Mumbai: The most populous city in the world. Bombay slums of India (54 photos) When is the season. When is the best time to go

Mumbai is the most populated city in India: the concept of the city includes the so-called. Mumbai Municipal Corporation, which includes two districts of the state of Maharashtra: "Mumbai" itself (157 km², 3,145,966 inhabitants in 2011), as well as the "Mumbai (suburban)" district (446 km², 9,332,481 inhabitants). in 2011), total 603 km², 12,478,447 inhabitants. in 2011 . Together with satellite cities, it forms the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the world with a population of 21.3 million people [ non-authoritative source?] .

Located at an altitude of 10 meters above sea level. The population density is 21,665 people per km² (in terms of density, the city ranks first in the world), about 1/2 of the population are Marathas, about 1/4 are Gujaratis. The city itself occupies the island of Bombay (German) Russian (English) Isle of Bombay) and the southern part of Salsett Island, which are interconnected by bridges and dams.

Mumbai is a major hub for international communications. The city has a deep natural harbour, being the largest port in western India. About half of India's passenger traffic passes through the passenger terminal. Mumbai - one of the most important economic and cultural centers of India, is a city of great contrasts, where luxury and wealth coexist with poverty. Modern quarters are adjacent to slums - the northern districts of the city, which are considered breeding grounds for various diseases.

Compared to other cities in India, Mumbai has a relatively high standard of living and high business activity. Employment opportunities draw labor to the city from all over South Asia, apart from India itself.

Origin of the city's name

The name of the city of Mumbai comes from "Mumb", which is the name of the local Hindu goddess. Mumba Devi and ai which means "mother" in the Marathi language. There is an opinion that the name "Bombain", which was given to the city in the 16th century by the Portuguese, supposedly comes from words meaning "good bay", but modern research refutes this. Under British rule, the word was anglicized to Bombay. The name was officially changed to Mumbai in 1995. The former name is still used by the city's residents and prominent institutions, and is also popular in the West.

Geographic location

Mumbai is located at the mouth of the Ulhas River. Ulhas), occupying the islands of Bombay, Salsett and the adjacent coast. Mumbai is located at altitudes of 10 to 15 meters above sea level. The northern part of Mumbai is hilly, the most high point The city is located at an altitude of 450 meters above sea level. The area of ​​the city is 603.4 km².

Within the boundaries of the city there are lakes: Tulsi (eng. Tulsi), Vihar (English) Vihar), Powai (eng. Powai). The first two, located in the Borivali National Park (Eng. Borivali), supply part of the city with drinking water. There are three rivers in Mumbai that originate in the national park. There are mangrove swamps within the city limits. Coastline The city is indented by numerous streams and bays. The soil in the city is mostly sandy due to the proximity of the sea, in the suburbs it is alluvial, clayey. The rocks are classified as black basalts. Mumbai is in a zone of seismic activity.

Climatic conditions

Sea coast within the city

The city is located in the subequatorial zone. There are two seasons: wet and dry. The rainy season lasts from June to November, especially intense monsoon rains come from June to September, causing high humidity in the city. The average temperature is about 30 °C, the temperature fluctuates from 11 °C to 38 °C. The amount of annual precipitation is 2200 mm. Especially a lot of precipitation fell in 1954 - 3451.6 mm. The dry season from December to May is characterized by moderate humidity. Due to the predominance of the cold north wind, January and February are the coldest months, the absolute minimum in the city was +10 degrees.

Demography

Street traffic in Mumbai

Mumbai has over 17 million people. The ratio of women to men is 811 to 1000. The greater number of men is explained by the influx of the male population from the countryside to the city to earn money. The literacy rate is 77%, which is above the national average. Among men, literacy is 82%, among women - 71.6%. By religion, Hindus make up 68% of the city's population, Muslims - 17%, Christians - 4% and Buddhists - 4%. In addition, followers of Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Sikhism and Judaism live in the city, there are atheists. Mumbai uses the spoken form of Hindi (a mixture of Hindi, Marathi and English), but the official language of Maharashtra is Marathi. English is popular among the working intelligentsia. Bengali, Tamil, Punjabi, Nepali, Marathi, Telugu, Urdu, Gujarati languages ​​can also be heard in the city.

City `s history

City map. 1888

In the second half of the 19th century in Bombay, for the first time in India, a national industry and a large national commercial and industrial bourgeoisie began to emerge and take shape. Along with this, the city becomes the center of the labor movement in India. Repeatedly held mass demonstrations of workers and sailors. The uprising of naval sailors in February 1946 in Bombay led to the independence of India ().

Economic potential

Mumbai is one of the largest economic centers in the country. About 10% of all workers in the country work in this city. The city gives 33% of income tax revenues and 60% of all customs fees. Mumbai accounts for 40% of all India's foreign trade. The city has developed industries: cotton, oil refining, chemical, mechanical engineering. Electricity is provided by hydroelectric power plants located at the foot of the Western Ghats, thermal power plants on the island of Trombay. There is a nuclear power plant. There are many financial institutions in Mumbai: Bombay Stock Exchange, Reserve Bank of India, National Stock Exchange, Mint. Large companies such as Tata Group, Godrej (eng. Godrej) and many others have their headquarters in the city.

