Mumbai

Mumbai, formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtr. The city is the second most populous city in the world with approximately 14 million inhabitants. Mumbai is the commercial and entertainment centre of India. The city also houses India's Hindi film and televison industry, known as Bollywood. Mumbai's business opportunities, as well as its potential to offer a better standard of living, attract migrants from all over India.

The best way to enjoy Mumbai is by having a nice hotel to calm down. I just came back from Mumbai with a very unpleasant experience behind me. I had 6 hours to kill and had been hussled into booking into a hotel rather than staying at the airport: the Hotel "shuttle"took me there only to find out that the fee was 9900 rupies- no choice of rooms were given. The hotels'name: hotel Solitaire! Room given had airco running on one speed only blowing me off my bed. Complains got to nothing. I stongly recomment against using this hotel.

There are many hotels in Mumbai. Mumbai Hotels are from different range of prices.

Ascot Hotel can be found at 38 Garden Road in Mumbai. Located right in the middle of Colaba, it is a wonderful location for any traveler who wants to explore the sights. The rooms are spacious, modern, clean and (most importantly) cool – which means you can retreat to your oasis of calm after a hard day of sightseeing. Staff is accommodating and friendly, the breakfast is basic but plentiful and if you are still hungry there are plenty of places in the vicinity to choose from.

Residency HotelResidency Hotel is located on the corner of DN Road and Rustom Sidhwa Marg. Another hotel with a central location (located in the Fort of Mumbai and just 20 minutes away from Colaba) it can serve as a great base for further exploration. The rooms are basic but clean with fridge and water provided (although to be on the safe side you might want to buy your own water). If the hotel restaurant does not meet your expectations breakfast-wise there is plenty of places to choose from in the area. Excellent for any traveler looking not to overstretch their budget.

Chateau Windsor Hotel can be found 86 Veer Nariman Road. Located a short distance from the Marine Drive and about half an hour on foot from Gateway of India it means you can explore the sights comfortably during the day and enjoy the sunset views in the evenings. Chateau Windsor Hotel might not look like much on the outside but it does have all the qualities that make a good value hotel – clean, comfortable and spacious rooms with affordable breakfast and good location. If you want to treat yourself you might want to invest in an executive room, which also represent good value for money but offers more luxurious surroundings. Breakfast can be had on the roof top terrace but there are plenty of places in the area to choose from.

Hotel Suba is located at Apollo Bunder (minutes away from the Gateway of India). The central location means Hotel Suba could serve as an ideal base for any first time visitors looking to explore as many attractions as possible.Since the hotel went through a revamp recently the rooms are spacious, clean and comfy while the staff is accommodating. Breakfast is basic but because of hotel's central location there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops to choose from in the area.

This Hotels are not cheap. The best way to find some cheap hotel is by walking in the streets and looking for cheap guests houses.

Something Different from Back Home ...

Dharavi is routinely called "the largest slum in Asia," home for one million souls, where as many as 18,000 people crowd into a single acre (0.4 hectares).
Ask any longtime resident—some families have been here for three or more generations—how Dharavi came to be, and they'll say, "We built it."




Here, the traffic never stops and the horns always honk.
Its location has also made it hot real estate in Mumbai, a city that epitomizes India's hopes of becoming an economic rival to China.
In the narrow lanes, it is very easy to get lost in the slum. Ask the children for help!






Haji Ali Mosque. This early 18th century shrine contains the tomb of HAZRATH HAJI ALI, a Muslim Sufi saint.
One legend says that he was an Afghan mystic who lived and meditated here. He specifically ordered that after his death , his casket should be cast off into the sea off the shore of what is today Pakistan. However , the casket surfaced intact at the spot where the shrine is today.
The Haji Ali shrine is located on a small island on the Arabian Sea. There is a walkway which connects the shore to the shrine. This walkway is the only way to enter the shrine and it can be used only during low tides. High tides and monsoon rains completely cover the walkway.
Although it is a famous Muslim pilgrimage site, non-Muslim visitors are welcomed.


Dhobi Ghat, literally means washing
place in Hindi, from Dhobi - literally meaning washerman or one that does laundry and Ghat - generically meaning a large open space.
Typically in India, Dhobis call on regular clients, collect their dirty clothes and then take them to the Dhobi Ghats. At the famous Dhobi Ghat of Mumbai, India, which has rows of concrete wash pens, each with its own flogging stone. The Dhobi sloshes dirty linen into a soapy water mixture, thrashing them with the flogging stones, and then puts the linen into huge vats of starch. After which being dried, they are ironed and delivered to the owners. Now India likes washing machine. There are many models and brand of washing machines in India. There is many people that Iknow that did buy a new washing machine in India.





Crawford Market. It is fun to compare the market from the one back home. Actually I like to compare things. The insurance company in India are now very attracted with some western policies.There are fruits, spices, kitchen untensils and a wide selection of different products just under one roof.










People in Action:



It is not uncommon to see people, children especially, wash themselves up by the street. Beauty is now very important in India, especialy in Mumbai.

Beauty Clinics and Slons in Mumbai have internationally trained staff, offer personalised hair cuts, colouring consultancy, spa scalp & hair treatment system, rejuvinating facials, stimulating & energising footbaths, Aroma therapy and anything to make you a little more beautiful. Below is a list of the best beauty and health clinics in Mumbai.

Here are some nice place to visit to refresh your day with Indian Beauty centers!

Urmila's ,Sushila Vaswani's Shaman Beauty Salon ,Shahnaz Hussain Herbal ,Kit N Sam ,Berkowits Clinic ,Vandana Luthras Curls & Curves,Clarabelle ,Enrich Salon ,Fingers Hair & Beauty Salon.Hakims Aalim Hair Lounge ,Nalini & Yasmin Sagar Fortune,Neelam Natura ,Shahnaz Shop, The Taj Salon and
Urmila's Hair & Beauty Salon .

It is interesting to see the cow carts/carriage, bicycles, car, auto-rickshaw and any other form of tranportations to be on the same road.













What to Eat:

Do not really know what is the name of this, but it is a kind of common food that people sell in the train. Chick peas with onion and lemon. It taste very good and sometimes it can be spicy. The merchant will wrap it with newspaper.








What to Drink:







Many small merchants are making their living from selling snacks or drink by the street.
Do not miss the masala chai (tea with milk).






What to Do:





Sunbathing with the sea birds and children at Chowpatti Beach.











Where to Stay: Taj Mahal Palace & Tower (if you can afford :)

The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower is a prestigious luxury hotel located in the Colaba region, next to the Gateway of India. This iconic 105-year old heritage building was commissioned by Tata.
It was in the eyes of the world as one of the targets of Mumbai 2008 terror attack.
If you can't afford here, stay at at the Salvation Army nearby then. But beware of bed bugs there.