Mumbai is the city of dreams in India - a place where people rise from rags to riches. A place which has ample opportunities for people from all walks of life. Its also a city whose name is etched in my body forever in form of a tattoo. Also known as Bombay, it is the heartbeat of the Indian financial system. One of the 4 original metro cities in India, it is home to Bollywood, the maximum number of Indian billionaires (excl. black money in Delhi) and skyscrapers. But none of these attract me. I am enchanted by its beaches, fast-paced life, sea-side views and street food. Coming from Calcutta which does not have a beach - I have grown up longing for it. I do not yearn for a quality like that of an Australian beach or the Caribbean Islands but just need a small beach-side view where I can sit, watch the sun set and get immersed in nature's beauty.
I have thrice visited Mumbai and each experience has taught me more about this maximum city. Perhaps the first impression that struck me was unlike most Indian cities, people don't have time to look & comment upon what people are wearing. My 1st experience of transport out here was getting up on the lifeline of Mumbai - it's local trains. The train from CST terminus had started its run and in a hurry, by mistake I had got up in the ladies compartment. If you have been to Mumbai, you can imagine what would have happened next. Women started shouting, howling at me as if I had committed a crime and immediately I had to drop off to board a general compartment. Phew, it was a close shave. Travelling in a local train during office hours is undoubtedly the biggest challenge but the locals have mastered the art of getting in. Passengers left behind on the station can be clearly distinguished as an outsider or someone who is new in the town. One good part about auto-rickshaws (unlike Bangalore) is that one need not pacify and bargain with the drivers. One can simply stop them, board in first and later communicate drop location.
Roaming around the city, one would come across people from all strata that India can offer. From sky-touching residential & office buildings, lavish bungalows of Bollywood superstars to chawls and slums, you name it and you are bound to find it here. Real estate is on a very high side (not just high) which offsets the other facilities like transport, food which is otherwise available at cheaper rates. As the fashion capital of India, one is bound to visit Linking Road to catch hold of the latest in-thing at cheaper prices. On a lighter note, visiting this place with a girl can be a big mistake that one would repent for the entire day later on. As a tourist, it would be a big opportunity loss if you are missing the sunset view at a beach or Bandstand. Juhu Chowpatty is the most famous beach out here. A stroll across its length and breadth, hand-in-hand with your bae and an ice gola to swallow is like a perfect time. Post a stroll, one can indulge in mouth-watering dosa, pav bhaji etc at the stalls. I would however recommend Versova beach as it is less crowded and consequently more cleaner. An alternative to a sunset view at beaches could be the Bandstand Promenade at Bandra. Experience of sitting on rocks with fresh and hot corn is worthwhile though many couples flock here for other purposes.
Night time for me is the best time to experience the beauty of this city. Head over to Marine Drive to experience the beauty of moon under a dark night with the sound of sea waves providing a sense of calm to body. Indulge in memorable conversations with friends, sing along 90s hindi songs, listen to instrumentalists playing guitar, flute. A view of Marine Drive from decent height would glow as Queen's necklace at night. A city that never sleeps, it is perhaps the only city in India where it is utmost safe for women to be out with friends even at 4 a.m. During my previous visit, I had made only one request to my friend - a night out to be spent under the stars, roaming around the city across various modes of transport and fully live the weekend. Thankfully she agreed to my request. However, she took me to Worli Sea side view via the magnificent Bandra-Worli sea link. It is much cleaner, less crowded as compared to Marine Drive, serving as an excellent alternative. We stayed there for hours, talking about life, jobs, and crushes - basically everything. She helplessly tried explaining me how to decipher whether the sea is calm or angry but I couldn't make it out. Later, around 2 am we headed over to Bay View for an excellent view of Marine Drive to give our empty stomach some respite and save us from the police patrolling. Food and deserts were pretty good even at that hour of the night. Sensing lower police patrols, we then headed over to the Marine Drive for another hour to experience the windy night. Around 4 am, Mumbai’s lifeline resumes it’s services. We took the first local to head back home. It was close to 5:30 as I entered the housing complex ending my tiring but memorable day while my Uncle stepped out for a morning walk. It was an embarrassing moment as he inquired me on my whereabouts of last night. A healthy and delicious breakfast option is to head over to Cafe Madras at Matunga East. It's one of the best South-Indian cuisines I have experienced in my life. Another good option is Ashok Vada Pav which arguably serves the best staple food of Mumbai. Siddhivinayak Mandir at Dadar is perhaps the most prominent Hindu temple here. Each of my visits to Mumbai involves a mandatory visit to this shrine with a single humble request to Ganpati Bappa – please call me to Mumbai on a permanent basis. I had once boarded the iconic double decker bus to experience a top floor ride and feel like a child. Next on the list can be the famous Haji Ali Dargah located on an islet off the Worli coast. It’s fascinating how high tide makes this place inaccessible after sunset. A walk on the causeway with sea on both sides is a beautiful sight. Come out and refresh yourself to refreshing juices at Haji Ali Juice Center. For snacks, my experience at Amar Juice Center at Ville Parle was extremely good with as it offered all kinds of snacks - sandwiches, shakes, juices etc at economical rates. During my last visit, I also ate Burmese food at Busago - quite delicious and a lot cheaper than the ones available in Bangalore. There is a famous snacks stall in Andheri East near Bisleri factory which serves pani puri in cold Bisleri water. Price may be slightly high but the food is equally delicious. It would definitely help to provide some respite from city's humidity.
People complain about its humid weather, expensive cost of living, water logging during monsoon, rush for local trains, traffic etc. Mumbai to the eyes of a tourist is quite enchanting while it is challenging & difficult for a local. The list of complaints could be endless but Mumbai scores well in other areas. Unlike other cities where restaurants and theaters are the only options for a weekend refresh out here there is an option to head over to a beach/Marine Drive type place. One would never run out of options. Also, most musical and theatrical show takes place here, offering a different activity to look forward to. Life can be challenging here but it’s surely worth it for me as I thrive best in it. My feeling for Mumbai cannot be described in words and need not be justified. Its’ like an emotion for me. Oh Mumbai - please call me soon before a call from Calcutta comes knocking on the door...
Picture courtesy for pics like VT station, skyscrapers, Worli sea link goes to Vipassana. Check out her Instagram profile for more pics.