The business center is located in the southern part of Mumbai. In addition to Indian financial institutions, various foreign organizations are located in the business center. Until the 1980s, Mumbai's economy was heavily dependent on the textile industry and maritime trade. The port's cargo turnover was 25 million tons. 60% of all imports passed through the cargo port.

After the 80s of the XX century, other, more progressive and highly skilled industries began to develop in Mumbai, such as: diamond mining and polishing, high information technology, healthcare.

It is worth noting that employees working for the state make up a significant part of the entire workforce of the city, but at the same time there are many residents engaged in low and medium-skilled labor: taxi drivers, shopkeepers, mechanics, repairmen and others.

Mumbai is the main center of the entertainment industry. Most of India's television and satellite networks are located in this city. Film Industry Center of India, so-called. Bollywood (English) Bollywood), located in Mumbai, where there are other, less well-known film studios.

City government

Mumbai is the capital of the state. It consists of two separate districts - the City and the Suburbs, which also form two districts in the state of Maharashtra.

The city is governed by a municipal council, headed by a mayor who performs purely nominal functions. The real executive power is concentrated in the hands of a commissioner appointed by the state government.

The Municipal City Council is responsible for the development of the city. Mumbai is divided into 23 city districts, headed by an assistant commissioner.

Crime among the population

Crime in Mumbai, by the standards of India, is moderate. In Mumbai, 27,577 cases were reported in 2004 (2001: 30,991 cases), with an 11% decrease in crime over that time. The city's main prison is Arthur Road. On November 27, 2008, riots and a chain of bombings broke out in Mumbai. There are victims.

Social and cultural life of the city, architecture, sights

Mumbai is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in India. European and Asian cultural traditions coexist in the city. There are many holidays and festivals of various ethnic groups and religions. The population of the city takes a wide part in them, often regardless of religion.

Mumbai has developed its own roadside fast food chain: Vada Pavs and Bhelpuri.

The city has many adherents of Chinese and South Indian cuisine. The city is a mixture of international and Indian tastes in music, food, art.

In 2004, Mumbai received three awards from UNESCO for the preservation of national traditions. Mumbai is the birthplace of Indian cinema, the first film was released in 1896. The city has a large number of cinemas, including the largest in Asia - "IMAX" cinema, which shows new films from Bollywood and Hollywood.

In addition to cinema, many exhibitions are held in the city, many plays are staged in theaters. The city has art galleries: the Jehangir Gallery, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Prince of Wales Museum, and others.

Mumbai is home to the only permanent symphony orchestra in India (The Bombay Chamber Orchestra).

The public library, the oldest in the city, is the library of the Asiatic Society, built in 1833.

Mumbai has six sister cities (this is the maximum allowed by the Indian government):

Bombay was actively built up during the period of British rule, in the second half of the 19th and 20th centuries. Its layout and development retains the features of colonial domination and social inequality. There are many buildings in the spirit of English neoclassical and neo-Gothic, as well as imitations of Indian architecture -XVIII centuries (Gateway to India, Museum of the Prince of Wales). The city has many buildings in European and American styles. In the old business quarter is the Armenian Church of St. Peter (XVIII century)

The center of the city around which Bombay was formed (Mumbai) is a former English fortress, a fort located in the southeastern part of the island of Bombay. The area has a proper layout, wide streets, lots of greenery. On the territory of the fort there are government offices, banks, shops, a university (), offices of commercial and industrial companies.

To the north of the fort are randomly built-up residential areas (the lower floors of the houses are occupied by shops and workshops) of the former "Black City". Warehouses, docks, moorings stretch along the eastern coast of the island; branches of both railways connecting Bombay with the mainland also fit here. Along the western coast of the island - rich quarters (villas, the residence of the governor); in the Malabar Hill area - Hanging Garden Park. On the island off the western coast is one of the symbols of Mumbai - Haji Ali Mosque.

Marine Drive is a semi-circular highway that skirts Back Bay in the south of the island. 8 km from Bombay - the island of Elephanta (Gharapuri) with cave temples (dating back to the VIII century); in the largest of them - a giant bust of the three-faced Shiva (about 6 m high; VIII century) and reliefs.

The city is expanding towards Salsett Island, and the official city area (since 1950) stretches from south to north, from the fort to the city of Thana. In the northern part of Bombay there is the Trombay nuclear research center, a technological institute (-, built with the help of the USSR), oil refineries, chemical, machine-building plants, thermal power plants.

The city announced the construction of the second tallest building in the world, India Tower. This building should be completed by 2016.

Housing and utilities

The municipality supplies the city with drinking water from lakes. national park, collects garbage (78,000 metric tons per year).

The city has a developed telephone network and mobile operators with a large area coverage.

media

Mumbai publishes newspapers in English (Times of India, Midday, Aftonun, Asia Age, Economic Times, Indian Express), Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, Hindi. The city has television channels (more than 100 in different languages), radio stations (8 stations broadcast in the FM band and 3 in AM).

