India is home to 1.4 billion people and more notably the 8th most populated country as of 2023. Known for its bustling business center and rich culture, Mumba is one of the top destination spots for the country. We were lucky enough to travel from the US to India in the fall of 2018. Our sister-in-law was born in India and her family hosted us for 5 days. There we were able to explore the area as both a tourist and a local. It was a really great experience of which we're so thankful for.
HOW TO GET THERE
Flying into Mumbai is rather easy, coming from the U.S. there's usually a layover in Europe, then you'll land in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The large international airport located close to the city center. India has an expansive internal airline structure making air travel easy within the country as well.
If you're able to extend your trip, we'd recommend looking into maximizing the layover time. For our trip we flew Detroit > Amsterdam > Mumbai and spent a few days layover in Amsterdam before arriving to Mumbai.
WHERE TO STAY
Mumbai has a lively business scene. There are many large name hotel brands located throughout Mumbai. For this trip, we'd recommend staying in a hotel as it provides additional amenities and security for fair and reasonable pricing.
During our time in Mumbai we stayed at The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake. It was a beautiful hotel that overlooked Powai Lake and provided a luxurious feel with heightened security, friendly staff, and expensive design features. Within the hotel there are multiple restaurants, shops, and a fitness/spa center for guests to enjoy while on property. Looking back, it felt very similar to an all inclusive like resort. Mumbai's dense population can become overwhelming at times, but the hotel provided a quiet place to spend your nights.
Left to right: Hotel entrance, overlooking Powai Lake, inside the hotel.
TIPS FOR VISITING
Mumbai's driving is chaotic, if you are able to hire a private driver this was very helpful for the week. If not, we'd recommend taking taxis and rikshaws to avoid any accidents as the roads are challenging to navigate.
India is know to have malaria and upset your stomach- bring medications from home.
There are a lot of people everywhere, be prepared for congested streets and areas when exploring the city.
WHAT TO SEE
Bandra Area
An area located near the sea in home to many famous actors, actresses, and athletes. This area is full of great shopping, restaurants, and night life.
Marine Drive
A 3mi long promenade in the Bandra area that visitors can drive along the waterside and stop at various restaurants for a bite to eat. Marine Drive is also known as the Queen's Necklace because when viewed at night the coastline creates a necklace shape while the bright lights create the illusion of pearls.
Nariman Point
Located outside of the business district, this area looks out to the Arabian Sea and provides tourists great views of the Mumbai skyline. While we were there this was a great spot to sit down, relax, and enjoy a great view amidst a lively city.
My sister-in-laws and I enjoying a calm moment at Nariman Point! You can see some of the coastline shape that creates the Queen's Necklace.
Gateway of India
An over 100 year old structure located along the waterfront this arch is a symbolic entryway to the city of Mumbai.
Taj Mahal Hotel
Located near the Gateway of India, the Taj Hotel is an elaborate, famous five-star hotel located along Mumbai's waterfront.
Mount Mary Church
A fully functional Roman Catholic basilica dating back to the 16th century in the Bandra area. Visitors can stop in to tour and pay their respects.
Sea Link Bridge
A famous 5.6 km long and eight Lane White Bridge, that links the Bandra from the western suburbs of Mumbai. It’s a relatively new bridge being constructed in 2009 that is an integral part of connecting the various areas of Mumbai.
Worli Area
A more upscale area that had a really beautiful views of the Sea Link Bridge.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Train Station in a UNESCO world heritage site. It is huge and absolutely breathtaking. Even from the outside you’re able to see what an architectural marvel it is. Many considerate, one of the sinus, functional railway station buildings of the world, and more than 3M commuters use it everyday.
Haji Ali
A mosque located on coast off the Worley in the southern area of Mumbai. It was established in the 15th century and has been an icon for many tourists photographers & locals. People of all phase are welcome to this mask however, please ensure that you’re following respectful, dress and customs as you enter.
I love Mumbai sign
A popular tourist attraction that offers views of the sea and city skyline.
WHERE TO EAT
Cafe DiBella
A quiet coffee shop located in the heart of Mumbai. It had great drinks and quick snacks and provided a great working environment if you're in the area.
Viviana Mall
A large multi-story shopping complex located in Mumbai. It had traditional Indian establishments as well as westernized stores. During our time here we stopped many times to enjoy the various restaurants and arcade games.
Lord of the Drinks
A really cool, trendy restaurant that offers cocktails and snacks in a nice part of town.
Fratelli Fresh
An Italian-inspired restaurant located within the hotel, this restaurant was very good and offered great views overlooking the water.
Leopold Café
Grab a quick beer and bite to eat at this popular to many tourists you’ll meet people from all over the world at this establishment. It’s extremely popular and hard to get a spot, however, it’s worth it and definitely feels like a night out mid day.
Copper Chimney
A small family restaurant that offers for buffet style eating. Our favorite dish here was the cheese naan - so simple, but delicious.
WHAT TO EAT
During our time in Mumbai we were fortunate enough to be hosted by kind family members. They provided us an array of traditional Indian foods that were delicious. For your next trip to Mumbai, take note and make some time to try these:
Traditional Foods
Kurma - vegetable curry
Masalebhaat - spiced/flavored rice
Koshimbir - salad with yogurt
Gulab jamun - sweet dessert
Chiropa - croissant w/sugar
Chakli - dough cookie
Roti - thin flour flatbread
Shankarpali - square cookie
Prawn Kabob - shrimp grilled on skewer
Chicken Kabob - curry style chicken grilled on skewer
Tikka Masala - chicken dish in spiced sauce often served with rice
Butter chicken - chicken dish in savory sauce often served with rice
Butter Naan - doughy flour flatbread with butter
Sula vineyard red wine - local wines
Cheese links - A quick snack similar to a tiny, fluffy square "cheese itz"
Papad - thin bean flour wafer with a cracker consistency
NEARBY
Thane
A major suburb of Mumbai, Thane is also located within the state of Maharashtra.
Pune
A major suburb of Mumbai, Pune is also located within the sate of Maharashtra.
Goa
A popular nearby beach town located along the Arabian Sea.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
India was such a great experience! On a personal level, we were so happy to be able to experience some of our sister-in-law's hometown. She and her family welcomed us with open arms and that was special in itself. Mumbai surprised us, the city was much more of a city center than we expected. The city is a major hub for business and many major western businesses presence could be found there. Also, we weren't expecting to feel the dense population as much as we did. We did this city in 5 days and we'd advise anyone visiting to spend about that amount of time to see the full city.
Comments