Mumbai is India’s ‘City of Dreams’. The city, formerly known as Bombay, is located on the western coast of India. Besides being the largest city in India, it is also the financial capital of India. After Delhi, Mumbai is India’s second most populated cities. The hectic lifestyle of the people and the fast-paced life has given Mumbai the nickname of ‘the city that never sleeps.’ The Arabian Sea lies on one side of the city and that has given it a great trading business.
This lively metropolis is the centre of developing India and it is not surprising that a great number of tourists visit Mumbai all throughput the year. The distinct way of life of the Mumbaikars may intimidate people who visit Mumbai. Before you visit Mumbai, there are certain things to keep in mind about the city. We list below 10 useful things that you must know about Mumbai to make your trip easy, comfortable and hassle free.
1. Mumbai hotels
The city has no dearth of hotels. The innumerable Best Mumbai hotels suit all types of budgets. You can avail the facility of OYO and Treebo, which are two of the best hotel booking services. Therefore, even if your trip has been decided at the end moment, you can stay rest assured of finding a roof over your head with these online hotel booking services in the rate that you want to.
2. Terrible traffic
Mumbai is famous for its notorious traffic especially during the peak hours. Morning, 8-10 am, witnesses maddening traffic, from the suburban Mumbai to central Mumbai as most people travel there for work. In the evenings, it is advisable to go out early, as after six there are chances of you being stuck in long traffic snarls. 4-5 pm is the appropriate time especially if you are heading back to your suburban home from South Mumbai.
3. Connectivity
The Mumbai suburban areas are spread at a huge distance from south Mumbai. Both are very distinct places of Mumbai. You enter south Mumbai when you cross Bandra and move towards Mahim and Mumbai central. The magnificent Bandra-Worli sea link that is a bridge over the Arabian Sea, takes you from Bandra to Worli in a considerably less time.
4. Airport
Mumbai airport, known as the Chatrapati Shivaji international airport, is located in the Mumbai suburbs of Santa Cruz and Sahar. Mumbai airport is India’s biggest airport and covers an area of 1450 acres. The airport was redeveloped recently, and it is one of the most beautiful airports in India. There are two terminals in the airport namely T1 and T2. For first timers it may get a little confusing. The T1 terminal mostly operates all domestic airlines whereas the T2 terminal operates all international flights. However, at time some domestic airlines do land and take off at the T1 terminal too. It is always better to take prior information in order to avoid complications.
5. No selfie zones
A huge number of deaths that has happened in India due to the selfie-mania, the police have declared 16 zones in Mumbai that prohibits taking of a selfie. Make sure to keep yourself well informed about these places to avoid problems.
6. Cab services
If you are visiting Mumbai and are worried about travelling within the city, then you need not be. You can book cabs online from anywhere in the city. The most popular online cab booking services are Ola and Uber. You can even rent these cars for a full day. You can even book these cars for a city tour.so download these apps before you visit Mumbai and get easy access to the online cabs.
7. Tropical weather
Mumbai lies on the Konkan coast and as such, it experiences a tropical climate. The average elevation above the sea level is 46 feet. Mumbai experiences a warm humid climate all through the year. The monsoon season generally falls between June to august. Monsoons can use great difficulty in Mumbai as the city experiences very heavy rainfall every year. You may get to see heavy flooding in Mumbai if you are visiting the city in the monsoon months. Traffic can get worse and local trains may even stop plying during the rains. It is best to visit Mumbai in seasons other than the monsoon season. Mumbai experiences no winter. It is very rare for the temperature to go below 18 degrees in Mumbai. It is advisable to carry light cotton clothes for your Mumbai trip.
8. Local trains
The local trains are the city’s lifeline. The overcrowded trains may scare you at first sight especially if you are visiting Mumbai for the first time. However, the local rains are the cheapest mode of transport in the city. It connects all suburban towns of Mumbai to south Mumbai. The local railway is divided into three different zones-western, central and harbor. The trains are overcrowded in the mornings and evenings. There are fast local trains as well as slow ones. The slow local trains stop at every station. Apart from the local trains, Mumbai also has metro rail and monorail that connects a few selective parts of the city.
9. Rickshaws
This three-wheeled vehicle is an easy way to move in the city. Painted black and yellow, the rickshaws run by meter, so you have no chances of being cheated by the rickshaw drivers when it comes to the auto fare. An important thing to keep in mind is that rickshaws do not ply beyond Bandra.
10. Ferry services
Ferry services are easily available to go to nearby islands like the elephant caves and Alibaug. These ferries depart from the dockyard in south Mumbai. It is a cheap and fast way to visit these beautiful places.
With the above information on Mumbai, you are sure to have an easy and hassle-free trip to the city of dreams. The city has too much to offer in terms of sightseeing, which will help, you create some beautiful memories for a lifetime.