Education

Mumbai has public and private schools. Private schools build their policy on better education and give good knowledge in English. Public schools educate the children of the poor who cannot pay for private schools. After ten years of study (secondary education), students study for 2 years in colleges in four areas: art, trade, the science and legislation. This is followed by a professional training course. Most professional colleges in Mumbai are affiliated with the University of Mumbai (one of the largest universities in the world). Mumbai also has a developed system of higher university education and university science. Universities in Mumbai are considered among the best in India and throughout Asia.
Among them:

• - the leading technological and engineering university of the country and one of the main research centers in the world.

Updated 06/18/2019

Mumbai is an amazing Indian city. Previously, before 1995, the city was called Bombay, and although it changed its name and was renamed, the local population continues to call it that way. Despite the fact that Mumbai is not the capital of India, it is the most populated city in the country.

Mumbai is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the capital of the state of Maharashta and is the largest Indian port, commercial and industrial centers of the country.

The population of the city of Mumbai in 2011 was over 3 million inhabitants.

If we talk about the origin of the names of the city, it is believed that the old name comes from the word that the Portuguese called this area (which in translation meant " good bay"). And the name "Mumbai", according to legend, comes from the name of the Hindu goddess Mumbadeva.

Sights. What to see in Mumbai?

The city is an interesting combination of two cultures: European and Asian. When visiting Bombay, you should pay attention to the island of the Elephant, the Prince of Wales Museum and the building of the Supreme Court, the University and Victoria Station (rather it is even an architectural monument, and not just a station).

In general, a lot of conditions for tourists have been created here: a large number hotels, restaurants and all kinds of shops and local ruins. The city is very popular among tourists thanks to beautiful places and recreation opportunities.

Pay attention to Chor Bazaar - an interesting flea market where you can find many original cheap gizmos. And there is an area that is unusual for us, called Dhobi Ghat. There is a lot of washing going on there - you can see a huge number of baths in which women wash every day (however, tourists are not liked here, it is better to watch from afar).

In Mumbai you can find exhibitions, cinemas, art galleries. It is noteworthy that there is a symphony orchestra (the only one in India!). By the way, the construction of the building, which should become the second tallest in the world - the Towers of India, is currently underway there, and the authorities plan to complete the construction by 2016.

Mumbai has been a welcome return to civilization for me. This is a huge city, its power and grandeur is felt in every building. For Indians, Mumbai is the main money artery, people come here to work, build a new life and fight for a piece of glory. Relaxed coastal dwellers see Bombay as dirty and hectic, and its inhabitants as calculating and fussy. I saw the city in a completely different way - with old colonial buildings (every second house in the Colaba area is a real Hogwarts!), lots of greenery and one of the most beautiful embankments in the world. And Mumbai is extremely cinematic - every street here represents a complete scene. Bombay is a place where you need to walk, take pictures and never sleep so as not to lose precious minutes of rendezvous with the city.

History of occurrence

The city of Mumbai in India was originally located on seven islands: Colaba, Little Colaba, Mazagaon, Vadala, Mahim, Parel and Matunga Zion. The oldest buildings that have survived to this day are the Elephanta caves and the Valkshvar palace complex. In 1534, the Portuguese sailed to the islands, who began to actively convert the local population to the Catholic faith. Later in 1661, the territory of Mumbai passed to the British as a dowry of the Portuguese princess Catherine de Braganza, who married the English king Charles II. Thus began the era of Great Britain in Bombay, which lasted until the independence of India. Modern Mumbai, as we know it today, was founded in 1672 as a major trading port. In 1817, the islands began to unite, and by 1845 Mumbai was finally attached to the mainland, overgrown with new roads and bridges.

When is the season. When is the best time to go

Mumbai is located in the subequatorial zone. There are three seasons in this strip of India:

• Winter.
• Summer.
• Monsoon.

The best time for sightseeing and exploring the city is winter. In summer it gets too hot (although this does not stop tourists), the city floods into the monsoon. Mumbai winter lasts from November to February, summer - from March to May. Monsoon - from June to October. In summer, the temperature rarely drops below 30 degrees, the night also does not please with coolness. The air heats up and becomes heavy, the humidity is very high. During the monsoons, the daytime temperature drops slightly, but it rains quite often and heavily. Because of this, the traffic condition on the roads is deteriorating. In winter, the temperature during the day averages 27 degrees, at night it is fresh and cool. A pleasant breeze blows from the sea, and walks are easily tolerated.

Prices for tourists in season / off-season do not differ too much, after all, tourism is not the main source of income for Mumbai. Indians come here all year round for work or vacation, so house prices don't drop too much. There is no need to talk about any sharp influx of tourists by the beginning of the season, in Mumbai there are always foreigners permanently residing here. Of course, in winter there are more “white faces” on the streets, but not much. I wouldn’t recommend going to the monsoon for the purpose of tourism: the probability of getting caught in the rain is very high. The sea in Mumbai becomes violent, and you won’t even be able to walk along the embankment. But in the summer, despite the heat, you can safely go, especially at the beginning of the summer season - in March and April, by May it becomes too stuffy. If you do not have the need to see all the sights in one day, the hot sun will not interfere with you. Leisurely walks around the city can be combined with trips to cool shopping centers and ice cream parlors, and finding an air-conditioned hotel will also not be a problem.

