Up-dated "what to do in Mumbai" list ?

Ash2009

As one who grew up in Bombay, here is what I suggest, keeping in mind that Bombay gets hot during the day and, that its more of a "way of life" type city than a real place to sightsee.

Walk around Colaba market for some wonderful shopping; eat something at Chandu Halwai [ask anyone for its location..its a famous landmark]. Go see Gateway of India. Drink cold coffee with ice cream at the Sea Lounge in the Taj [it overlooks Bombay Harbour and you can watch the boats coming in]. Stroll along Marine Drive in the evening to watch the sunset and visit Chowpatty [but dont eat anything there!]. Take time to visit Chor Bazaar [literally, Thieves market, but more like a flea market] and Zaveri Market [Diamond market] and also Crawford market [fruit and veegetable market], especially in the morning.

Also must see VT station for its spectacular architecture and the Kala Ghoda area for its architecture. Take in a few museums [Prince of wales museum]. Elephanta caves are also worth visiting.

I would not bother going to the suburbs much [Borivili, Juhu Beach, Bandra...they are hard to get to, not much happening and you will never miss a thing if you dont go].

Hang out in the coffee shops in some of the 5 star hotels...its a quiet respite from the hustle/bustle of the city [and the restrooms are guaranteed clean!] and in the evenings, they make a great spot to watch the young and glamorous Bombayites on their way to dinner parties!

zsonia2993

If you are interested in theatre... you can go to Prithvi theatre in Juhu, thats a fun place.

It all depends on what you are interested in and how much time you have.

snonymous

Adding to the list:

For those who like nature but do not want to go far, the Byculla zoo a.k.a. Victoria Gardens/Jijamata Udyan/Rani Bagh, is an oasis of greenery in the heart of the grimy city. It hosts several rare species of flora, a heritage wooden Victorian conservatory, a well stocked and cheap nursery, and a lot of birds and butterflies to be seen - out of the cages. Look out for the wild mongoose family that inhabits the nursery. I am intentionally not commenting about the condition of the hapless caged animals which is another story.

The Maharashtra Nature Park at Mahim opposite Dharavi bus depot, is another sylvan haven with a small freshwater lake, its own small patch of forest adjoining the mangroves of Mahim Creek, and several species of birds and butterflies to be seen. It also has a medicinal plant nursery.

The Bombay Port Trust Gardens at Colaba [Sagar Upavan is the official name] is another beautiful botanical garden with several rare floral species and a fantastic sea view. It is closed between 11am and 4pm.

Linking Road and Hill Road in Bandra are great for shopping or just passing time in the many shops, stalls and restaurants. Much better than Colaba, in my opinion as a local Bombay resident.

For those who are interested, the Lalbagh market lanes parallel to Chivda Gully is like stepping back in time with old world courtesies still intact and a laid back, unhurried atmosphere quite different to what you will see anywhere else in Mumbai. Typical Maharashtrian Konkan belt foods, spices, sweets and snacks are available here at very down to earth prices. Lalbagh is at its vibrant best during festival seasons. Outlet stores of major clothing brands are located on the main road between Lalbagh and Parel.

Dadar is another shoppers paradise, so is Santacruz West but there are road works in progress there at the moment. Juhu also has a lot of restaurants and bars. The beach is great for people watching, and bhel puri - if you dare! The Hare Krishna temple and restaurant is located in Juhu.

Madh island and Marve are somewhat better beaches further away, accessible from Malad by road or from Versova jetty by ferry.

Gorai and Manori have even better beaches with the Esselworld entertainment park thrown in. Accessible by road from Borivili or Bhayander, by ferry from Manori.

NamasteCat:
K Rustam still exists and continues to dole out brilliant ice creams in a huge variety of flavours, from the same run down old Parsi store which has never had a facelift since inception!!

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namaste_cat

Cool post, snonymous! Agree with all your suggestions. I've lived in Mumbai at 3 different times in my life, and I must say I'd love to do it again. I miss it a lot.

I'm so pleased K Rustam is still there. I'm going to be visiting next summer, and will definitely try to make it there to say hello to the wonderful Parsi ladies there. God I feel old - I went to college there more than 25 years ago.

capt_mahajan

Wonder if they still have those sandwich ice creams.

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snonymous

They do indeed Capt. M., in a huge variety of yummy flavours.

Namastecat:
There is a Parsi young lad now - probably a grandson of the Parsi ladies, and a couple of Christian ladies. The prices are still on the lower side and the quality remains the best.

We used to go there from office every Saturday after lunch at Cafe Shaheen, before going home. Since more than a year now, we do not work Saturdays so the visits to K Rustam and to Shaheen have drastically come down. Once in a while though, when we pass Rustam, we make it a point to pop in for a 'sandwich'.

CFPhotoGrafie

delhiwala...where is Kulfi Centre?

mary.mina.shani

chowpatti beach at night. eat pani puri!

crab at trishna restaurant

mangaldas fabric bazaar (next to crawford markets)

CFPhotoGrafie

Mary thats not fair you pointing me to a fabric bazaar on my rock bottom budget!
lol

skk

Let's see if someone can top this one ( on the obscurity scale) - I'm sure a Mumbaikar will wipe the floor with me in this but still -

The Khada Parsi statue at Byculla flyover:

The city’s oldest Parsi gentleman — the 149-year-old cast iron Khada Parsi, or the statue of Shet Cursetjee Manockjee.

Khada means standing, well, doh, what would a statue be doing anyway - thinking? ( no don't answer that ) - I've asked Mumbaikars and so far I've yet to get a satisfactory explanation of why its called Khada Parsi - not even a shaggy dog or cock-and-bull story.

I've invented my own - since many Parsees are restauranters you only ever see them SEATED - at the till, taking the money and generally monitoring their hotel. This one's different since the gentleman is actually, well, STANDING - i.e. KHADA.

-skk

aadil

You will find some of the statues with the gentlemen sitting but I guess this one is on a pretty tall pillar which is not the case with most other statues in the city which are on a much shorter base. It is also a copy of the artwork found on another structure which was adapted to mount the statue of Cursetjee Manockjee on the highly decorated pillar with mermaids and gas lamps. It is in a highly deplorable state right now with the Byculla Flyover running neck to neck with the statue and almost obscuring it from public view!!!

Cheers,
Aadil.

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Ali-Monbeam

is the fabric bazaar well known coz that sounds like my type of place too.
Or ...how do i get there from ..say India Gate.?

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capt_mahajan

From Gateway of India, ask a taxi to take you to Crawford Market- its a km and a half or so beyond the CST (VT) railway station, so totally maybe 4/5 km.

Get down and ask anybody. Very crowded area.

skk

Thanks Much. Now, THAT theory has better plausibility than mine - but having been fooled a few times by erstwhile mythical members of CANOE ( Committee to Ascribe Nautical Origins to Everything) (cf much believed and false etymologies of POSH, of "cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey", before I fully buy into this, next time I'm in Mumbai I shall go looking for SITTING statues of Seth Cursetjee manockjee. Seems like an utterly pointless exercise and thus worth doing.

I found this photo of the statue by the way at http://parsiana.com

-skk

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Jayanna.B

Hello IMers..

Coming Dec'09 around 2nd or 3rd week I am planning to visit Mumbai on some personal work.

Plans are not yet finalised, infact.

About One and half a day I may get free time & during this time I wann take a look at beautiful places of Mumbai. Places should be memorable & my preference towards scenic only.

Can please somebody suggest me good 'sight-seeing' tour organiser who can take around or is it worth going on our own.

Please advise.

Thanks,
Jay/Bengaluru