I want to talk to you about the top things you must see and do when you visit India’s largest city, Mumbai. This area has been inhabited since the South Asian Stone Age and has since become a melting pot of many different communities and cultures. It’s one of the best foodie cities in the world. Mumbai is the hottest, most beautiful, and most inspiring place in India. This is the place in India where you will see the richest and poorest Indian people. The estimated population of Mumbai is 12 million. Being one of the biggest economic hubs, it is also known as the entertainment capital of India because here is the biggest film city of India, which is Bollywood.
Best time to visit Mumbai
Mumbai is the place where all the people of India meet. Big festivals are celebrated with great pomp. But visiting Mumbai at the time of Ganesh Chaturthi will be a different experience in itself. The color of Mumbai is different in September and October. Hence, visiting from September to March is considered the best. Because during this time, it is winter in Mumbai, and the weather here is very pleasant and cool. From March to June, it is very hot in Mumbai. At this time, it is a bit difficult to roam in Mumbai in the afternoon, and the weather of Mumbai is pleasant at night. It is the rainy season in Mumbai from July to September, and many roads here get closed due to rain. Hence, my suggestion will be, if you are coming to visit Mumbai, then come between September to March.
How to reach Mumbai
You can come in all three ways: by flight, train, and bus. If you want to come to Mumbai by flight, then you will land at Mumbai’s famous Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport, from where you can take a local taxi to reach Mumbai city, whose fare can cost you 700-800 Rupees. A return flight ticket from Delhi to Mumbai can cost you around 8000 to 10000 Rupees. If you want to come to Mumbai by train, then you will get down at Mumbai Central Railway Station, whose code is MMCT, and you will get trains to Mumbai from all the major cities of India. If you want to come by bus, then Mumbai is almost connected to all the major cities of Maharashtra, and you can also get direct buses from the famous capital cities in India to Mumbai.
Now, let’s talk about intercity transportation in Mumbai, that when you visit Mumbai, how can you roam inside Mumbai. You can get four to five ways to roam inside Mumbai, in which the first one comes, Mumbai’s Local train, and this is the fastest and most popular way to go from one place to another, which is spread from Churchgate to CSMT in Mumbai. My suggestion will be if you are taking the local train then do not go between 6:00 am to 10:00 am because at this time there is a lot of crowd. Another way is auto rickshaw, which is spread everywhere in Mumbai. The third way is Mumbai’s taxi, which is found in every corner of Mumbai, and if still not found then you can use Ola or Uber. Simply download the app and order a taxi from there. The fourth way is to use Mumbai’s commercial bus service, which is the slowest way to travel in Mumbai because it is often jam-packed. The fifth way is to hire a personal vehicle like a scooty or Bike. If you are with your family then must go for a four-wheeler.
Top things to do in Mumbai
Gateway of India: Iconic Landmark
Something you must do while exploring Mumbai is visit the Gateway of India. It’s an arch monument that was built between 1911 and 1924 to commemorate the arrival of King George V and Queen Mary. The arch is 26 meters tall and made of basalt. It was built in the Indo-Gothic architecture style, which drew from elements of the Indo-Islamic style, especially Mughal architecture. The last British troops to leave India after its independence passed through the gateway in a ceremony that officially signaled the end of the British Raj in 1948. From the Gateway of India, you can catch ferry rides to other locations, including Elephanta Island.
Colaba Causeway Market: Shopping Haven
One of the best places in Mumbai to go shopping is the Colaba Causeway market. If you’re looking for unique, inexpensive souvenirs to take home with you, this is the place to go. The market is a great spot to find clothing, jewelry, and hats, as well as one-of-a-kind items like original Rajasthani silk paintings. Colaba Causeway is also one of the best places to find women’s outfits and accessories. The lanes can be tight, and there are dozens of vendors trying to entice shoppers, so just remember to be patient and polite even if you aren’t interested in what they’re selling.
Bademiya: Culinary Delight
As I mentioned earlier, Mumbai is a city for foodies. If you want to try some of Mumbai’s most noteworthy food, you have to check out Bademiya, one of the city’s most iconic food stalls and restaurant chains. There you have to try their incredible Sikh kebabs. Whether you’re into chicken, mutton, or lamb, it doesn’t really matter. You can’t go wrong here. Each kebab is tender, moist, and super flavorful. They are out of this world, and trying them is a true Mumbai experience you can’t afford to miss.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Historical Gems
If you’ve been subscribed to my channel for a while, you probably know that I love history. Few things get me more excited than visiting a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Mumbai is home to three of them. One of them is Elephanta Island, which you can reach via a 1-hour ferry ride from the Gateway of India. That island is significant because of its cave temples which were carved from basalt and date as far back as the fifth century. The temples are predominantly dedicated to Lord Shiva and contain intricate carvings and statues of elephants, gods, and other figures from Hindu mythology. Exploring these caves blew my mind. It would be a crime not to visit Elephanta Island when you come to Mumbai.
Juhu Beach: Street Food Haven
If having Indian street food at night is more your jam, the food stalls at the world-famous Juhu Beach simply can’t be beat. Because the beach is so well-known, it is almost always packed with people even after dark. It’s a great place to people-watch and check out what the locals like to eat and drink. One of my favorite street foods in all of India is paneer chilli which can be found right on the beach. Paneer chilli is an Indo-Chinese dish that is made up of non-melting cottage cheese called paneer as well as cabbage and lots of vegetables and a thick, rich sauce with lots of Chinese flavors. This dish was heaven on my palate. The paneer was soft and a little creamy while the vegetables gave it a nice crunch and the sauce provided a kick of flavor and a hint of spice. You have to try this dish when you go to Mumbai.
Versova Beach: Relaxation Destination
If you’d like to leave the crowded, noisy streets of Mumbai behind for a few hours and just chill out, there is no better place for you to go than Versova Beach. As recently as the mid-two-thousands, the beach was known for being dirty and filled with garbage. But that all changed between 2015 and 2017 when an environmentalist and a team of volunteers removed 11 million pounds of plastic from its shores. Today, Versova Beach is a great place to sunbathe or enjoy water sports. Don’t miss the nearby color before and restaurants in the vicinity where you can order local favorites like Chana masala and Belpuri.
Mumbai’s Culinary Diversity:
Pani Puri There are countless food options in Mumbai and no shortage of eateries serving them. One of the very best street foods you can find in Mumbai is pani puri, a Maharashtra specialty that consists of a fried hollow ball of leaf dough that is filled with chickpeas, onions, potatoes, and a watery soup called pani. I tried this dish for the very first time in the Elko restaurant in the bonjour neighborhood, and it blew my mind. Pani puri is meant to be eaten whole, so when you bite down, the pani washes over your entire palate in a wave of minty flavor.
Top Places to visit Mumbai
- Gateway of India
- Elephanta caves
- Marine Drive
- Film city
- Sanjay Gandhi park
- Rajabai Clock tower.
- Chowpatty Beach
- CST Terminal
- Mumbai Devi Temple
- Juhu Beach
- Haji Ali
- Kanheri Caves
- Mount Mary Church
- Nehru Science Center
- Bandra fort
How to rent Hotels in Mumbai
Now let’s talk about how to rent hotels in Mumbai. Firstly, you need to decide how many days you need to complete your itinerary and where and how. According to my itinerary, you will have to stay in Mumbai for 2 nights, in which you can stay in North Mumbai on the first night near the airport so that you can visit all the places there. The second night can be spent in South Mumbai. In Mumbai, you will get every kind of hostel, including 5-star to low budget.