What’s Buzzing in Mumbai!

Just the thought of a trip to Mumbai is enough to set one’s heart pacing. It’s fun. And there’s so much to see, do, eat and party!

Being the largest Indian city, Mumbai has more places to visit than most tourist destinations. Starting from the Gateway of India to what they call the Queen’s Necklace - The Marine Drive, Chowpatty - beaches popular for its mouthwatering chat, the cozy picnic spots at AAREY Milk Colony, shopping sprees at Colaba Market and more; get ready for the longest ‘to-see’ list ever.

That’s not all! There is also no dearth of popular religious sites in Mumbai. Mount Mary - Bandra, Iskcon Temple - Juhu, Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue - Gandhi Marg, Haji Ali - Worli and Siddhi Vinayak are some of the ‘must see’ places. Apart from religious point of view, some of these flaunt excellent architectural beauty and others narrate interesting episodes from the past days too. Take a walk along the grand colonial structures of the Victoria Terminus, Gateway of India (of course) and the Worli Fort for a rendezvous with the British architectural pieces. These should give you a good peek into both the historical and architectural attributes of Mumbai.

To know about the culture and lifestyle of Mumbai you need to be a part of the festive fun here. Ganesh Chaturthi (falls in September) for one, could be a good way to experience Mumbai. Everyone is on the streets, irrespective of caste colour and creed to just celebrate. The people in general are happy, helpful and fun loving and their sense of style and trendy fashion is something you mustn’t miss.

Travelling in Mumbai can be the last of your concerns. The ample travel options only up the fun quotient. It’s safe to travel even in the last train that leaves at 1 am. Don’t be surprised to see women travelling late at night. Mumbai is known as one of the most friendly places for students, let alone working women. Most taxis run by meter and people are friendly (just don’t address people as bhaiya, they take offence). People will go out of their way to help you find your way.

Gateway of India

Exploring the surrounding areas is also equally easy. Mumbai is so well connected that tourists often plan a quick trip from Mumbai to Lonavala or Goa. It takes about 2 hours from Mumbai to Lonavala. And, if you think you haven’t got enough of beaches, head to Goa. Mumbai to Goa is an overnight journey.

Since Mumbai is centrally located you can easily get a flight (mostly direct) or train to Kochi, Chennai, Mahabaleshwar, Delhi, Chandigarh or Kolkata for that matter. So you can either plan a holiday in Mumbai itself or extend it further.

Lastly, read up on the Mumbai weather. The moderate weather is a reason why people travel to Mumbai all through the year. But preferably, avoid the rains. Monsoons hinder travel and worsen the traffic scene. You don’t want to be exploring the city that never sleeps in gumboots and umbrellas! The best time to visit Mumbai is between October and March.