Mumbai - monthly weather

Clue:

Mumbai - monthly weather

Districts. Where is the best place to live

You can save a little on housing if you bargain at the reception in any hotel. Also take rooms with breakfast included. Even in India, it is very popular to relax in “packages”: on search engine sites, for example, you will be offered to get to Mumbai by plane and check into the chosen hotel, sometimes such a combo comes out much cheaper.

There are several beaches within the city, but the most popular and beloved by locals is Chowpaty Beach, which is located in the southern part of the city near the historical center. Marine Drive - the main embankment of the city, popularly called the "Queen's necklace", this the best place for a walk around the city - on the one hand, fashionable restaurants and hotels open up to the eye, on the other - the skyline with Mumbai skyscrapers and the endless Arabian Sea. The boardwalk is crowned by Chowpatty Beach, a place where people come to see off the sunset. It is in the evening that life begins to boil here. In order not to sit on the sand, you can rent a mat for $ 0.3 (20 rupees). There is a brisk trade in local delicacies on Chowpatty, there are stalls, each of which specializes in its own delicacies. Here is a shop with kulfi ice cream, here you can buy any of its varieties. In the next one they sell faluda dessert in all colors of the rainbow. And here is the traditional Mumbai dish - belpuri, crispy hollow balls, which are filled with vegetable filling with a sauce of spicy spices, mint, coriander. On the beach itself, there are numerous vendors offering water and tea.

Residents of the richest district of Mumbai - its western part, like to relax on Juhu beach, 18 km from the city center. One of the longest beaches in Mumbai, it is crowded with local vacationers on weekends. The urban rich are entertained by street performers, horse or donkey rides, cafes and souvenir shops.

To the south of Juhu is Versova beach, the infrastructure on it is less developed. During the rainy season, the beach is completely hidden under water. In the evenings locals also come here to spend the sun. Apart from vendors of snacks and drinks, there is nothing for vacationers.

The beaches of Mumbai are not distinguished by their beauty, located within the city, they are all rather dirty and crowded. I would advise travelers to meet the sunset at Chowpatty Beach or Juhu, and after that go further for a walk to the center. It may not be safe to stay on the beach after sunset.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Mumbai is a city of different religions: Muslims, Christians, Jains, Hindu get along in this cramped metropolis. Unfortunately, it is not always peaceful. Clashes between Muslims and Hindus are not uncommon. However, for a tourist, getting to know the city can be combined with visiting temples and mosques with a rich history.

This is only a small part of the interesting temples of Mumbai. If time permits, visit others at least interesting places:

• Catholic Afghan Memorial Church. It was built by the British in 1847 in memory of the fallen in the First Afghan War in 1838-1843. soldiers. The church is made in the Gothic style with elongated windows and pointed spiers.
• Cathedral of Saint Thomas. It was the first Anglican church in the city, built in 1718. The cathedral was built in a colonial style with Gothic elements, and its hallmark is a high clock tower.
• Ganesh Shri Sidhivinayak Temple. Built in the early 19th century and dedicated to the god Ganesha. The multi-layered architecture of the temple is interesting, but inside it is an ordinary modest Hindu temple. The entrance fee is 0.7 USD (50 INR).
• Vipassana Pagoda (Global Pagoda Vipassana). If you have ever attended a Vipassana meditation course, you will surely want to see the largest pagoda in India. A huge golden stupa stands on the shore of the lake. Meditation practices take place inside it. You can get from the metro station Borivali, then by rickshaw.
• Mumba Devi Temple. Another Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Devi. One of the oldest in Mumbai, it has an unusual architecture. There are beautiful carvings inside the temple.

All of these places are quite popular among tourists and locals. Be prepared for the fact that on weekends queues to temples can be significant, and during religious holidays - simply colossal.

Museums. Which are worth a visit

There is cultural life in Mumbai! What does it have to do with such that will not disappoint even the most spoiled lover of museums and galleries.

parks

Despite the fact that Mumbai is a large metropolis built up with concrete boxes and smoky exhaust gases, here you can find green islands of nature and silence. I warn you right away - on weekends all the parks of the city turn into huge picnic areas for numerous Indian families, you will not find solitude.

tourist streets

1. Dadabhai Naoroji Road. A 2 km long historical street is located in the fort area. If you are doing hiking route from Colaba to the north, you cannot avoid this street. Along the way, colonial buildings, the pompous Flora Fountain, the gothic City Council building, the Art Deco Fire Temple and, of course, Victoria Station await you.
2. fashion street. Conventional name for street trading located on Mahatma Gandhi Street. Clothes, shoes, jewelry at ridiculous prices. The street is quite touristy - because it is located in South Mumbai and runs parallel to Marine Drive.
3. Shahid Bhagat Singh Road. Guesthouses, cafes for European and Indian tastes, shops with cheap jewelry and clothes in the very center of Colaba. The popularity of this street is easily explained - everything a traveler needs is here. The largest concentration of foreigners in Mumbai.

