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 A city with well-known architectural beauties like the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the World One skyscraper set against the natural harbour of the Konkan coast, Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, India. It has now become one of the biggest melting pots in the world, boasting an ever-increasing population that is attracted by both the sights and business opportunities available here. Seeing all it has to offer may seem like a daunting task, but you are sure to find something to your liking in this megalopolis.

currency

Indian Rupee (INR) Rs1 = 100 paise

phone

Police: 100
Fire Brigade: 101
Ambulance: 102

newspaper

Mumbai Mirror - www.mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com
The Times of India - www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Hindustan Times - www.hindustantimes.com
Afternoon Despatch & Courier

hours

Shops in Mumbai are generally open from 10am to 8.30pm, depending on the area, with some shops staying open for longer. General banking hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday.

population

City: 13 million
City including metropolitan area: 20.5 million

info

Indiatourism Mumbai
123, Maharshi Karve Road, Mumbai (Opposite Church Gate Station)
+91 22 2203 3144

City in the setting sun fuyu liu/Shutterstock.com

The City

The city is split into diverse areas, making Mumbai's urban setting a complex nest of cultures, greatly influenced by the wave of immigrants taking their shot in the city of opportunities.

Widely renowned as its pulsing heart, the southernmost precinct of Mumbai represents the downtown area and certainly the wealthiest neighbourhood in the whole of India. Home to the oldest and newest parts of the city, it boasts the iconic Gateway of India and the contemporary hustle around the Flora Fountain, along with other monuments, luxury retailers, art galleries and restaurants. South Mumbai is a fine starting point, a take-off platform to begin exploring the concealed wonders located throughout the city.

The birthplace of the Indian film industry, Mumbai also houses Bollywood and its light-filled studios, fascinating dances and intense rhythms, with a production volume of over 1000 films per year.

A group of indian women looking at the skyline of mumbai theowl84/Shutterstock.com

Do & See

A complex tangle of cultures and creeds, the financial capital of India is a hub of activity. Get a flavorful sample of the country's food by visiting Crawford Market, experience a journey through the life of one of the most influential men in India at the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum and visit a fortune teller after a pony ride at Chowpatty Beach. Historical sites are located throughout the city, boasting ancient caves and temples while the city itself, with its bustling daily life and luxurious retail shops and restaurants, is an experience in itself.

Nickolay Stanev/Shutterstock.com

Gateway of India

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Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

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Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market

O'SHI/Shutterstock.com

Chowpatty Beach

Michael.Siegel/Flickr

Flora Fountain at Hutatma Chowk

Darwininan/commons.wikimedia.org

Shree Siddhivinayak Temple

Nickolay Stanev/Shutterstock.com

Kanheri Caves

saiko3p/Shutterstock.com

Dhobi Ghat

PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock.com

Dadar Flower Market

saiko3p/Shutterstock.com

Global Vipassana Pagoda

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Juhu Beach

Robin Kay/Shutterstock.com

Elephanta Caves

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Malabar Hill

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Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum (Gandhi’s House)

Ting Chen/Flickr

General Post Office

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Snow World

Vijay Kiran/Flickr

Iskcon Temple

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Prithvi Theatre

Chapatti roti or Flat bread, curry chicken, biryani rice, salad, masala milk tea and papadom. Indian food on dining table. szefei / Shutterstock.com

Dining

Renowned for its vast street food culture, Mumbai´s streets bustle with food vendors and diverse stalls. Mumbaikars from all walks of life pour down the crowded streets indulging in the numerous delicacies the city has to offer, in a tradition that dates back several years and reaches its peak in Mumbai. Regional Indian cuisine can be sampled at this city's main roads, offering insights into its culinary tradition.

Pav bhaaji, a vegetable curry served with a soft bread roll, is a local speciality while Vada Pav, the poor man's burger and kebabs perfectly represent Mumbai and its thousands of flavors. Bhel puri, a sweet and sour dish made of deep fried pastry shells with onion, tomato and chili is a popular snack often linked with Mumbai's beaches.

