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This post may contain consort links. Please see my disclosure policy for details. If it ’ s your inaugural fourth dimension in Mumbai, you may be a little apprehensive to visit. I don ’ triiodothyronine blame you .
Mumbai is sincerely the heart of all that is India. It ’ south blistering, dirty, crazy, beautiful, persistent and inspire !
It ’ s the most populate city in the area and there is a massive watershed between the laughably rich and the downright poor. But, somehow, it works .
Its rampantly energy is catching and it will make you want to come back for more. But, when you first enter its whirlwind, it can be hard to find your feet .
If this is the first place you land in India, it will decidedly knock you for six ( if only by the smells and sounds ). so, it ’ sulfur thoroughly to make certain you know where to head to get a firearm of the action !
The city is spread out over a massive area and there are a fair few places which are overriding to ensure you get the most out of your inflict .
here is a first timers guide to help you on your travels in Mumbai .
How to travel to Mumbai in India
Mumbai has a trade name spanking new international airport so it is easily reached from all over the earth if you ’ ra arrive by plane .
lead flights fly straight from London Heathrow day by day and it ’ s a little cheaper to fly into here than Delhi if you did wish to start your indian gamble in Bombay .
domestic flights from Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and others fly into Mumbai casual .
By string or bus, it is a great stop consonant after Goa or Kerala before you head up North. You will most likely pull up at the Terminus station and you ’ ll be in for a treat !
Click here for my tilt of indian gearing travel tips
Where to stay in Mumbai
For me, the alone place you should consider staying is at the Taj Mahal Palace .
not alone is it justly by the Gateway of India but besides it ’ randomness one of the most iconic hotels in the country .
This hotel goes manner back in the history books. Being the Taj hotels flagship property, it was primitively built by Jamsetji Tata in 1903 .
founder of the world-renowned mammoth Tata group .
He built the topographic point in protest of the fact he couldn ’ triiodothyronine enter the other cities fantastic hotels such as Watson ’ second ascribable to being indian. The rest, they say, is history .
Being a 5 ace “ Heritage Grand ” class hotel, it has attracted a wealth of stars through its doors over the years. Queen Elizabeth II, Amitabh Bachchan, Obama, and even John Lennon have all checked in to experience the luxury .
The hotel is split into two halves, the foremost being the historical Palace Wing. This is where you can stay in their inheritance apartments and suites .
The second is their raw modern tower wing which has provided more budget options for those wanting to experience ‘ Tajness ’ but not at the forfeit of their trust poise !
The hotel is wall-to-wall perfection and it ’ s no confidential that the Taj group can not be beaten on hotel service ! You will not regret staying here .
To read the full review of my last out at the Taj Mahal Palace here .
The top things to do for your first time in Mumbai
Exploring Colaba
Colaba is Mumbai ’ second heritage zone and when you pull up, you can decidedly see its colonial past oozing through .
The buildings, the cobble streets, and the Gateway by the seaport all make the perfective put for sightseeing .
sol, I would suggest starting out here. here ’ s a guide of what to get stick into…
Gateway of India and Front Bay
This was my favorite localization in Mumbai ! This is where all the previous historical buildings are and the tourist carry through is .
The Gateway is striking and the irregular most photograph attraction in India .
It ’ s correct by the bustle Mumbai harbor and so you ’ ll see seagulls playfully chasing fishing boats pulling into land .
If you were looking for a boat drive around the harbor, you can go via the tourist boats which run all day .
They take off when the boat is broad and not ahead. One slate will set you back 80 rupees for an hour-long cruise, it ’ s an extra ten to sit upstairs and enjoy the view .
Although I didn ’ thyroxine get around to it, there are daily gravy boat rides to the Elephanta caves which lie around an hour away from the harbor land .
These ferries are very popular and the queues can be drawn-out, then induce certain you set off early !
unfortunately, Mumbai was discipline to a series of attacks across the city in 2008 kill over 160 people .
One of the main targets was the Taj Mahal Palace in this area. Although it has closely been a decade since it happened, the persistent effects are still here in the city. Security is in wide storm .
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
This Terminus station could be a tourist attraction in its own correct !
It ’ s a UNESCO universe heritage locate and one expansive gearing stations built by the british in the nineteenth century .
Mumbai has some of the most crowded and absolute dangerous educate journeys in the country .
I ’ ve seen a match of video of the rush hour on Youtube and, although hilarious, it looks deadly .
Most people come to witness the absolute slaughter which comes with boarding a gearing at induce hour .
If you did fancy experiencing a ‘ people massage ’ on the train, choose for first course .
It will silent be packed, but not american samoa crowded as the normal carriages. There are besides ladies ’ carriages near the front man which will be marked by a ladies expression .
personally, I would forget boarding at induce hour but it ’ s up to you !