What to see in 1 day

I will say right away that one day is categorically not enough to explore Mumbai. Even if you skim the sights, there is enough time for one area of ​​the city. In Mumbai, you do not want to rush and chase from one place to another. Here is an approximate itinerary for exploring the city.

It is best to start from Colaba, most of the route will be on foot.

8.00 . Follow the Shahid Bhagat Singh road to the south, so you get straight to the Gateway of India. In the morning there will not be a lot of tourists. You can safely walk around the square and enjoy the view of the arch and the Taj Mahal hotel. 10.00 . On the Mahatma Gandhi Road, continue south. There will be numerous museums and galleries along the way. Choose according to your taste. Don't forget to take pictures of the Prince of Wales Museum, even if you don't want to go inside. Local cafes open just in time for 10. You can have breakfast with traditional Indian puri baji or pohoy in any restaurant. 11.00 . A little further than the museum is Mumbai University, built in the Gothic style, with a tall clock tower - Rajbai Clock Tower, a truly colonial splendor. A little later, you will go to the Fountain of Flora - it stands in the middle of the road and, despite all the beauty, you can not notice it right away - the fountain is small. 12.00 . The end point of the morning walk is Victoria Station. Here you can not only see the main attraction of the city, but also buy train or bus tickets for further travel. 13.00 . At the station, take a rickshaw or taxi and go see the real India without the luxury of colonial buildings (are you ready?). Make your way to the largest open-air laundry - Dobie Gat. 15.00 . On foot or by taxi you get to the Haji Ali Mosque. Her inspection will not take much time. The Hindu temple of Mahalakshmi is very close by.

17.00 . Take a taxi and go to the Marine Drive promenade, more precisely to Chowpatty Beach. Here you can have a bite of the famous Indian ice cream kulfi or faluda dessert. Take a litter and forward to the sand. Sunset will start soon. 19.00 . After sunset, Marine Drive is lit up with thousands of lights. Follow it to the south, on the way you will be met by the sculptural composition "I love Mumbai" in English-Hindi, do not forget to take a photo as a keepsake.

20.00 . After the walk, take a taxi and return to the Colaba area. You can end the evening at the Regal Cinema, the oldest city, or at the legendary Leopold Café.

What to see in the surroundings

65 km southeast of Mumbai is India's largest amusement park, snow town and Imagica water park. All these entertainments are located in the town of Khopoli, you can get there by bus for 6 USD (400 INR).

The parks are nearby, but they work separately, you will have to pay for entrance to each at your ticket office. So, an amusement park costs 28 USD (1899 INR) for an adult on "peak" days (holidays and weekends, you can see the calendar), and 23 USD (1599 INR) on ordinary days. For a child: 22 USD (1499 INR) and 19 USD (1299 INR) respectively. There are three groups of attractions: family, children's and the scariest. The entire park is divided into thematic zones: Africa, America, etc. There are a lot of attractions, everything is done at a decent level. It is not a pity to spend a whole day in the park. Of course, on the territory there are many restaurants, shops, as well as a theatrical show. The park was opened just a few years ago, and it can be a great alternative to Disneyland.

The water park is no less impressive. The ticket price for adults is 15 USD (999 INR) and 16.5 USD (1099 INR), for children - 12 USD (799 INR) and 13.4 USD (899 INR). There are a lot of people in both parks on weekends! Long queues gather on the slides. So far, there are very few foreign tourists, the main contingent is Indians. They go to the water park in clothes: in shorts (or leggings for ladies) and T-shirts. Therefore, in swimsuits you will feel extremely uncomfortable.

Also on the territory of Imagica there is a snow town, of course, the largest in India. If you miss the snow, get ready to shell out 6 USD (399 INR) with a ticket to an amusement park or water park or 7.4 USD (499 INR) without a ticket. In the snowy town, you can go sledding (more precisely, on a local analogue), climb snowdrifts, watch the snow fall, make a snowman and just walk with sticks.

Routes to neighboring cities

Since Mumbai is the country's largest transport hub, getting to neighboring cities is not difficult.

Food. What to try

The cuisine of the state of Maharashtra is quite diverse, Mumbai has its signature dishes that tourists are unlikely to try in other cities and states of India. The main products are rice, vegetables, coconuts, milk and fruits. Mumbai cuisine is distinguished by an abundance of legumes and peanuts - roasted nuts are added to almost all dishes. Even food is cooked not in sunflower or soybean oil, but in peanut oil. Most of the dishes are vegetarian, fish restaurants can be found along the coast, meat dishes are popular in the north of the state. Favorite type of meat is lamb. There is no problem with chicken.

Street food is presented very widely. I was pleased with cheap juices at every turn from 0.44 USD (30 INR), they also sell lassi (fermented milk drink), cane juice and milkshakes right on the street. And Mumbai people are very fond of sandwiches. Moreover, they are not bought in cafes or shops, but right on the street: they bought and ate. If in most often they sell samosa (patties), then in Mumbai they sell closed sandwiches from small stalls. There are many varieties of them, the price is from 0.44 USD (30 INR) and higher. All of them with vegetable fillings, maximum - cheese and butter. In a couple of minutes, a sandwich will be prepared for you, put into a double-sided grill, cut into small squares. Instead of a fork, toothpicks are offered - as a result, in front of you on the newspaper there is Mumbai-style canapes, you can even eat on the run. That's what an active and fast city means! What else can you try in Mumbai and only here?