Locals tend to prefer grabbing some street food rather than going to the restaurant. However, this cosmopolitan hub has a long list of places to try - traditional Indian cuisine, Italian, Asian, the city is well equipped with every kind of exotic eatery.

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Olive Bar & Kitchen

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Khyber Restaurant

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Golden Punjab

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New Martin Hotel Restaurant

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Nawab Saheb at Renaissance Hotel

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Thai Pavilion - Taj President

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Out of the Blue

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China House Lounge

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Gajalee

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Mezzo Mezzo

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Swati Snacks

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Cecconi's Mumbai

Beautiful vintage composition with herbal tea, on wooden table Africa Studio / Shutterstock.com

Cafes

With its own coffee culture and as a vibrant and constantly growing center, Mumbai boasts a wide range of cafeterias and afternoon tea spots. From happening cafes to elegant lounges, the city doesn't lack destinations for coffee connoisseurs and, considering the wide and diverse offer, there won't be difficulties in finding a place that best fits your needs.

Mumbai in the morning is a unique experience; bustling with people since the early hours, it offers the freshest ingredients and an ample variety of dishes from different culinary traditions. Breakfast tends to have rice or vegetable-based dishes, with a spicy touch that is ideal for a kick-start to the day.

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Café Royale

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Cafe Mondegar

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Cafe Coffee Day

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Sea Lounge - Taj Mahal Palace

KittyKaht / Flickr

Salt Water Café

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Bombay to Barcelona Library Café

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Le15 Café

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Prithvi Café

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The Nutcracker

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Mockingbird Café Bar

Traditional lantern close ups on street side shops on the occasion of Diwali festival in Mumbai, India. Milind Arvind Ketkar/Shutterstock.com

Bars & Nightlife

The vigorous club and bar scene in Mumbai has become increasingly popular among party lovers. In the last ten years, the city has seen a multitude of happening hangouts rise up at a fast pace, making the commercial capital of India a suitable destination for night owls.

The district of Colaba is where most of the party-goers hover, starting the evening in one of its bars or cruising around local food stalls and souvenir shops squeezed down the crowded Colaba Causeway. From here the way is paved, opening up no shortage of options available until around 3am, when most bars and clubs tend to close.

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Olive Bar & Kitchen

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Round About Bar & Kitchen

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Aer Lounge

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Drop

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Breeze Lounge

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Kitty Su Mumbai

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Le Bar Diamantaire

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Sin City Rooftop Resto & Lounge

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Bombay Cocktail Bar

zef art/Shutterstock.com

Rude Lounge

small shop owner indian man selling shawls, clothing and souvenirs at his store Dmitry Kalinovsky / Shutterstock.com

Shopping

A wide range of upmarket outlets pop up sparsely throughout the city. Plentiful handicrafts, textiles and clothes of any sort sit in local shops, waiting to be discovered. Fruit and vegetable markets, typical clothes bazaars and thousand of hawkers located among outdoor dumps and upscale residential areas thrive within the lively city.
Mumbaikers, living in such a urban jungle, have learnt how to get the best deals out of the city's thousands of vendors. A Mumbaiker would tell you that the stalls along MG Road boast some great quality signature items from brand manufacturers, that Colaba Causeway offers some of the best knickknacks in town or that fruit at the Crawford Market is fresher in the morning. There are lots of choices on Mereweather Road but you might, however, have to haggle to get the price you want.

Aguaviva/Shutterstock.com

Crawford Market, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market

Pressmaster / Shutterstock.com

Shoppers Stop

Sudhamshu Hebbar / Flickr

Fashion Street

Yavuz Sariyildiz/Shutterstock.com

Kulture Shop

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High Street Phoenix

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CaratLane

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Hill Road

Margarita Kheruimova/Shutterstock.com

Kitab Khana

Tourist with backpack walking in the mosque arch near Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India Pikoso.kz / Shutterstock.com

Tourist Information

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport is the busiest airport in India. Expect it to take around 90 minutes to get into the city centre as the traffic can be very heavy. To get to the city centre you can either go by train, bus, rickshaw, taxi or by renting a car.

