Bombay

From Imakoopedia

Bombay, known officially as Mumbai, is the largest city in India.

Table of contents

1 Get in 1.1 By plane 1.2 By train 1.3 By bus 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Learn 6 Work 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Drink 10 Sleep 11 Stay safe

Get in

By plane

Bombay has a large international airport, now called Chattarpati Shivaji Airport and previously known as Sahar International Airport.

• Bombay International Airport (http://www.mumbaiairport.com/)

There is also a domestic airport a few kilometers from the other one.

The domestic airport, unbelievably, is also called Chattarpati Shivaji Airport and some domestic flights leave from the international airport. So if you have a domestic flight make sure you know which airport you want.

By train

Trains arrive in Bombay from all over India. Two major stations are Chattarpati Shivaji Terminus(CST) ( formerly known as Victoria terminus) and Bombay Central. Both are well serviced with special ticket windows for foreign travellers (look for windows with MTDC printed on them).

By bus

Bombay is also well served by buses from destinations inside and outside India.

Get around

Taxis are cheap and plentiful ($50 would be worth a lot of taxi rides). There are also 3 wheeled auto-rickshaws. One could also use the local trains but it is advisable to buy first class tickets as the economy class is extremely crowded.

See

Several landmarks include:

• The Gateway of India
• The Taj (Hotel)
• Flora Fountain. Known as Fountain area which is prominent hub for commercial activity of Mumbai as all the Major banks are located here. You may encash your Traveller's Cheques here. Also country's premier stock exchange Bombay Stock Exchange(BSE) is situated here. This(BSE) tall building is visible from anywhere in VT/Churchgate and makes an prominent skyline of Bombay.
• Victoria Terminus (V.T.). At the other end of Fountain is Victoria Terminus now known as Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus which is the disembarking station for Central Railway local Trains and Long-distance trains. Adjacent to V.T. station is General Post Office, a grand building which is open 24 hours. The road further goes up to Ballard Estate where a lot of Corporate Offices and Mumbai Port is situated. The V.T. station building is a fine piece of architecture.
• Nariman Point: Nariman Point is one of the posh areas of Mumbai and the erstwhile business hub of Mumbai. However with the change in economic conditions, many Corporates have been shifted/re-located to other areas of Mumbai like Parel, Worli, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Andheri-Kurla Road and Powai. The top end hotel The Oberoi is located here with a number of Airlines Offices in this area. Don't miss out the Air-India building while at the Nariman Point/Marine Drive.
• Cuffe Parade is one of the high-end areas where the famous World Trade Centre and Unit Trust of India offices are located. The President Hotel is located here. Navy Nagar/Army cantonment area is located here which is the boundary of Mumbai.
• Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Check out this relatively unknown national park, situated in north bombay. It's in Borivali, and serves as the lungs of Bombay. It's quite famous for its leopards and the caves inside the NP.
• Elephanta Caves. Catch a jetty from Gateway of India. The round trip costs INR 100 and will take 45 minutes one way.

Do

• It is a beautiful sight and experience to drive on Marine Drive.

Learn

Work

Buy

Buy some material and get some clothes made up by a tailor. It's an incredibly cheap way to get quality made-to-measure clothes. Usually only takes a couple of days.

Eat

• Chetana Vegetarian Restaurant, Kala Ghoda, K Dubash Marg, Bombay. Telephone: 22-2288 1159. A great Gujarati,Rajasthani food restaurant. Service is OK, atmosphere decent. They also serve cocktails and beer. Price: $10 for two for a great Indian experience in Bombay. http://www.chetana.com/h.htm
• Gallops, (Continental and Indian food restaurant), Mahalaxmi Race Course,(first entrance of the Mahalaxmi Race Course, coming from Haji Ali), Price: Expensive but worth for the ambience, service and food.

Drink

Sleep

Stay safe

Although famous for its night-life, foreigners (especially women travelling alone) are advised not to stay out late alone and if by chance you do its better to avoid taking the help of strangers when alone at night. Also, do not wear attractive and extravagant jewellery in public (it may get stolen).