48 hours in Mumbai – Weekend Edition
Mumbai In Less Than 48 Words
Mumbai never sleeps, and is India’s version of New York City. Though not the official capital, it is undoubtedly the financial, commercial, and entertainment capital. Not surprisingly, the city brims with incredible energy: noisy streets, rumbling vehicles, busy markets, and a buzzing nightlife.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Photo by Appaiah)
First 24 Hours
You can fly to the home of “Bollywood” via the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (022/2682-9000), which is located 30 kilometers north of the city center. From there, the easiest and fastest way to get to the heart of Mumbai is hiring a pre-paid taxi (022/2682-9922), which can cost you upwards of INR400. Alternatively, you can opt to ride one of the auto rickshaws found outside the airport terminal. However, use them only if your hotel is located close to the airport, as they are not allowed in the city center.
Mumbai is the most populated city in India, so you can expect its streets to be constantly congested with both people and vehicles. It might be a little difficult to navigate, especially for the first-timers, as street names can be confusing. It is of course advisable to collect valuable travel information at its main tourist office, the Government of India Tourist Office (123 Maharishi Karve Rd., Churchgate, 022/2207-4333). It is open during Mondays to Fridays from 8:30 am to 6 pm, and on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 2 pm.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Mumbai’s hotels
You can arrange for a nice place to stay in during your 48 hour visit in Mumbai at one of its excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower (Apollo Bunder, Mumbai 400 001, (91-22) 6665 3366, www.tajhotels.com/Palace/The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower,MUMBAI/default.htm). It is a hotel that traces its inauguration back to 1903, and is known for its luxurious décor, nice views of the Arabian Sea, and excellent service.
Taj Mahal Palace & Tower (Photo by Jon Hurd)
You can also try out the Le Royal Meridien Mumbai (Sahar Airport Road, Andheri (East), Mumbai 400 099, (91)(22) 2838 0000, website), which is a luxury hotel with nicely-decorated rooms, comfortable amenities, and an attentive staff. A nice alternative is the Juhu Residency Boutique Hotel (148 B, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai – 400049, +91 22 6783 4949, website). It is a boutique hotel at a nice location in Mumbai’s prime fashion district, and offers clean rooms and good service.
GATEWAY OF INDIA: See a famous landmark
Perhaps one of the most famous landmarks in Mumbai is the so-called Gateway of India (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg, 022/2202-3585). To most tourists, it is the ideal starting point for any tour of the city. It is considered one of the most important remnants of the British Raj in the city, and is known for being the landing place for the British governors and distinguished personages.
Gateway of India (Photo by Francisco Martins)
The structure was completed in 1924, and is noted for its Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture, as well as for its dome that measures 15 meters in diameter. You can also find there a statue of the Maratha hero Chhatrapati Shivaj. The site is usually swamped with tourists, so you can expect to be hassled by touts and vendors who will offer you various goods, photographs, and even girls. It is also the launch site of boats headed to another prime attraction of Mumbai, the Elephanta Island Caves.
ELEPHANTA ISLAND CAVES: Have a cultural experience
You can enjoy a cultural experience at the Elephanta Island Caves (9km from downtown Mumbai), which is a complex made up of various sculpted caves. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is an epitome of rock-cut architecture in India. The caves are believed to date back to the period between 5th and 8th centuries, and show both Hindu and Buddhist influences. To this day, however, the identities of their original builders remain a mystery.
Elephanta Island Caves (Photo by Christian Haugen)
Inside, you’ll find its main cave, often known as the Shiva Cave, which is entered via 1,000 steep steps. It has a central Shiva shrine, where you can see five-meter tall carvings of the god, as well as Chalukyan architectural features. You’ll also find depictions of scenes from the god’s life, including sculptures of guardians, divinities, mountains, and clouds, and female hairstyles.
The complex also contains other smaller caves such as the Sitabai’s Temple and a Buddhist stupa. You can reach the Elephanta Island Caves via a ferry ride from the Gateway of India. The boats depart from the harbor every 30 minutes during Tuesdays to Sundays from 9 am to 2:30 pm, and tickets will cost you INR120. Admission to the caves will cost around INR250.
CHOWPATTY BEACH: Unwind at a beach
You can relax and unwind at the Chowpatty Beach, which is located at Marine Drive, near the foot of Malabar Hill. It is among Mumbai’s most popular beaches, and is a nice place for swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, and watching the sunset (one of the most beautiful in the city). The site is also noted for its street food, Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, and contortionists and snake charmers that converge on a bazaar near the beach, especially during weekends.
