Challenging! Although Mumbai does have an excellent network of public transportation like buses and trains, the metropolitan city also has a large workforce that is bursting at the seams on weekdays.
Tip- Avoid traveling by suburban local trains from 8 am to 10 am & evening 5pm to 7.30 pm.
As a tourist/ first-timer, commuting can be daunting at first. But trains are relatively empty during non-peak hours, especially if traveling from South to North.
In case you are using public transport, do take care of your belongings.
Autos and cabs are available- make sure they go by the meter tariff. Ola/ Uber seems to be the better option and works well as long as the traffic is reasonable.
In the years to come, we hope to have many more metro lines that will ease the traffic further.
The most populated city in India; you will need far more than a few days to soak in the essence of Mumbai. Keeping in mind the challenges in commuting from one place to another, here is a practical & convenient itinerary designed to cover places on your own.
Split into 4 major neighborhood areas, you can then select what best suits your convenience and stay duration.
Juhu (western suburbs), Duration 2 days
This breezy sea-facing neighborhood is home to Bollywood celebrities, swanky sea-facing restaurants, hip pubs, spas, and discotheques.
Getting here - from T2 Mumbai intl airport :
Ola/ Uber to Juhu -- 300rs approx -OR-
Airport road metro station -to- JVPD bus station (by metro)
1) ISKCON, Juhu
Govinda's restaurant is quite popular for karmic free delicious vegetarian food, reasonably priced. They also have a Special Sunday Buffet Breakfast.
2) Juhu beach
A nice place to spend a few relaxed hours of sea breeze. Avoid getting in the water, otherwise it has a lively ambience in the evening with all sorts of recreational activities for kids and plenty of food stalls.
3) Hotels with beach view bar or restaurants
If food at the stalls don't appeal your palate, then there are plenty of hotels with a bar or restaurant overlooking the beach.
4) Prithvi theatre
A theatre with nearly 3 to 4 performances daily.
Timings : 1pm to 9pm (closed on Mondays) Do check their official site for more info. They are very strict about entry timings though. The theatre also has an excellent outdoor cafe, that is the watering hole of actors as well as theatre audience. 5) Night life
Juhu also has an eclectic night life with pubs and discotheques in the area.
Just in case you prefer to do some shopping; there is Lokhandwala (Andheri) market road. With it's lively street shopping and amazing food options. Or chill around a bit and watch a movie at Infiniti mall.
Borivali, Gorai (western suburbs), 4 days
1) Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Is literally the lungs of the city. It is great for a 1-day picnic, where you can hike, listen to birds chirping, explore caves, and ride a toy train. The park is home to leopards, and there is also a lion safari bus for short rides within the park. Main gate entrance 70rs/ pp
Getting to SGNP from Borivali railway station : You can hire an auto rickshaw 60-100rs to the park entrance.
To make the best of this trip
> Start the day early to beat the noon heat.
> Kanheri caves (located within the park) are Buddhist caves dated from 1-10 CE. There are 109 caves in all that have historical and religious significance. Get to know The story of Mumbai Ph: 1800 22 9930 do check if this site is open. Normal days- closed on Mondays.
> The caves are located another 5 kms ahead of the main gate. So, if you don't have a personal car, you can also hire Ola/ Uber 300rs approx for this trip- that will go inside the forest right to the caves. The local cars on hire within the park are too expensive.
- OR -
A nice leisurely hike/ 1.5 hrs during which you can easily spot deer and monkeys to give you company along the way. But be careful of the monkeys; I almost had my bag of crisps and soda stolen.
Kanheri caves entry fee- 25rs/ Indian and 300rs/ foreigners
On the way back, there is a small canteen for cold drinks and snacks.
2) Esselworld - Waterworld - Gorai beach - Global Vipasanna pagoda (are all located in the same area)
Getting here : From Borivali, head to Gorai jetty from where ferry services are available (every 15 mins) to reach Esselworld. Ferry charges 70rs/ per head.