Leopold Cafe
Leopold cafe is a extremely tourist haunt which people love to hate. It ’ s a busy bustle cafe, wide of biography, film posters, and beer keg ! You may have to queue for a postpone but it ’ s thus worth it !
The serve from the staff here is amaze and it serves up some of the BEST butter chicken I ’ ve had in India. badly, get the butter wimp .
Punters opt for the cheap pitchers of Kingfisher beer. But, it ’ randomness besides a bang-up place for a cheap but huge meal from their extensive menu .
They serve up all sorts, from Caesar salad, pizza, traditional curries and pasta .
sadly, this cafe was partially of the Mumbai attacks in 2008. But, as a admonisher and tribute, they ’ ve left the bullets in the walls.
Read more: The Best Videogames of 2020
It ’ randomness besides the stead that features in the celebrated novel Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts .
Click here to read my complete guide on the Leopold Cafe with more information
Prince of Wales Museum
Compared to most museums in India, the Prince of Wales museum is actually concern !
It besides has english translations on all the artifacts which is a big help .
For some reason, a lot of museums in India don ’ t have this. so, unless you can read Hindi you ’ ll just have to guess what it is. Or, hire a scout .
They have an amazing natural history section that showcases a metric ton of extinct animal taxidermy .
My supporter and I had a hilarious time here, we even got to stamp our own ancient amerind mint !
Celebrity spotting in Juhu & the Beach
If it is your first clock in Mumbai you may not know that fame spot is a regular happening in Mumbai as most of the Bollywood Stars choose to settle here with the big movie studios being in the area .
Film City is a popular attraction and movie tours are available day by day for locals and tourists alike .
here, they will show you all the studios and popular Bollywood filming locations .
You may even get the prospect to see some film !
A set of westerners are scouted in Mumbai to appear in Bollywood movies, so if it was on your bucket number to be an extra you can do this hera .
Rates are around 800 rupees a day and you ’ ll be hanging around a while. But, how cool would that be ?
I didn ’ triiodothyronine go on a go as the only place on my heed that I wanted to check out was the Amitabh Bachchan residence .
I ’ m a closet fan of his old Bollywood movies and loved his recent appearances in Hollywood .
He ’ sulfur been in the Great Gatsby and Wes Anderson films like the Grand Budapest Hotel .
He has purchased many properties in the area, but the original is located in Juhu and you can easily spot it by the iconic brass placed outside .
On Sundays, he makes a regular appearance for well-wishers !
Crowds of fans will gather around for hours to wait for him to show. I ’ ll decidedly have to come back for that to catch a glimpse .
I met and had a old world chat with his security guards who were interfering keeping watch of the area. I think that ’ s the closest I ’ ll beget !
After you ’ ve finished stalking, you can relax on Juhu beach. It ’ s a long white backbone beach which is rather humble, but it ’ s a great put to relax for a while and dip your toes in the sea .
Nightlife in Mumbai: Worli
The nightlife in Mumbai is ill-famed and there are a good issue of swank bars to choose from in the city .
In India, the sky bar scene is still very newly and so it was a great treat to last find one with an perplex view of the Mumbai horizon .
Aer at Four Seasons in Worli is the perfect place to sip on cocktails at sunset and watch the city come to biography with the twinkle of lights .
There is a glad hour on cocktails from 5 – 8pm and an entrance charge after 8 phase modulation on weekends but it ’ sulfur worth the cash for those dreamy views !
For reservations, see their official web site hera .
High Tea at the Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai
If you ’ re like me, you love good afternoon tea ! There ’ south something about a classy tea and a coat that makes my heart sing !
If you weren ’ triiodothyronine checking into the Taj Mahal Palace for the nox, you should decidedly stop by for an afternoon of indulgence .
Although the traditional cake tiers aren ’ metric ton on propose, the buffet-style ‘ all-you-eat ’ matter is arrant as then you can have what you like when you like .
There are piquant dishes and colorful cakes in all shapes and sizes. Truffles, dainties, and devilish sweets .
The olfactory property of newly made scones fill the air and you can have them with lashings of cream and jam .
My favored separate had to be the sandwich measure where you could order your finger sarnies from the chef. It was then worth the money at 1800 rupees including taxes .
Make sure you bring your angelic tooth along, you surely will not leave athirst ! To make a reservation at the palace, see here .
Save this first time in Mumbai travel guide for later
It ’ randomness about condemnable not to visit Mumbai if you come to India. It embodies all that India is .
It will inspire you, confuse you, insult all your senses and you ’ ll love it all the more !
I ’ ve only covered a divide of the city in this guide and the highlights will be perfect for your first time travelling here .
however, there is so much more of this incredible city to explore .
Make certain you add Mumbai to your ceaseless bucket list and get stuck in .
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