Mumbai
IN BRIEF: Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) is India’s largest city. Approximately 17 million people live in the sprawling metropolis, but an exact headcount is impossible to gauge with thousands arriving daily in search of wealth. As India’s financial and banking capital, it is ensured a pre-eminent position in global business circles. Its stock market is the country’s wealthiest and its airport is the country’s busiest. Trade is the talk of the town.
DISTANCE: Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport or CSIA (formerly Santa Cruz) terminals are located 26-30km north of the CBD. Travel time varies according to peak-hour traffic, but you should allow at least one hour for the journey by pre-paid taxi (approximately INR2,500). In 2010, a planned metro line will link to the airport’s expansion. www.csia.in
ORIENTATION: The city centre (10km from south to north) extends primarily along a peninsula separating Mumbai Harbour and the Arabian Sea from downtown Colaba north to Mumbai Central station in Byculla.
SLEEP: The city’s most famous and desirable hotel is undoubtedly the grand, century-old Taj Mahal Palace & Tower facing the harbour at the Gateway to India.
Apollo Bunder, Colaba, tel: +91 (22) 6665 3366, www.tajhotels.com/palace
EAT: The Taj Mahal Palace hotel’s many restaurants are among the city’s best, but head to the Masala Kraft for unusual and award-winning north Indian food. www.tajhotels.com
For continental and Indian food, one of the best is long-time favourite, Gaylord. Catch Mumbai’s elite as they dine at this historic institution.
Veer Nariman Road, Church Gate, Colaba, tel: +91 (22) 2282 1259
DRINK: Try the Czar Bar at the InterContinental in Chowpatty Beach’s Marine Parade for cocktails with the in-crowd. It’s a good place to begin a Chowpatty Beach pub crawl in the country’s only real bar/nightclub strip.
InterContinental Marine Drive, 135 Marine Drive, tel: +91 (22) 3987 9999, www.mumbai.intercontinental.com
PLAY: Mumbai is India’s only city that may rightly claim to have a nightlife scene. Home to Bollywood stars, designers and artists, the city’s club scene is as vibrant as any large city in North America or Europe. It changes rapidly and is very fickle, but the new JW Marriott’s Enigma Bar & Club in Bollywood’s heart at Juhu Beach is currently attracting the city’s most fashionable movers and shakers.
Juhu Tara Road, Juhu Beach, tel: +91 (22) 6693 3000, www.marriott.com
SPA: The Club Oasis Fitness Centre and Spa at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai is one of the city’s best. Treatments are top-notch and totally deluxe.
Off Western Express Highway, Santa Cruz (East), tel: +91 (22) 6676 1234, http:// mumbai.grandhyatt.com
SHOP: In a city packed with shopping options, High Street Phoenix is a mega-complex with gaming and eating zones plus hundreds of boutiques.
462 Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, tel: +91 (22) 2496 4307, www.highstreetphoenix.com
DAY TRIP: Getting out of Mumbai by road may take a full day because of traffic conditions, so why not go for a cruise on the harbour instead? The city was originally called Bom Baia by the Portuguese for its splendid safe port and is the reason for the city’s existence. Go to the Hindu cave temples on Elephanta Island and combine history with refreshing sea breezes in a one-day exploration. Ask your hotel to organise a day cruise.
INFORMATION: www.mumbainet. com is full of traveller information for both business and leisure.
CONCIERGE TIP: A drink in the Taj Mahal Palace’s Harbour Bar (above) overlooking the monumental Gateway to India constructed to celebrate King George’s visit in 1911 is a must-do and must-see Mumbai experience in one. Follow up with an evening at Chowpatty Beach and watch the lights sparkling over the Arabian Sea.
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