Mumbai Advice please from worldly people
Replies: 27 - Last Post: Nov 24, 2012 2:48 AM Last Post By: Doughnut
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Do do do go to an Irani cafe for a snack while you're in Bombay. For me, the Bombay experience is incomplete if one hasn't had kheema-pao, or a chicken patty there :)For reference: http://www.iranichaimumbai.com/search/label/Dhobi%20Talao
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I'm flying to Mumbai in Jan and intend to stay 3 days. (Day 1 is really just recovery time, getting over the journey and used to the time difference).I've not visited Mumbai before, but can't believe it isn't possible to find plenty to see and do in ANY city, let alone one that big. You can easily spend all 3 days just people watching, especially on your first trip to India.
Tell you what, Elle, if I get bored, I'll post back here to let you know......
As for hotels, I'm considering Sea Shore Hotel, which has good reviews and is not too expensive. If I can bear to spend a bit more, the Traveller's Inn looks good too.The Sally Army place sounds dire, and the YWCA seems expensive - their price also includes meals, but who wants to eat in the YWCA when you're in a megalopolis?!
Soulcurry & Prem, thanks for your suggestions of stuff to do, where do you stay when you're in Mumbai?
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I like Mumbai, been many times, but like SC, I like 2 days of Mumbai.Taj is a nice hotel, stayed there several times. Ahem, until I took the vow of the monk or some such :)
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kaz, I have friends I stay with, so apologies, not too knowledgeable about hotels. I used to live in the Churchgate area and had occasion to meet TTers staying in the neighbourhood. Sea Green and Sea Green South both looked nice in a crumbly 50s way. Both're on Marine Drive. Salvation Army Hostel looked dire even from the outside!You're right about things to see and do... My favourite weekend activity was exploring the lanes off Crawford Market. Each lane is dedicated to one profession: dyeing, carpentry, chemicals, perfumery, crockery and glass. There's even a lane just for door handles and doorknobs! Some of the shops appear frozen in time: in the 40s, 50s, 60s. They're crowded, but the crowds aren't threatening.
And then, the Irani restaurants... (God, I sound like a broken record, but this thread has made me nostalgic!)
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I've already been reading blogs about Irani cafes and it's absolutely on my Mumbai itinerary now! Really glad I posted, its been so helpful getting advice X24
Worth a visit if you like art is the national gallery of modern art, and if you don´t like art its still worth a visit for air conditioned, peaceful, respite from the mayhem outside.Sassoon docks to watch fishing boats bringing in the catch. Amazing hustle and bustle vibe, and just interesting to observe. For some reason you´re not allowed to take photos, and there are cops to enforce the rule, which is shame because its a colourful scene.
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hi,no photos are allowed due to the terrorist attacks some years ago, if i am right... they had approached through the seas... thus...
agree with all the comments above... lots to see, observe and walk around...
just yesterday, the kalaghoda arts festival dates have been announced - 2nd to 10th feb. it happens in a lovely area near colaba... check out: http://www.kalaghodaassociation.com/.... you will get to experience a lot of art, craft, theatre, dance, music, films, shops selling indian ethnic stuff from all over india and tonnes of other stuff all around just one road....
if you like old churches, then beyond sassoon dock there is a church called the afghan church, its right at the end, the tip of bombay so to say... but walkable if you stay at colaba... it might not be the most beautiful or huge compared to all that you see in europe but it has its own history & charm...
bhavani
my blog: stories about mumbai
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Delhi is an actual historic city...Pre Raj...and is very important in Indian history...Both Madras and Bombay were entirely British creations... There may have been a small village on the site...but Madras and Bombay are British cities built up by The East India Company...and then the Raj...in recent times...
I will be making this trip in January...so I hope you get some good advice... On arrival I usually get to my hotel/hostel ASAP to recover from the flight...
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Can I just add - while I'm not pushing the Sally Army hostel on you, because it is grim albeit cheap, if you're travelling alone a hostel is a great place to meet other travellers. I've often partnered up with other people whom I've met in hostels and made good friends through that experience. If you are travelling alone, try to stay where you are likely to meet other solo travellers.