Intermediate level

Expensive

1. Lake View Cafe. Located in the Renaissance Hotel and has a beautiful view of the lake.
2. Masala Library. A creative restaurant offering molecular cuisine.
3. Gadda da Vida. Mediterranean, Italian cuisine with sea views.
4. Pan Asia. Mumbai also has sushi and rolls!
5. Peshawri. Large selection of meat, kebabs, barbecue.

How to get there

From Russia to Mumbai can only be reached by plane. Domestically, Bombay can be reached by plane from many other cities in India, by train or by bus. Mumbai is the largest transport hub in the country, so getting there is no problem.

By plane

The largest airport in the country is located in Mumbai and is called Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The airport is located 30 km from the city center to the north. It can be reached by following numerous signs. Highway 8 (National highway 8) leads from the city center to the airport. The airport has 2 terminals: domestic and international, each of which is divided into three more terminals. The area of ​​the entire airport is almost 6 square kilometers. Therefore, if you have several flights in a row from different terminals, allow time for getting from one to another.

Between the terminals, located 4 km apart, free air-conditioned buses run every 20 minutes. Passengers are allowed into the shuttle bus only if they have a ticket. If time is running out and you need to get to another terminal urgently, you can take a taxi. Inside the airport building, you can take a pre-paid taxi (one that is paid in advance) for 4.4 USD (300 INR). If you go outside, local taxi drivers will ask for much more - from 15 USD (1000 INR), while they will assure you that free buses and cheaper taxis do not exist.

There is no direct regular flight from Russia to Mumbai (you can fly directly to India only by Aeroflot on the route - Delhi). Therefore, you will have to fly with transfers. However, the choice of flights is simply huge. You can choose a convenient docking to your taste. Tickets to Mumbai, as always, try to get a few months in advance. During the sales season, you can find good options from 300 USD (20,000 rubles). It is convenient to fly to Mumbai from Moscow with the following airlines: Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates. The easiest way to find a connection is in Dubai, Sharjah, Doha,. In addition, these airlines are generous with sales.

Domestic flights in India are very inexpensive. Therefore, you can take a direct flight from Moscow and take a ticket to Mumbai. Airlines at your service: Air India, GoAir, IndiGo, Jet Airways, Jet Lite, Spice Jet. From the capital to Bombay, a direct flight costs about 80 USD (5500 INR) in both directions. Moreover, on domestic airlines there is no significant difference in buying round-trip tickets together or separately. The flight takes about two hours. When using the services of Indian airlines, always check your e-mail and messages on your phone in advance - flights are often delayed or canceled, passengers are warned in advance at the contacts indicated when buying a ticket. For insurance, you can check the online scoreboard. From Mumbai you can find tickets at very attractive prices. Sometimes the cost of a trip by plane and bus is about the same. The flight is only about one hour, the trip can cost 20 USD (1300 INR) one way.

You can view airfare prices for the dates you need.

Contact Information

Public transport and taxi

In the airport building itself (in any terminal), you can find companies offering cars for rent and regular taxis. Taking a car without a driver does not make much sense, the traffic on the roads is crazy and chauffeur service in India is very cheap. Taxis can be taken at the pre-paid desk or even booked in advance online on this website. Approximate prices: the first kilometer is 0.4 USD (7 INR), then - 0.29 USD (20 INR) per 1 kilometer. A pre-paid taxi on the street near the airport will cost about 7.4 USD (500 INR) to the Colaba area. The nearest train station is Vile Parle Railway Station, you can get to it by buses 312 (departs from Terminal 1) and 321 (departs from Terminal 2), the ticket costs less than a dollar. There is also an airport road metro station nearby, which can also be reached by buses 321 and 308.

By bus

I went to Mumbai from Goa on a night sleeper bass, it's quite convenient and inexpensive. Travel time - from 12 hours. Tickets cost from 9 USD (600 INR). The advantages of traveling by bus for me personally are the ability to buy a ticket at any time (for example, train tickets need to be taken a month or earlier), low price and convenience.

Taxi. What features exist

Taxis in Mumbai make up a huge number of the total transport. Old Fiats in black and yellow colors scurry around the city back and forth. Hailing a taxi is as easy as shelling pears - wave your hand and someone will surely stop. Most of the cars do not have air conditioning and the furnishings are quite old. The indefatigable imagination of the drivers-decorators, as always, saves: the interior of Mumbai taxis is unforgettable, you need to look for such a riot of colors. It's worth taking a taxi for that alone. Some machines are equipped with counters. When landing, pay attention to it: the amount should not be large, they charge about $ 0.30 (20 rupees) for landing. Sometimes it is easier to agree on a price right away, then you will know what to expect from the trip. At night, after midnight and before 5 am, the cost of the trip increases by 25%.

