Home > Destinations > Maharashtra >

Mumbai Guide

BEST Mumbai Bus Service

Mumbai - the business capital of India, is the most glamourous and stylish city of the world. The lifestyle of this city holds the ultimate style statement of the country. Mumbai city guide gives you some authentic information regarding the climate, behaviour and decorum of the city. Also you can have fair idea of how you can access the city from different parts of the world. Our city guide is surely going to be your first hand helping tool to explore this multi-faceted city, Mumbai.

Mumbai Climate

Bring in the tropical zone and located near the Arabian Sea, the climate of Mumbai may be broadly divided into two main seasons - the humid season and the dry season. From March to October, the humid season takes the sweat out with a relief of heavy shower from June to September. Between November and February the season gets dry and cold northerly winds cover Mumbai with a pleasant mid-chilling weather. This is the best time to visit the Mumbai city.

Getting There

By Air

Mumbai being the financial capital of India enjoys heavy rush of both domestic and international flights. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is located 30 km North of the city centre at Sahar and is the major gateway for India, handling 37 per cent of the country's international passenger tariff, which is more than any other airport in India. Mumbai airport operates flights from 37 airlines, which fly to the major cities in Asia, the far and middle East, major destinations in Europe - such as London and Paris as well as New York and Chicago.

The Domestic Airport located at 26 km North of the city centre at Santa Cruz provides connections to 39 cities in India. Six million passengers use the airport every year, which is the 25 per cent of the total domestic air travel.

Hotel booking counter, pre-paid taxi service, foreign currency exchange counter are all available just outside the international terminal. A restaurant, snack bar and a shopping area is also available in the departure lounge. There is no pre-paid taxi counter in the domestic terminal. Taxis are available from a policed queue outside the terminal. The departure area also minimal shopping and a snack bar along with phone booths.

Approximate flight times to Mumbai : From London - 9 hr, New York - 16 hr, Los Angeles - 21 hr and 3 min, Sydney - 12 hr and 45 min, Toronto - 16 hr, Tokyo - 12 hr, Singapore - 8 hr 30 min, Delhi - 2 hr, Bangalore - 1 hr 30 min, Chennai - 1 hr 50 min and Kolkata - 2 hr and 20 min.

By Rail

Mumbai is well connected to the rest of the country by Central and Western Railway lines. Trains to Mumbai from most central, southern and eastern regions arrive at Central Railway Terminus (CST) which is located in the heart of the city. Trains from Northern India arrive at Bombay Central (Western Railway Terminus).

Central Railway operates 177 services per day, while Western Railway handles 922 services, carrying approximately 2.8 million and 2.6 million passengers per day, respectively. Destinations include Central Railway services to Lucknow (26hr), Hyderabad (15 hr), Nagpur (14 hr) and Pune (3hr and 25 min) and Western Railway Services to Jaipur (17 hr and 30 min), Delhi (17 hr) and Ahmedabad (7 hr).

By Road

National Highways 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 provide connecting routes between Mumbai and the rest of India. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation operates bus services from Mumbai to other towns and cities within the same and adjoining states. The distance from Mumbai to some of the major destinations are : Ahmedabad - 545 km, Aurangabad - 403 km, Bhopal - 779 km, Bangalore - 998 km, Hyderabad - 711 km, Indore - 593 km, Pune - 163 km, Nagpur - 855 km, Surat - 263 km, Nashik - 185 km, Chennai - 1329 km and Delhi - 1407 km.

By Sea

The port of Mumbai is located to the South of the city and the harbour handles approximately one sixth of India's total sea-borne trade with three docks in operation - The Indira, Prince's and Victoria Docks with passenger berths at Ferry Wharf and Gateway of India. Ferry ships depart from the Ferry Wharf and Gateway of India. There is a ferry route between Gateway of India and Mandwa as well as services to Elephanta Cave and a Hovercraft service to Vashi and Navi Mumbai.

Local Transport

Due to the lack of car parking place, the residents of Mumbai prefer to rely on Public transport to travel to and from their workplace. Mumbai Suburban Railway plays as backbone to the city's transport and is composed of three separate networks running the length of the city. Public buses under the operation of BEST cover the entire city along with Navi Mumbai and Thane. The BEST runs single decker, double decker and air conditioned buses though the city. Black and yellow metered taxi and auto rickshaws are the main form of hired taxis here.

Travel Tips

Taking up Government and authentic taxi or auto service outside the airport or railway station is a sensible idea in Mumbai.

Let the registered porter carry your luggage in the railway station.

The helping booths located at every major places of the city help the tourists if they have any kind of query.

Paying according to the meter of taxi and auto is advisable while travelling in Mumbai.

While visiting any religious place, be cautious to maintain the rituals by taking off your shoes and cover your head while entering in any temple, gurdwara or mosque.

Descent clothing is advisable inside the country so that the sentiments of local people is not hurt as India is a conservative country.

Government emporium or registered and authentic shops are advisable to purchase any precious good.

Avoid purchasing animal products. If you shop for some heavy jewellery, don't forget to take the bill and certificate from the shop to avoid hassles in the customs.