Chowpatty Beach (Photo by Edward Morgan)
DINNER TIME: Discover Mumbai’s restaurants
You are guaranteed a delicious dinner at the restaurants available all over the city. One of the best in the city is Trishna (Andheri West, Mumbai (Bombay) 400046, 022/2270-3213). It is known for its authentic Indian cuisine, seafood, and for being frequented by the city’s celebrities; a must-try is the butter pepper garlic king crab. A nice alternative is Indigo (4 Mandlik Marg, Colaba, Mumbai, (022) 6636 8980), which specializes in a fusion cuisine, plus delicious desserts.
Trishna (Photo by Ed Trillo)
Have a taste of Italy in Mumbai at Trattoria (G D Somani Rd, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400005, 022 66650808). It offers delicious Italian dishes, and is reputed to have some of the best pizza in the city. You can also try out 5 Spice (3/4, Dheeraj Pali Arcade, Dr Ambedkar Road, Pali Naka, Bandra West, Mumbai,022 2642 1941), a Chinese restaurant that offers delicious Chinese dishes.
Next 24 Hours
You can discover Mumbai’s other tourist attractions during your next 24 hours in the city. Remember to include the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Rd., Fort, downtown Mumbai). Also known as the Victoria Terminal, it is a railway station that stands as one of the most impressive remnants of the British Raj in the city. More than 2.5 million people use its trains daily, and it is noted for its hawkers and vendors.
You can also stop to admire its architecture, especially its massive Central Dome, stained-glass windows, vaulted roofs, arches, gables, and stone carvings. At noon, you can watch its famed dabbawallas deliver more than 200,000 hot lunches prepared by housewives for their husbands working in the office. Particularly impressive is their efficient system – Forbes magazine has calculated its accuracy to one error per six million transactions.
JAIN TEMPLES: Have a religious experience
You can have a religious experience by visiting the Babu Amichand Panalal Adishwarji Jain Temple (Ridge Rd., Walkeshwar (Malabar Hill), downtown Mumbai, 022/2369-2727). It is regarded as the most beautiful Jain temple in Mumbai, and is a popular pilgrimage destination. Perhaps its most impressive feature is its entrance, which is guarded by two massive elephant stone sculptures. Inside, you’ll find a variety of sculpted images depicting different gods and saints. The site is open daily from 5 am to 9 pm.
Babu Amichand Panalal Adishwarji Jain Temple (Photo by Els Slots)
GANDHI MUSEUM: Visit the house of a legend
Another noteworthy tourist attraction in Mumbai is the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum (19 Laburnam Rd, Malabar Hill, downtown Mumbai, 022/2380-5864, website). It once served as the home of the famous leader, Mahatma Gandhi, from 1917 to 1934, and was the site of his four-day fast in protest against the violence in the city. Inside, you can find exhibits chronicling his life, photographs, posters, slogans, and various other exhibits about his fight for India’s freedom. It also contains Gandhi’s old spinning wheel, which many consider as a symbol of his struggle for independence. The site is open daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, and admission will cost you only INR10.
PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM: Have a cultural visit
You can have a cultural experience at the Prince of Wales Museum (159/161 Mahatma Gandhi Rd., 022/2284-4519, website). It is considered as one of the foremost museums in India too. Inside the Indo-Saracenic building, you’ll find an immense collection of artifacts and exhibits about Indian culture and history, such as Hindu deity sculptures, Maratha weaponry, Buddhist thangkas, temple art, stuffed animals, and more than 2,000 pieces of miniature paintings, to name a few. The site is open during Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:15 am to 6 pm, and admission will cost you INR300.
Prince of Wales Museum (Photo by Christian Wehrenfennig)
NIGHTLIFE: Enjoy Mumbai’s vibrant nightlife scene
At night you may proceed to Mumbai’s bars and clubs to have a taste of the city’s exciting nightlife. One of the most popular is the Rain Bar (14, Silver Beach Estate, A B Nair Road, Juhu, Mumbai 400049, 022 26255713). It is a swanky restaurant/lounge popular among the elites of Mumbai, and offers innovative cocktails and a flirtatious atmosphere.
A nice alternative is the Zenzi Bar (RK Patkar Marg, Khar West, 022 6643 0670, website), which is a bar that serves Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, and French delicacies that you can enjoy with fine wine and beer. You can also try out the Vie Lounge Bar (102 Juhu, Bombay 400054, +91 22 2660 3003, website). It is a glamorous bar/lounge with a Cajun and seafood menu, plus nice ocean views.
Related posts: