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Mumbai Travel Guide: Explore the City of Dreams in True Mumbaikar Style!

Surangama Banerjee

Last updated: Jul 10, 2019

A celebration of life, spinning millions of dreams every second and abuzz with constant activity is the very pulse of Aamchi Mumbai. Located on the west coast overlooking the Arabian Sea, this city gained prominence as a trade hub and later as Bollywood’s official address. Housing one of the richest business districts known - Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai is rightly called the entertainment and financial capital of India.

With so many paradoxes stitched in the fabric of this megacity, let’s explore Mumbai the Mumbaikar way!

For Culture, Spice and All Things Nice, Head to Colaba

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Showcasing Portuguese and British architecture amid swanky abodes and signature residences, the posh locality of Colaba provides for an immersive South Mumbai experience. The grandeur of the Gateway of India with the sea breeze blowing through your hair is reason enough to click some trademark Mumbai selfies!

The history nerds can make their way to the famous Elephanta Caves via a steamer ride while all the Bollywood buffs can hop over to the nearby Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to spot celebs and indulge in 5-star opulence.

You could also hike through the narrow by-lanes and feast on lip-smacking delicacies ranging from delicious kebabs at Bade Miya to yummy sandwiches at Café Leopold.

While there, enjoy rummaging through the thrift shops at Colaba Causeway or the mountain of books at Flora Fountain to collect some rare precious gems. Soak in the charm of art-deco buildings overlooking the Marine Drive at Nariman Point or hike along the Back Bay to unwind after a long day.

Oh! And don’t forget to check-in at Café Mondegar, the Parsi delicacies there would really go well with your chilled pints of beer!

For A History Hangover Amid Party Hotspots and Dizzying Heights, Visit Bandra​

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Ride over the sea via the Bandra-Worli Sealink to reach Bandra from SOBO (local lingo for South Bombay) and immediately feel the eclectic vibe of this megacity set in. Brimming with famous pubs and eateries, Bandra is the l’officiel party hub of Mumbai. Being home to some of the mega Bollywood movie stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, it is no wonder that the Bollywood charm has seeped into the psyche of the people living there.

While Bandra Bandstand offers a blissful experience, it is just a stone’s throw away from the landmark residences of both the Khan families. A short walk away to Carter Road will get you to some of the famous street food eateries of Mumbai, located along the sea.

To satiate your Bollywood craze further, take a quick tour of the elite Pali Hills and who knows? You could actually land yourself a chance to get clicked with some famous movie star. Oh! And do manage to squeeze in some time for the popular Bandra Reclamation for its breweries and craft beers or the famous Mt. Mary’s Church, St. Andrews and Bandra Fort to learn more about the critical historical influences reigning over the “Queen of the Suburbs”, Bandra.

Read More: Weekend Getaways from Mumbai for Some Fun

Get A Whiff of Nostalgia in Andheri, Flaunting Business Houses Juxtaposed with Entertainment Hubs

Connecting Bandra to Andheri and so forth, the Linking Road is a crowd-favourite shopping stretch swarming with hawkers and shops selling heavy Bollywood-inspired clothes and jewelry. Walk further ahead and you’ll reach the economic hotbed of Andheri in Mumbai. Segregated into East and West Andheri, this part of Mumbai houses the grand production houses of Yash Raj Films, Balaji Studio and the likes. A chosen address of multiple head offices of prime companies and housing some of the famous educational institutes of the city, this plush locality also has some of the best shopping malls in the city.

A little further ahead and you’ll find yourself in the elite locality of Lokhandwala housing contemporary skyscrapers which are home to budding television stars as well as Bollywood stars. With a booming street food scene comprising of tongue-titillating rolls and kebabs to delicious ice-creams, the shopping scene here at Lokhandwala Market is also nothing short of a haggling war.

But, as long as you get to add some rare designer pieces to your collection, it’s worth a visit!

Take A Tour of Juhu, Glittering with The Elite of Bollywood and Home to 5-Star Destinations

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Brimming with famous colleges and known educational institutions, Juhu houses the crème de la crème of the city and is popularly known as the “Beverly Hills of Bollywood”. This posh locality has sprawling parks and 5-star hotels bordering along the famous Juhu Chowpatty Beach. No trip to Mumbai is complete without indulging in some true-blue Mumbaiya food at this beach!

Stroll along the Juhu Tara Road to indulge in some heavy duty shopping or walk hand-in-hand with your bae while soaking the sunset and the romantic flavour of the city.

#MMTProTip: The theatre lovers can visit the Prithvi Theatre while relishing some really delicious dishes at the adjacent café!

So, what are you waiting for? Plan your Mumbai holiday today!

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