Taxis are simpler - these are rickshaws or tuk-tuks, as they are called in Asia. This is a three-wheeled vehicle where the driver sits in front and up to three passengers in the back. Most rickshaws in Mumbai are also metered. A trip from Colaba to Victoria Station, for example, will cost 1.5 USD (100 INR).

Trains

The Mumbai metro is expected to be completed by 2021. In the meantime, local residents are content with a developed network of railways, which are used as electric trains. Rail transport has existed in Mumbai since 1853 and is still the most popular transport in the city. Electric trains are 9, 12, 15-car. There are 3 main branches and 1 more is under development.

• The western line runs along the entire coast in the west and consists of 36 stations (Dahanu Road - Churhgate), and it consists of two parallel railways - regular and express. On a regular line, trains stop at every station, on an express line, only at the most important ones.
• There are 24 stations on the Central line. From Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) to Kalyan there are two parallel lines - high-speed and slow, and only high-speed lines from Kalyan to Kasara and Khopoli.
• The port line runs along the bay and crosses it through an underground channel. The railway starts from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station, then it branches and ends at two stations: Panvel and Andheri. There are no fast lanes here.
• The port line does not go to South Mumbai, it connects Vashi and Thane stations.

All trains have first and second class carriages. Also, the cars are divided into mixed and women's (I strongly advise foreign ladies to travel in these). Tickets for first-class carriages are much more expensive, but there are also much fewer people there. Tickets are bought at any of the stations. You can take a one-way or round-trip ticket (valid for 24 hours). Tourists can buy a travel card for 1, 3 or 5 days. Also, foreigners are not recommended to use electric trains during rush hour, the cars are overcrowded at this time.

Buses

The most common public transport in the city is buses. There are a great many of them:

• An ordinary bus with white numbers on a black background stops at all stops.
• Limited buses with red numbers and the suffix Ltd stop only at major stops.
• Special buses with white numbers on a red background and the postscript Spl run only in the city center.
• Express trains with red numbers on a yellow background and the postscript Exp run between the center and the outskirts of the city.
• Air-conditioned buses with black numbers on a yellow background and the letter A also operate between the center and the outskirts.
• Buses with the inscription Port Ferry go to the port.

Tickets are bought on the bus from the conductor, and the cost depends on the distance of the trip. The average price is 0.29 USD (20 INR).

Mumbai - holidays with children

Although Mumbai is not the best city for families with children, they will not get bored here. When planning a vacation with a child, try to take into account the weather in Mumbai - from April the heat begins here, which is replaced by rains. The best time for vacation is from November to February, children will be most comfortable. Also, when planning a trip to Mumbai, consider the area where you will live. You should not save on a hotel and settle in a cheap guesthouse.

Here are some activities that kids of all ages will surely enjoy:

• Nehru Science Center and planetarium. It will be interesting for school-age children to get acquainted with scientific achievements, watch shows in the planetarium and just walk around the galleries dedicated to history and discoveries.
• hanging gardens. In addition to lawns and flower beds where children can frolic, the park has a shoe house that you can climb into, playgrounds and bushes in the form of animals.
• Taraporewala Aquarium. The aquarium has been recently restored, and now it houses fish from all over the world, there is a glass tunnel with marine life and even a contact pool.
• Water Kingdom Water Park. Nice water park in the middle of the city. There are slides for adults and children.
• Amusement park Essel World. It is located in the same place as the water park. You can visit both in a day. If you are tired of walking around the city and seeing the sights, come here.

Ski holidays

Friends, you often ask, so we remind you! 😉

Flights- you can compare prices from all airlines and agencies!

Hotels- do not forget to check prices from booking sites! Don't overpay. This !

Rent a Car- also aggregation of prices from all distributors, all in one place, let's go!

Have something to add?

On the example of the largest slums of this city Dharavi. More than a million people huddle on an area of ​​215 hectares (according to some sources, 3 million people live here), as well as various social institutions and industries. A blogger who recently visited Mumbai talks about how life flows in this area.

Let's start from the bottom. The poorest people in Bombay live in tents. Tents are built near the sea or very close to railways, where it is impossible to build normal houses. Here they cook, throw away garbage and wash dishes.

The life of such tents is short, they are blown away by the wind, they burn down when the inhabitants try to keep warm on a cold night.

In some places you can find entire blocks of rags, and tarpaulins, and plywood.

An inner courtyard in one of the blocks of such slums.

Local residents.

Despite the dirt around, the residents themselves try to take care of themselves, the clothes are clean, everyone is washed regularly, the girls dress up. Meet them in another place, you won’t even think that they can live in tents among the garbage.

They also try to maintain cleanliness in the dwellings themselves and the passages between them.

The main type of Bombay slums are these high-rise buildings made of metal sheets and plywood. It all starts with one-story houses, and then grows up. I met 10-story slums!

On the left is one of the quarters

It is impossible to understand these houses. No one knows where one ends and the other begins. Of course, there are no addresses here and there are no these houses on any map of the world.

Such slums are terribly picturesque!

Let's go inside. Narrow aisles, where it is sometimes difficult for two people to miss each other. There is almost no sunlight here. Numerous stairs that lead to the upper floors.

