazaar) — the "Thieves' Market"; antiques, curios, old Bollywood memorabilia, reproduction furniture. Friday is the main day.
• Crawford Market (officially Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai) — the big colonial-era covered market near CST for fruit, vegetables, imported groceries, pet supplies and wholesale dry fruit.
• Zaveri Bazaar (near Mumbadevi Temple) — the gold and jewellery district. Stick to hallmarked (BIS 916) gold and reputable established jewellers.
• Mangaldas Market — fabric wholesale; next to Crawford.
• Malls — Palladium/High Street Phoenix (Lower Parel), Phoenix Marketcity (Kurla), Inorbit (Malad/Vashi), R City (Ghatkopar). Fixed prices, branded goods, air-conditioning — useful in peak summer or monsoon.

Shopping tips

• Bargain on pavements and in bazaars, not in fixed-price stores. A reasonable opening counter-offer at Fashion Street or Colaba Causeway is about a third to half of the first quote.
• Gold purchases — insist on a proper tax invoice and the BIS hallmark; get a valuation certificate for anything substantial.
• Chor Bazaar "antiques" are frequently reproductions. Assume everything is until proven otherwise, and buy because you like the piece rather than as an investment.
• Fabrics — Kalbadevi/Mangaldas prices are wholesale but cuts can be sold retail; know your yardage before you go.
• Weekends get crowded at the malls; weekday mornings are faster at the bazaars.

Tips for visitors

• Best time to visit:
  • November to February — dry, warm (20–32 °C), low humidity; the main tourist season.
  • March to May — hot and sticky.
  • Monsoon (June to September) — heavy rain and regular urban flooding; low-lying areas, suburban railway tracks and some roads can shut down for hours. Plan for it.
• Getting around
  • Suburban railway (Western, Central and Harbour lines) is the fastest way across the city, but crowds at peak hours (roughly 8–11 am and 6–9 pm on weekdays) are extreme. Avoid peak if you can; if you must travel then, use the ladies' coach, first class, or stay near the door with your bag in front of you.
  • Mumbai Metro is expanding rapidly (Lines 1, 2A, 7 and parts of the underground Line 3 are operational) and is a comfortable alternative to local trains for many routes.
  • BEST buses cover the city reasonably well; air-conditioned services exist on major routes.
  • Kaali-peeli (black-and-yellow) taxis still run on meters in much of south and central Mumbai alongside Ola and Uber, which work well citywide. The fixed-rate prepaid taxi counter at the airport is reliable.
  • Auto-rickshaws are not allowed in the island-city core south of Mahim/Sion; use a taxi there.
• Common gotchas
  • Pickpockets on crowded local trains and platforms. Keep phones and wallets in inside pockets.
  • Flooding during monsoon — do not wade through standing water if you can avoid it; open manhole covers are a real hazard.
  • Tourist-area touts near the Gateway of India for boats, "emerald deals" and "art galleries" that turn into pressure-sale sessions. Polite firmness usually works.
• Etiquette — Mumbai is cosmopolitan and forgiving, but Indian religious sites (Haji Ali, Siddhivinayak, Babulnath, the Jain temples in Walkeshwar) expect modest dress, heads covered in some mosques, and shoes off.
• Tipping — 5–10% in restaurants where service isn't included; small notes for hotel porters and drivers are customary and appreciated.