The city of Mumbai is called the financial capital of India and referred to as ‘City of Dreams’. It is also considered to be a bustling, complex metropolis known for its distinctive way of life. Tourists coming for the first time to this city might take some time to get used and not get intimated by the hectic atmosphere. One side of the city is the Arabian Sea. For long, it has been a popular trading town and is undoubtedly the nucleus metropolitan hub of progressive India. There are numerous places of interest to visit in the city including Bandra Kurla Complex. But before going to this city, it will be wise for tourists to know some valuable tips that will allow them to enjoy their trip thoroughly.
Important tips to follow in Mumbai
- North & South: South Bombay along with its suburbs is stated to be among the distinctive areas of this city. On crossing Bandra and moving towards Mahim is South Bombay. A bridge has been constructed over Arabian Sea named Bandra Worli Sea Link which takes travellers to Worli from Bandra quickly, thus saving ample time.
- Airport: Mumbai Airport has been named Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl. Airport. Two separate terminals are present, namely, T1 & T2. It is a domestic airline terminal, while T2 enables international and domestic flights.
- Local Trains: It is rightly stated to be the lifeline of the city, although it is a bit slow and out-dated. The trains can be found to be fully crowded almost on every day of the year, especially the working days, witnessing footfall of about 2.6 billion annually. Two way tickets can be purchased to avoid standing in a long queue. Metro trains and monorails also have been introduced decongest local train traffic and to connect people with specific parts of the city.
- Cab Services: There is no dearth of cabs in Mumbai city. Online cab booking have become popular these days and can be rented at any time of the day or night. Uber and Ola are the commonly used online cabs that can be booked easily to explore the city and its outskirts.
- Ferry Services: If the plan is to visit nearby islands such as the Elephanta Caves and Alibaug, then visitors can avail ferry services from South Mumbai’s dock area. It is a fast and cost effective route to visit caves and beaches.
- Auto Rickshaws: The three wheeled vehicle is also a common sight in Mumbai and painted yellow & black. The small gullies of the city can be travelled to with this vehicle. The rickshaw drivers do help travellers by guiding them with directions. They are meter operated. But they do not operate beyond Bandra, but are a great way to explore the city.
- Hotels: It is easy to book a good room in best hotels near Bandra Kurla Complex and other areas of Mumbai. Online booking does allow travellers to book in advance and enjoy the stay and to get huge discounts.
- Shopping: Mumbai’s street markets are undoubtedly a fabulous place for shoppers to buy trendy, inexpensive clothes & accessories. Colaba Causeway along with its suburban areas in South Mumbai is known for its Irla in Vile Parle, Hill Road Market and others.
- Travelling at Night: Mumbai is popularly referred to as the city that never sleeps. Some city parts for outsiders might appear to be hostile. Women particularly are advised to take caution when travelling around the city at night alone. One can come across female Mumbaikars travelling at night alone as they are more familiar with the places, circumstances and neighbourhoods. Single women are advised to better explore crowded and tourist areas, be alert and take adequate precautions.
- Helpful Citizens: Mumbai people in general are quite helpful and friendly. They do help travellers by proving proper directions and guidance on request.
- No selfie zones: With India experiencing high mortality rate because of the increasing craze for taking selfie photos using smarphones, 16 areas in Mumbai city have been declared as non-selfie zones by Mumbai police. Travellers need to know these zones before taking selfies to avoid heavy penalties and unnecessary trouble from the lawmakers.
- Tickets for performances and events: There are numerous theatres and cityplexes in the city, where movies, events and performances are held almost regularly. To ensure not wasting time, visitors may book their tickets in advance through reputed online portals and get to watch them during their trip. The itinerary needs to involve spending valuable time to check out the show at Prithvi Theatre or National Centre of Performing Arts.
- Street Food: Pav Bhaji is the popular street food consumed by Mumbaikars belonging to all segments of the society and this dish is really tasty and also inexpensive. But make sure to buy street food from places that appear and feel hygienic and clean.
- Negotiating prices: When shopping from the bazaars and street-side stalls, it will be wise to negotiate the prices. A good bargain is sure to help saving money and thus avoid being charged unreasonably.
- Tropical weather: The city of Mumbai is located at an elevation of about 46 ft. above sea level and is a popularly frequented coastal city. It experiences tropical, warm climate throughout the year. During winter months, daytime is warm. So, travellers should carry along light, cotton clothes for the stay.
- Monsoons: This is actually not a good season to visit Mumbai as most parts of the city remain flooded, face traffic congestion issues and train cancellations. Mosquitoes are also common here during this time and it will be wise to carry along mosquito repellent as well as stay cautious.
- Notorious traffic: During ‘rush’ or ‘peak’ hours, traffic of this city is quite notorious. Towards South Mumbai from the suburbs, morning traffic can be found to be at its worse. Journey is better done during the evenings between 4 & 5 pm to avoid traffic. In the evening, after 5:30 pm, roads from the South Mumbai stretch towards the suburbs gets jam packed.
Following the above tips will allow visitors to have a great time and ensure checking out the important places of Mumbai city and its suburbs.