The fastest way to reach the city is by train. The nearest station to the domestic terminal is Vile Parle and the nearest one to the international terminal is called Sahar.
www.indianrailways.gov.in

BEST buses provide bus services in the city and suburbs. From the domestic terminal you can take bus 312 to Vile Parle East and Andheri East. From the international terminal you can also take bus 312 to Vile Parle East, and number 308 will take you to Andheri East.
www.bestundertaking.com

You can also reach the city centre by a rickshaw by finding them at the domestic terminal.

Taxis and car rental companies are available outside both the domestic and international terminals.

Address: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai

Email:

Phone: +91 22 6685 1010

Website: www.csia.in

More Information:

Passport / Visa

All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document with a valid visa. A visa is required for most nationalities, with the exception of Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives (if not arriving from mainland China).

The visa has to be requested through an online application, and the instruction for filling in the application and for scheduling appointments can be seen at the visa department's website.

Be aware that a visa can only be acquired via this online application, and without any intermediary – do not follow agents who claim speedy/express grant of e-Visa.

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Best Time to Visit

The best months for visiting Mumbai are the ones going from October to February. The winter season here is warm overall, with a minimum temperature of 10°C and low levels of humidity. This is also the period in which several events occur, from the Diwali Festival of Lights in October to the Moon Indigo Cultural Festival towards the end of December.
Coming a bit earlier though, around the end of August and the start of September, is also a good idea: this is when the monsoon season ends together with its heavy rainfall, leaving behind lush greenery making for worthwhile sights. You can also join the Ganesh Chaturthi, a ten day long festival in honour of Lord Ganesha.

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Public Transport

The city buses are run by BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) and, although being normally crowded, they are ideal for short journeys. To get around with public transport you must be acquainted to the system; if you are a tourist, it is advisable to plan your journey in advance.
Tickets can be bought from the conductor on-board.

The fastest way to get around the city is by train. The city has three different lines: Western Line, Central Main Line and Harbour Line.

Address: Mumbai

Email: transport@bestundertaking.com

Phone: +91 18 0022 7550

Website: www.bestundertaking.com

More Information:

Rickshaws

The 246,458 black and yellow metered auto rickshaws are an easy, flexible and fast way to get around Mumbai and to make the way through the lousy Mumbai traffic. With their typical black and yellow color, rickshaws are easy to spot down the intricate roads of this crowded city.

Address: Mumbai

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Website: www.rickshawindia.com

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Taxi

There is no shortage of taxis in Mumbai and they can be easily found throughout the city. Taxis usually have meters, but watch out for those meters set on the previous fares and make sure your driver has a conversion card.

Book my Cab: www.bookmycab.com
Taxi for Sure: www.taxiforsure.com/mumbai-cabs

Address: Mumbai

Email: mumbai@bookmycab.com

Phone: +91 22 6123 4567

Website: www.bookmycab.com

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Post

Numerous post offices are located throughout the city, making it easy to find places to buy stamps and to post letters. Letters can be posted at the letter boxes sparsely located within the city, easy to find thanks to their characteristic vivid red color.

Government Post Office: GPO Building, Fort, Mumbai
Post Office: Dadar East, Mumbai

Address: GPO Building, Fort, Mumbai

Email:

Phone: +91 22 2262 0956

Website: www.indiapost.gov.in

More Information: Located near CST Station, behind St. George Hospital.

Pharmacy

Within the various pharmacies located in town, Noble Medicals is one of the leading pharmacy retails chains and can be found in 27 locations in Mumbai.

Noble Medicals: Asha Parekh Hospital, S V Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai

Sind Ayurvedic Pharmacy: 3, Anju Shopping Centre, Tilak Road, Mumbai

Golden Chemist: Bharat Kunj Compound,West, Pheroz Shah Mehta Road, Santacruz East, Mumbai

Address: Asha Parekh Hospital, S V Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai

Email:

Phone: +91 22 2649 4746

Website: www.noblemedicals.com

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Telephone

Country code: +91

Area code: 22

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Electricity

220 V (round pins), 50/60 Hz

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