Mumbai - City of Dreams

A city that never sleeps, a city that is always on the run. Magical, it draws you like a magnet. A city where thousands of dreamy-eyed men and women arrive every day in search of their dreams. A city where the very poor live next to the very rich in an astonishing symbiosis of demand and supply. And Mumbai has place for them all. Bursting at the seams, and groaning under the weight of millions, it still dazzles like a land of dreams.

Mumbai, the financial capital of India, pulsates day and night. It is a city that is young at heart. Here you won't encounter grim-faced and grey-suited executives – Mumbai is fast-paced, trendy and rocks from the word GO!

Location and how to get there

Mumbai is the capital of the state of Maharashtra and is located on Salsette Island on the western coast of India. It is well equipped with a domestic and an international airport that connects you to almost any corner of the world. Indian Railways also has trains running to and from Mumbai at regular intervals.

 

Language(s)

It is the most multicultural city in India. Its diverse ethnicities impart to it a flavour that is at once most intoxicating and invigorating. Mumbai speaks its own language. True, the official tongue is the regional language Marathi (spoken in all parts of Maharashtra), but Mumbai has a unique way of speaking which is a mix of everything, from English to Hindi, to Marathi, to whatever other language one can think of. It coins a new word almost every day!

The People

The common man in Mumbai is tough. Life is hard, but Mumbaikars are proud of being in the land of dreams, and each moment counts.

Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest is perhaps the aptest description of life in Mumbai. Restless, it never stops to think and is always on the run. Everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere – a business deal has to be struck, a house has to be bought, a child has to be admitted in school, an interview has to be attended, and everything has to be done immediately. A minute’s delay and your turn is gone.

Mumbai, the city of dreams

The glitz and glamour of Mumbai is unparalleled. The city has always been known as the land of dreams. So much so that, the noted musical director Andrew Lloyd Webber produced and directed a musical on its magic, entitled 'Bombay Dreams'.

Mumbai is home to the largest film industry in the world: Bollywood. With more than 1000 films per year and tickets sales worth 3.6. billion, Bollywood is one of India's greatest export items next to IT. Its appeal works like a magnet and wannabes from all over the country throng to the city in search of fame and money. Many famous film stars who reside in Mumbai today were once small time employees in unknown and forgotten firms.

Every day thousands stream into Mumbai to make their dreams come true. Some do, some don’t. But everyone stays on. Some in sprawling penthouse suites, some in one-room slums, but no one wants to leave. Once you know Mumbai, you're addicted to its rhythm.


Famous Places to Visit

The historic Gateway of India on the shores of the Arabian Sea is the first sight for those arriving by sea to Mumbai. Commissioned in 1911, the monument was completed in 1924 and is one of the most sought after tourist attractions.

 From the Gateway of India tourists can embark on an hour’s boat ride to the famous Elephanta Caves. These caves, built in 600 AD, are a collection of shrines, courtyards, inner cells, grand halls and porticoes. It’s a UNESCO world heritage site, and is a major draw for countless domestic and foreign tourists every year.

One of the oldest monuments which deserve attention is the famed Victoria Terminus (now renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), the busiest Mumbai railway station. The students of the Bombay School of Art worked on the inner intricate designs of the building which was built in 1888 in the Gothic style. It is said that the Victoria Terminus has some resemblance to St. Pancras station in London.

 Another architectural wonder is the Taj Mahal Hotel. Many would wonder why a mere hotel should be considered an architectural feat – well, the reason is pretty simple. The hotel was built backwards, by mistake! Rather than facing the Gateway of India, it has its back facing the Gateway! But inexplicably the mistake has never been rectified. And nevertheless, it is an architectural delight to behold.

 An integral part of Mumbai are its beaches which are always beaches packed with people. Chowpatty Beach is the most central and popular beach, where you get everything from food to fun - if you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Bollywood industry in action, because Chowpatty Beach is one of their favourite filming locations.

 Across town is the more bourgeois and upmarket Juhu Beach. Dotted with coffee shops that give a panoramic view of the ocean, this beach is a cooler hangout spot for tourists and locals alike.

Another place within Mumbai that offers relief to eyes tired of sky scrapers and crowded streets, is the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, where lion safaris can be availed at the entrance to take a glimpse of the beasts amidst dense forests dotted with sylvan lakes.

For a cool drive at night, head to Marine Drive. Famously nicknamed the Queen’s Necklace because of the glittering street lights that dot the wide expanse of road running adjacent to the ocean. It is a jogger’s delight as well as the perfect drive, especially for its breathtaking view of the crimson tinged horizon at dusk!

Crawford Market, Mumbai's quintessential fresh-produce shopping experience, now officially known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market, dates back back to the 1860s, it combines the traditional Indian bazaar experience with both Norman and Flemish architecture.


Food and Restaurants

Mumbai is famous for its street food, most notably its Bhelpuri, Pav Bhaji and Panipuri. Bhelpuri is a sweet and spicy combination of puffed rice, onions, boiled potatoes, puri, coriander, mint, chililes and chutney. Pav bhaji is a potpourri of cooked and spiced vegetables such as peas, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and onions accompanied by a bread bun. Panipuri are lightweight puffed semolina or flour cakes, eaten with a filling of boiled pulses (lentils), spices, tamarind chutney and spicy water.

For its original taste (and if not put off by the poor quality of food hygiene), get it prepared by a street vendour. For a safer version of the food, check out local upmarket restaurants which have started serving street food to locals and tourists.

The best place to sample the city's legendary fast food is Khau Galli, a small laneway off Zaveri Bazaar packed with interesting food stalls.

For a different experience go to Café Mocha at Bandra which features an exotic oriental ambience, flavored hookahs, waitresses dressed in Moroccan outfits and, of course, new world cuisine. And if Just Around the Corner at Bandra, makes you drool over good old American fare, there is Yoko Sizzlers serving up undoubtedly the best sizzlers in town. 

Most of the budget restaurants of are open from early morning until 11:30 pm and more upscale restaurants usually serve only lunch and dinner.

Shopping

Mumbai is the fashion capital of India and as with Indian contemporary art, so are Indian
fashion designers establishing their reputation world-wide for beautifully crafted and embroidered (but very expensive) clothes. 

Fashion is made in Mumbai and then travels to the rest of the country. Every year the city hosts fashion shows by leading designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Manish Malhotra, Shaun & Peacock and fashion houses like Satya Paul, Wills Life Style and many more.

The main shopping hubs are Colaba Causeway, Flora Fountain and Churchgate and the bazaars near Jyotiba Phule Market.

A shopping trip through Mumbai isn’t complete without a visit to the (in)famous Chor Bazaar. If you have a passion for antique-hunting, this old flea market near Victoria Terminus can prove rewarding. Root through piles of old wooden furniture, gramophones, cameras and lamps. This is any bargain-hungry tourist’s paradise!

Most shops in the centre are open six days a week (Mon-Sat, 10am-8pm), and are quietest during weekdays.


The annual Ganpati Festival

When visiting Mumbai, be sure to plan your travel around late August or early September. This is the time of the annual Ganpati festival.

 The ten-day festival will show you the true spirit of Mumbai. Large images of the elephant-headed god who is considered to be the remover of obstacles are carried through the city to its beaches where they are immeresed in the sea in the last twenty-four hours of the festival. The festival draws huge crowds and there is a lot of dancing and singing in the street.