According to Abbreviation Finder, India’s largest city – Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) – is one of the most popular destinations in the country. 6-7 million tourists travel to India every year, and a large proportion of them visit Mumbai, which in many ways can be considered the city of contrasts. Here the distinction between rich and poor is clear, and the same applies to what is modern and what is old. With almost 20 million inhabitants in the state, it is also a very populous city, as for tourists who will be experienced as both very busy and lively.
You prefer to travel to Mumbai in the autumn, unless you want to experience heat waves with dense air above 30 degrees. From November to April / May, the temperatures are more affordable, and warm enough anyway so you can take a dip. The city’s location along the coast makes it perfect for tourism, and here you can experience everything from historical sights from a different culture to modern shopping malls and luxury restaurants and other entertainment.
Recommended hotels in Mumbai
- The Oberoi Mumbai-Lovely modern five star hotel along the beach. Here you can get beautiful rooms with sea views and good facilities. The hotel has its own swimming pool, full-service spa and several restaurants. Good feedback.
- The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai-Venerable, elegant and traditional hotel with a central location in Mumbai. Here you have a short way to a number of the most famous sights. The hotel has very good facilities, such as its own pool, spa and a number of restaurants and bars.
- Trident, Nariman Point Mumbai– Great luxury style hotel. Good facilities, with pool, spa and restaurants.
Travel to Mumbai
India and Mumbai are geographically far away from Norway, and consequently one must expect a long flight. It will take at least 12 hours to arrive at Mumbai Airport from the time you leave Oslo Airport. In India, the official currency is called the Indian rupee. 100 rupees corresponds to approximately 13 Norwegian kroner, at the exchange rate at the time of writing. India is generally a country that is cheap to travel in for Norwegians, where everything from accommodation to dining will be experienced as extremely affordable.
As a tourist, you usually travel safely in Mumbai, but since there is a lot of poverty in India, rich tourists can be a tempting prey and there are many who work full time as scammers or pickpockets. Therefore, one should avoid showing valuables, or keep them well when one is in the typical tourist area. Beyond this, most Indians are polite and helpful.
Overnight and eat in Mumbai
Mumbai is a large city that stretches over large areas, and consequently you may want to think about where you choose to live when visiting the city. Colaba is the name of the most common tourist area, where most hotels are located. In Mumbai you can get a luxurious accommodation in a very good hotel at an affordable price, around 400-500 kroner a night for the best hotels.
Indian food is probably known to many Norwegians already, through the many Indian restaurants that are found in Norway and in other countries Norwegians travel to. The hallmark of Indian food is spices, so you have to specify that you do not want very strong food if you do not like it. Almost only vegetarian, lamb and chicken are served in India, and most dishes are made around it. There are also many seafood restaurants in Mumbai.
Attractions in Mumbai
Mumbai is a rich city, and for those of you who have not been to Asia or India before, it will be an adventure just to walk around the streets while taking in everything that happens. It is a busy city with a wide range of entertainment and many sights.
Elephant Island
There is definitely a lot to see in Mumbai, but you also have to go out to sea to experience the biggest tourist attractions. Elephant Island is a giant temple complex that was carved into the rock about 1500 years ago. You join a small boat trip from the port of Mumbai if you want to see Elephant Island, which is recommended to all tourists with a sense of the obscure and the historical.
Gateway of India
By far the most famous tourist attraction in Mumbai is what is called the “Gateway to India”. It is an extensive structure that was built at the beginning of the 20th century, and is a welcome for those who come to India by boat. It extends almost 30 meters above the ground and is located along the harbor promenade in the tourist area.
The Hanging Gardens and Victoria Gardens
Mumbai has several beautiful parks and green areas, where the Hanging Gardens are the most famous and most visited. Here you can enjoy the sunset over the sea, or just relax in green and lush surroundings with both natives and tourists. Also consider a visit to Queen Victoria’s Gardens, which date from the Renaissance and the time when India was under British control.
Bazaars and shopping streets
One does not travel to Mumbai without visiting one of the many bazaars. It is extremely exciting to watch, and maybe you buy something from the street vendors. India has a long tradition of buying and selling, so it is definitely a lot of exciting to explore the local markets in Mumbai.