Welcome to aamchi Mumbai

The islands of Mumbai, originally inhabited by the koli fishermen, came under the rule of the Hindus from the Deccan Plateau in AD 500. Over the centuries, Mumbai kept changing hands from one ruler to another.

After the Hindus came the Muslim Sultans of Gujarat, then the Portuguese and finally the British in 1661. Though the last of the rulers left Mumbai in 1947, influence of every reign stills runs deep in the city’s vein—its culture, people and way of life—that reveals itself in a throbbing mix of energy and exotica.

Climate
Located on the Western coast, in the state of Maharashtra, the city lies at the mouth of the river Ulhas, its beaches kissed by the Arabian Sea. Mumbai experiences wet tropical climate which means the city goes through long spells of humidity from March to October, with humidity levels rising over 80 per cent. June to September is when Mumbai experiences the monsoons.

So, put on hold any plan to visit Mumbai till October, when the weather takes a turn for better—breezy, with a pleasant nip in the air, and clear blue skies—that lasts till February, making it the best period for roving through the city.

Population
Reckoned as the most cosmopolitan city of India, Mumbai’s population is a heady mix of people from all states of India. As per the census of 2001, 13 million people live in Mumbai. Add to this hundreds of immigrants who enter the city every day, clutched with dreams. Marathi is widely spoken. You can also get by if you know Hindi and English.

Food
The diversity of Mumbai’s population is also the reason behind the variety fare that you get in most of Mumbai’s restaurants. Maharashtrian (obviously), Parsi, Konkani, Gujarati, to Mughlai, Rajasthani and South Indian to world cuisine, you name it and the restaurants dish out all. Mumbai has a vibrant nightlife as well.

Wear
Mumbai can be called the Milan of the east, where fashion is the buzzword. Mumbaikars love to experiment when it comes to clothing. Saree is preferred by a majority of women, though the young brigade is comfortable slipping into salwar kurtas or any kind of western wear, so long as there is no skin-show in public. But then bling and skin display are de rigueur when it comes to after-hour gatherings and private parties.

Shopping
Mumbai is a shopaholic’s paradise. Whether you are a cash-strapped student or a high-heeled socialite, Mumbai’s shops will definitely make you happy. If you are looking for neat outfits at reasonable rates, Colaba street market at Colaba Causeway or the (in)famous Fashion Street is the place to head to.

Fashionistas armed with a lot of dough can look up to places like Jimmy Choo’s luxurious boutique, Ted Lapidus’ store, Ed Hardy collection, the Gucci store at The Galleria, Ensemble, Kimaya Fashion, Tarun Tahiliani Boutique, Wills Lifestyle Store, Aza, Samsara, and the Rocky S Collection.

For shoes there are Liberty, Bata, Bon Bon, Charles & Keith, Footage, and a few pricey places like B Higgings, Slipon, Moss, Julia and Gossip. Shops like Orra, the latest collection of Pradeep Jethani and Varuna D Jani will met your requirement for trendy jewellery. Time Avenue, Watches of Switzerland, Shilpi Jewellers, Tisya Jewells, The World of Titan are places where you can buy the latest watches. For home décor look to Threads N’ Homez or the slightly upmarket Tarini Jindal’s Muse at Kala Ghoda.

Besides these Mumbai’s shopping scape is dotted with malls like Inorbit, Globus, High Street Phoenix and R Mall.

Festivals
The best time to soak in the city’s flavour is during the festivals. Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Navaratri, Holi, Diwali and Christmas are celebrated with great fanfare. Besides the religious festivals Mumbai Festival (held every January); Banganga Festival (organized by MTDC every January); Elephanta Festival of Music and Dance held every year in February at Elephanta Island are some of the events that you shouldn’t miss if you want to get a feel of the city’s cultural milieu.

Sightseeing in Mumbai
(Mumbai has plenty on offer for everyone in terms of local sightseeing. Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji TerminusVictoria Terminus), Haji Ali Dargah, Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach are instantly recognizable as famous backdrops for innumerable Bollywood scenes and dance numbers. Theatre and performing arts hold key positions in the city’s social calendar. Don’t miss shows at Prithvi Theatre, or an exhibition at National Gallery of Modern Art; have a dekko at Prince of Wales Museum as well. The Elephanta Rock Caves too should find a place in your itinerary.

Getaways around Mumbai
Mumbai offers quite a few exciting getaway options if you are willing to venture out of city limits. Mahabaleshwar (240 km), Panchgani (260 km), Iqatpuri (130 km), Matheran (110 km), Karjat (110 km), Lonavla (100 – 110 km), Khandala (100- 110 km) are some of the popular hilly spots that most tourists like to visit. Murud (150 km), Alibaug (100 – 110 km), Kelva (140 km), Daman (180 km), Ganapati Pule (350 km), are some of the popular seaside getaways from Mumbai.

Another place worth a dekko are the beautiful caves of Ajanta and Ellora, built as retreats of Buddhist monks depicting the story of Buddhism from the 2^nd Century BC to 8^th Century AD. These caves are an archaeological marvel and have been designated as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Situated in Aurangabad, about 370 km away, the caves can be reached by rail as well as by road. Speak to your travel operator and book your trip in and around the city.

Moving around in the city
The city of Mumbai has an efficient public transport that includes a fleet of buses popularly known as BEST. The Suburban Rail is practically the lifeline of the city. Besides these, autorickshaws and taxis ply in the city.

Reaching Mumbai
Mumbai is well connected with other parts of the country as well as abroad through air, rail and road. You are likely to touch down at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport or Santacruz Domestic Airport, depending on whether you are coming from abroad or are traveling from any other state in India. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly kown as Victoria Terminus) is Mumbai’s main rail station. Bombay Central, Dadar and Churchgate are other well-known stations. The State Transport Terminal located bang opposite Mumbai Central Station is where you can take a long-distance bus for the neighbouring states.

Zara hatke, zara bachke
Mumbai sets your pulse racing the moment you step into the city—a vibrant mix of humanity going about with there business, railway stations at rush hour, colourful buzz at bazaars, quaint food joints nestling in Victorian era backstreets, and the air mingling with whiffs of Konkani flavours, mogra and incense fumes. All this combined with the glitter of film stars, glisten of skyscrapers and mushrooming malls, amidst the grimy tints of poverty, give Mumbai a potent allure, bigger than life, slating it as the city of dreams, best taken with a pinch of salt: “zara hat ke, zara bach ke, ye hai Mumbai, meri jaan”.