A travel guide for Dream City Mumbai - what to do in Mumbai

“A city that neither pauses for breath nor goes into sleep.” Laurelled with adjectives like ‘Celluloid Capital of India’, ‘Financial Capital of India’ and ‘Dream City’, Mumbai welcomes people from all walks of life. The city brings to fore an exciting juxtaposition of customary and contemporary apparent in several modern and medieval edifices that rub shoulders with each other in between shabby and slum areas.  A conglomerate of several islands, Mumbai was gifted to Charles II of England as a part of dowry of Portuguese Princess Catherine De Braganza and thereafter handed over to the East India Company.

What captures the eyes of tourists in Mumbai is its beaches, harbors, colonial edifices and modern infrastructures. Sightseeing is an intrinsic part of a Mumbai tour and you need a good amount of time for visiting tourist spots such as Marine Drive, Victoria Terminus, Chowpati Beach, Gateway of India, Haji Ali Mosque and Elephanta Caves. Another thing for which Mumbai is famous about is its nightlife. Places like Hard Rock Café, Blue Frog, Kino 108 and Firangi Paani are thronged by party animals every night. Any vacation to a foreign land is incomplete without tasting their native food and specialist delicacies. Try local delicacies such as Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav, Bhel Puri and Pani Puri etc.

Besides savoring local food, one can choose to hangout in five star restaurants that dish out lip smacking cuisines to appease you palate. Adding to the charm of this dream city are five star hotels and resorts. The prices no doubt are a little high but truly worth the luxury and comfort on offer.

Facts about Mumbai

Facts about Mumbai
Area: 603.4 km2, Geographical Location- West India
Establishing Year: 15 August, 1947
Dominion State: Maharashtra
Literacy Rate: 94.7 %
Time Zone: IST (UTC+5:30)
Official Language: Marathi
Primary Industry: Seaport, Bollywood and Tourism

Transport- Air, Road and Rail

For international tourists, the only way to reach out to Mumbai is through Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport. It is the busiest airport in the city and comprises of two terminals- International and domestic at Santa Cruz. Both the terminals are situated 4 kilometers away from each other and require connectivity of shuttle buses. Mumbai boasts of four railway lines that are well connected to the suburbs of the city.  The Western Railway line functions between Church Gate and Virar, Central Railway line functions between Bombay V.T. and Kajrat, Harbour line functions between Bombay V.T. and Mankhurd and another railway line that functions between Bombay V.T. and New Mumbai. Running between from 4 am to 1 am in the night, these trains are widely used commuting mode for local people. Then there are single and double-decker local buses operated by Bombay Electric Supply and Transport. Running between 5 am to 12 pm in the night, these buses cover almost all parts of the city. Cool Cabs and standard yellow & black are two types of taxis that run on the roads of Mumbai from 5 am till midnight and vice versa.

Prime Attractions

One of the bustling metropolises of India and home to the Film and Television industry, Mumbai is a sheer delight for tourists and vacationers. Various cultures dwell here in perfect harmony giving it a status of a multi-cultured city. With numerous sightseeing attractions and host of things to do, Mumbai throws up host of incredible experiences at your disposal. The major landmark of this maximum city is Gateway of India. It is a gigantic arch-shaped gateway at Apollo Bunder and neighbors the historic Taj Mahal Palace & Towers hotel.

One of the largest beaches in Mumbai, Juhu beach is always crowded with local people. Lapped by the swaying waves of Arabian Sea, the peaceful and immaculate surrounding of Juhu beach shelters the who’s who of this bustling town. Famed as the Queen’s Necklace, Marine Drive is a 3 kilometer long arterial thoroughfare in Mumbai.

For those who are accompanied with kids, the Water Kingdom Essel World is perfect place for having pure fun and entertainment through games and joyrides. With over 40 rides, games and other attractions it is considered to be the largest in Asia. For those driven by glitz, glamour and cinema, the film city is the best place to head to. It stands second in producing movies every year in comparison to Hollywood. Other major sightseeing attractions in and around the city include Princes of Wales museum, Elephanta Caves, Matheran and Bassein. For avid partygoers, the nightclubs and pubs are certainly the talk of the town.

Things to do in Mumbai

An exciting hodgepodge of glitz, glamour, beaches, tourist sites and pulsating nightlife, Mumbai is a place that will never make you feel dismaying. There are so many things to do in this maximum city that are more than enough for pulsating heartbeat.

1. The stunning juxtaposition of medieval and modern will make you relish an unforgettable sightseeing tour across the suburbs of Mumbai. Set out to explore the jewels of bygone age.
2. Mumbai is home to some excellent promenades such as Marine Drive, Worli Sea face and Bandra Bandstand. The excellent views of the Arabian Sea and car ride on the by lanes of Marine Drive is something one should not miss.
3. For shopaholics, the Fashion Street at Church Gate and local shopping arcades of Colaba selling electronic gadgets are the best place to head to. For a multi- shopping experience under roof, the Phoenix Mills at Lower Parel is truly a great place.
4. Recreation is an integral part of vacations and what could be the best place than Essel World and Water Kingdom for a fun filled family entertainment.
5. Those who are ardent lovers of art and crafts, this city offer a visual delight for artistically-inclined people through its museum and art galleries.
   1. ‘A city that never sleeps’, this phrase is often said in context of Mumbai. The vibrant nightlife is a boon for party hoppers who loves to groove on unique mix of numbers played by the DJ’s.
   2. The most famous aspect of Mumbai is Bollywood. Most of the tourists who visit this metropolitan city are driven by the enthusiasm of meeting their favorite stars. For that you can go to film city where the shooting many films take place on a daily basis.
   3. While coming to Mumbai, savoring the local culinary delights becomes the top criterion for the travelers. There are innumerable fast food joints which offer traditional dishes like Bhel Puri, Sev Puri and Vada Pav and Pani Puri.

Recommended Hotels to Stay in Mumbai

Taj Mahal Palace & Tower: Running since 1903, this five star hotel is the flagship property of Taj Group. Spacious and elegantly furnished with genuine artifacts and paintings, the 560 rooms and suites of this luxury hotel offers a grand yet refined stay in its pampering interiors.

JWT Marriot: Owned and Managed by the renowned Marriot International Inc, JWT Marriot embrace guests in a stylish and comfortable ambience. A perfect base for business travelers, this five star property is home to 350 well appointed guestrooms, state of the art amenities and award winning Quan Spa.

The Oberoi Nariman Point:  The Oberoi group is known for having the most luxurious hotels. The Oberoi is located on Marine Drive, south Mumbai’s Nariman Point commercial and business point. The Oberoi has 73 suites and 214 rooms, some with ocean view, and all luxuriously furnished and with the latest technology.

Hyatt Regency Mumbai: Hyatt Regency Mumbai is one of the premier hotels in the city that is located near the airport,  Equipped with several recreational facilities  and also a range of dining alternatives.

The Taj Lands End: It is the perfect choice for anyone looking to enjoy Mumbai’s happening nightlife and shopping in Bandra. The hotel offers sea view rooms over 18 levels, with 368 rooms and suites

The charm of Mumbai is such that it never fails to entertain people from all walks of life. Be it about spiritual inclined travelers, art connoisseurs, Bollywood fanatics or business travelers, Mumbai offers different strokes for different folks.