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Guide to Mumbai (bombay), India
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Mumbai (bombay)
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Mumbai (bombay)The glamorous city of Mumbai is not your ordinary Indian city. From the cinema district to the Victorian Fort sector, Mumbai is all about the show. Culture and heritage still seeps through the magical images of modernism, but Mumbai is and has been overrun by industry and capitalism. There are vast differences between life in mainland India and the island of Bombay; for one, its got a night scene with a social atmosphere you wont find anywhere else in the country. This may be in part to the overwhelming British influence here, even after the settlements were pulled out. As a result of its push for advancement, Mumbai is now a strong contender in the world marketplace, and by the look of things, its there to stay.
When to go:
Visit Mumbai anywhere between September and April and you wont be disappointed. The temperatures are not searing, and humidity is quite low. The mix of dry and cool are ideal for outdoor excursions, and even though theres a spike in tourism during this time, its better than walking the city streets in summer. If youd like to catch a wonderful festival while youre here, come during September, when the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi takes place over an 11 day period. Its quite an experience, and you dont have to be Hindu faith to have a good
Getting there and around:
International and domestic flights to Mumbai are segregated into airports a few miles apart from each other. Chhatrapati Shivaji, known simply as Sahar, is the international terminal where flights from just about every major city arrive. Its quite a distance from the city, however, and even a non-stop suburban train will take more than 20 minutes to get to the city center. We suggest getting a taxi, simply because theyre always available, there is no wait, and the fare isnt drastic. Keep in mind that the more luggage you have the higher the fare.
If youre not able to travel Mumbai via taxi, we highly recommend using the bus system. There are both single and double-decker buses, fares are quite cheap, and even though they can get a bit crowded, theyre the most comfortable youll find in all of India. You can rent a vehicle, but it is only necessary if youre traveling to suburban locations, and even then, trains are available to most destinations.
Attractions:
Chowpatty Beach is a stretch of sand, and the ocean is off the coast, but oddly enough, rarely are there sunbathers or swimmers. Youll get glimpses of the occasional boat, or even a yacht or two, but Chowpatty Beach is where a great social scene comes to roost every night. Vendors and entertainers line the area, and there always seems to be some sort of event. Unless youre in the mood for a quiet stroll down the coast, with nary a soul in sight, visit Chowpatty Beach only in the evening.
The Colaba sector of Mumbai is where the Gateway of India is located. Many locals find this relic of the British occupation to be an eyesore and would gladly see it disappear, yet it still attracts enough visitors each day to even be labeled a bazaar. Travel the grounds around the Gateway and you may quickly grown tired of the pestering vendors begging for sales. The Taj Mahal Hotel is also located in Colaba, and atop the building youll get great views of the city. Visit during the evening, and youll swear by all the bright lights youre in a European city.
The Fort District attracts a lot of visitors simply for its historical connotations. Within the areas walls youll building after building of extravagant Gothic architecture -you may even be fooled into thinking a few are cathedrals and palaces with their carvings and stained-glass windows. The building that stands out the most - and carries a great deal of intricate carvings among the buttresses and domes - is Victoria Terminus.
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