Entrance to one of the dwellings. The dwelling here is actually a bedroom-living room. They eat, cook, relieve themselves on the street.

Minor needs are met where necessary

Another type of slum is along the railroads.

They are built in close proximity to the railway.

Indian train coming

The slum dwellers run off the rails. I wonder if anyone keeps statistics on how many people die here under the wheels of a train?

The rails are often used as the only way out of the slum anthill.

Children play on the tracks

The outskirts of the slums and the famous big pipe

Look how cozy!

One of the yards

The White house.

Some slums are located on the banks of rivers and canals. In ordinary cities, the proximity of a river or seashore is rather a plus. In India, it's the other way around. Garbage is dumped into the rivers, the beaches are used as a big toilet, so the poorest sections of society live on the banks.

Sometimes the river is not visible, as everything is littered with garbage.

Please note that the garbage is thrown right out the back door of one of the houses. That is, people could live on the banks of the canal, but they decided to live near a stinking garbage dump.

This is also a channel completely littered with garbage. Somewhere down there, water is flowing ... Garbage decomposes and rots, the stench is terrible.

But people love it!

Here is a resident. The monkey turned out to be angry and almost ate me!

Let's take a look inside the home. As you can see, it's very clean.

Living room

Some of the lodges house tailoring or food preparation businesses. Maybe your favorite jeans are sewn somewhere here!

Now the slums are actively built up. In place of dilapidated houses, multi-storey buildings are being built; instead of narrow passages, overpasses are made. So, soon you will be able to see the famous slums of Bombay only in old photographs.

Be sure to walk here

You will not regret.

I don't recommend bad.

Tomorrow Bombay will be like this!

When I was planning a trip to India, I booked only a day for Bombay: in the evening I flew in from Goa, and in the evening of the next day I flew from Bombay to Calcutta. I decided that one day of light in Bombay would be enough, but in the end I was wrong: the city is absolutely magnificent and majestic. And not so much even with its monumental British (Victorian) buildings, but with an amazing mixture of cultures and architectural styles of the city as a whole. We will make allowances for the fact that this is far from a "safe haven" where you can relax and enjoy the aura. This is a gigantic 25 million metropolis full of poverty and garbage, critically overpopulated, with a bunch of inter-religious problems (70% Hindus, 20% Muslims, 5% Christians, 5% Buddhists), overloaded with transport and with a depressing environmental situation. India, mother! Nevertheless, I liked Bombay more than I would like to return here. The city, by the way, is quite young: being founded by the British in 1672 (it is significant that the British East India Company bought this land from the Portuguese, who landed in India as much as a hundred years earlier), it remains the business and financial capital of India to this day. leaving even Delhi behind in this context.

One of the symbols of Bombay (and India as a whole) is the Gateway of India monument, or Gateway to India. Much has been written about him in guidebooks and I will not repeat myself. Let me just say that this massive gate in the heart of Bombay was erected by the British in 1924 as a symbol of their colonial greatness and the conquest of India. It is ironic that only 23 years later the last British soldiers were hastily leaving India after independence.

Opposite the Gateway to India rises the classic and most expensive hotel in the city "Taj Mahal Palace", also a visiting card of Bombay. By the way, it has nothing to do with the British and was built in 1903 by the richest man in India and the founder of the Tata corporation (almost all of India's industry is part of his empire), Jamsheji Nasservanji Tata. It is believed that he, having been offended by the disrespect (due to the color of his skin) from the servants in a London hotel, decided to create a hotel of a level of chic that Europe had not seen. And he succeeded; at the beginning of the 20th century it was certainly one of the best hotels in the world.

On November 26, 2008, the Taj Mahal Palace turned into the scene of a bloody drama when dozens of Islamic militants attacked the hotel and took many tourists hostage. During the storming of the hotel by the Indian army and police, 37 people died and the building was seriously damaged, below are a couple of photos of those days -

In my opinion, Bombay's main railway station, Victoria Terminus (nowadays renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), is Mumbai's finest piece of architecture. Moreover, having traveled to a bunch of countries of the world, I have never met such a majestic station -

The station was built by the British in 1887 in honor of the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. It is logical that for the Indians this "significant" day has absolutely no value, but rather reminds of colonialism. But the building itself is beautiful, you see!

By the way, below the Supreme Court (High court), also built in the late 19th century -

What are the children playing? Something like tic-tac-toe?

At the nearby University of Bombay, youth celebrated the founding of a new political party and announced their intention to actively fight corruption -

The taxi driver is sleeping, and the service is on -

Scientists rest -

Street entertainment -

Sugarcane juice -

By the way, the place below is called Oval Maidan (hello to Kiev), here the Bombays play cricket -

You know, for a part-time day in Bombay, I managed to see quite a lot, for example, the tomb of Haji Ali, located in the northwestern part of Bombay on the island. But more on that next time -

And, yes, about "burning ass" (not to be confused with diarrhea!), It's really embarrassing to say. Traveler friends, is it just me who has a similar natural phenomenon from very spicy Indian food? Who understood me in the topic, and who didn’t - it’s embarrassing to translate, the topic is painfully intimate :)

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