Mumbai (Bombay)
Overview
Mumbai, is the financial capital of India. Its situated on the west coast, on the Arabian Sea.
Therefore, we enjoy a Mediterranean climate mostly between 15-38 degrees Centigrade.
India as you may be aware is a big country with diverse cultures and religion.
Each state has its own language and a different script. So, to really know India,
one would have to visit the whole country, which obviously is not possible in one visit.
However, Mumbai is the best location for a foreign tourist. Mostly, everyone speaks English;
the weather is great for 4 months a year. There are beautiful monuments like the Gateway Of
India, The Prince of Wales Museum, The Rajabhai Tower etc. In the heart of the city,
the Marine Drive spans for 4 kms along the ocean and offers a spectacular view.
http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in
Airport to your hotel
We shall be glad to fetch you from the Airport. Incase, you arrive at some
unearthly hour (which many flights arrive in Mumbai), we suggest booking a
taxi from your hotel. Else, there is a government counter at the exit which
is a prepaid taxi service. Its safe and the taxi numbers are noted by the
authorities. Also, you can choose for an airconditioned car. Please note
that the taxis have a small boot and sometimes the boot will be tied by
a rope since it will not shut with your luggage. Dont worry about it but
just re-check that the driver has tied the boot properly.
Food and drinks
It is a cosmopolitan city, with people from all states of India and most countries of the world. We have restaurants of virtually all cuisines. It is definitely a gourmets delight. You can enjoy a hearty meal of the famous Indian Curry or a Cordon Bleu meal if you like. Wash it down with a Kingfisher beer (World Award Winner) or a Glass of Indian Rose Wine (which is exported to many European countries and the USA).
If you like to get a view of the city, you should visit the Revolving Restaurant at Ambassador Hotel. Its the only one in India and serves Chinese cuisine. For Indian (Mughlai/North Western) cuisine, we suggest Khyber or Gaylord. For Continental, we suggest The Indigo, an award-winning restaurant which changes into a lounge after 11 pm. It was voted by US Conde Nast as one of the top 60 restaurants in the world.
All of these places are in South Mumbai, which is the old and clean part of Mumbai.
If youre the kind who likes late hours, there are places which are good seasonally, and open till the wee hours of the morning.
Hotels
Whatever is your budget, there is a hotel in Mumbai. Right from Rs. 500 to
Rs. 20,000 per day (US$10 -400). However, we will always suggest a 5 Star
Hotel which we can book at a discounted price of approx US$200.
We have some links as under, which are in the heart of the city
and the old town.
www.tajhotels.com
www.oberoihotels.com
Safety
Probably the safest place in India. You could walk in the middle of night without any worries. Whether you are in a taxi or a restaurant or the Hotel, you can be at ease. Obviously, like most places in the world you have to watch your belongings and there are certain locations you should not visit. Having said that, we personally have never had a bad experience.
Travel
There are local trains, buses and taxis. Taxis are inexpensive and the most convenient way of travel. Presently per km, the cost is Rs. 13 (US$ 0.30). Every Taxi has to have an authorized Meter, which displays the reading. After checking out, you need to correlate the same with a Meter Card, which mentions the amount. Every Taxi (Yellow and Black or Blue and Silver- Air-conditioned) have to compulsory run by the meter. If the driver does not agree you can pull a Police Officer. Whether you travel at night or day, you will be safe in a Taxi. Remember, always pay by the meter.
Places close by
If you would like to take a holiday after a successful business trip, we suggest Goa. It is about 500 Kms from Mumbai, and a beach lovers paradise. You can visit the below link for more details.
www.goatourism.com
Weather
Mumbai is mostly warm, tapering towards hot. The best time to visit is from December to February where the temperature is a moderate 15-25 Centrigrade. In the summer months from March to May, the mercury goes upto 40 C. From June to September, the monsoons make their presence felt. It could be raining non-stop for a week and the city can be at a stand still with half of it under a few feet of water. Or it could be a dry patch when the weather is hot and humid. October and November again is very hot with temperatures between 30 35 C. As such, whether you are on a business trip or on holiday, you can always do without a jacket throughout the year. You can visit the meteorological department at
http://www.imd.ernet.in/main_new.htm