Esselworld - is ideally a full-day outing with family and kids. You can buy your ticket online, or just go there and buy offline tickets.
Normal Timings : Mon to Sun 10 am to 6.30 pm. However, due to covid-19 sop protocol, they are closed until 15th July.
Waterworld - is situated exactly opposite Esselworld, and is quite popular with local tourists who find this waterpark a great place to beat the heat. There are many exciting rides and will require 1 full day.
To make the best of this trip
> Tickets- 1000rs/ per head approx. It is better to take both Esselworld and Waterworld packages together (in case you want to visit both). There are huge discounts on Tuesdays & Fridays. But do watch out- as Fridays and weekends are quite crowded.
> No outside food allowed. There are a wide variety of food options within the park itself.
> Only nylon swimwear allowed. They do provide on hire, in case you have not carried your own.
> The park also provides lockers for 150 rs, that can accommodate 1 backpack and other small things like slippers and mobiles. So it's better to keep it light. Washrooms and changing rooms are available.
Gorai beach - enjoy evening sunset at Gorai beach. But avoid swimming, as the water is not so clean.
Global Vipassana pagoda -
presently closed due covid-19 pandemic. Do check their official site for future updates https://www.globalpagoda.org/
This pagoda is an oasis of peace, built in typical Burmese style. An architectural marvel; it is designed to hold 8000 people. There is an art gallery dedicated to the life & teaching of Buddha, they also have 20 mins meditation which is held daily.
Timing- Sun to Sat 9 am -7 pm. Entry and tour guide charges: Free.
Identity proof is mandatory for foreign visitors (passport/ driving license)
Incase you wish to undergo the 10-day Vipassana meditation courses, they are held 'free of charge'. In fact, they do not even charge for food and accommodation. But donations are welcome, so others get an opportunity to experience the same peace - Shanti time away from the noisy city!
Bandra (western suburbs), Duration 2 days
Bandra is another hip locality of Mumbai and home to Bollywood stars, models, celebrities and influential people. This neighborhood is dotted with stylish boutiques, restaurants and bars. This was onc
e a simple fishing village, when the Portuguese established their dominion here in 1534. As was the policy of the Portuguese, they exerted their religious influence by building a number of churches that stand to this date.
Starting with the railway station- observe the Victorian-Gothic architecture. The station is as old as 1869 and a heritage building.
Note~ As of May 2022, Bandra railway station is undergoing restoration work.
Head to Elco arcade, Hill road- this part of Hill road is quite popular with shoppers. From garments, to junk jewelry, cheap footwear and other knick knacks, it's really a lively place. Elco pani puri centre serves delicious, unique pani puris (80rs plate).
The Mount Mary Church at Bandra dates back to the 16th century when it was built by the Portuguese. During May every year there is an extravagant 8 day feast to celebrate the birthday of Mother Mary.
Take a walk down Bandstand- it's exhilarating! Walk past Shahrukh Khan's bungalow~ Mannat until the Bandra fort to catch a view of the vast sea at sunset, and the recently built Bandra-Worli sea link road.
Take a stroll around Chimbai and Ranwar the old gaothans (villages) which take you back in time.
Spend an evening at Joggers park which is in the vicinity.
Next day- book an ola to Siddhivinayak temple, and seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
Day 3 - Driving down the Bandra-World sea link. not only cuts the distance from Bandra to Worli by approx. 40 mins, but it also offers great views of the fishing villages, skyscrapers and all the sea breeze you can handle.
2 wheeler, auto not allowed, but Ola/ Uber is a good option- although you may have to pay an additional 70 rs for toll.
Visit Worli fort for some amazing views of the sea link. Then from Worli head to Phoenix mills compound, Lower Parel and spend the day at Phoenix Palladium- It's a luxury mall with high-end brands, pubs, a multiplex and food court. This mall is beautifully decorated on festival days and offers huge discounts.
South Mumbai, 7 days
So stay awhile and explore this part of town.
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