Practical Information about Mumbai
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Travel Guide to Mumbai
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Travel Guide to Mumbai Practical Information about Mumbai Book your flight to Mumbai
FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Mumbai
CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Mumbai
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
GETTING AROUND Mumbai
There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Mumbai each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1: New Year's Day (national)
January 26: Republic Day (national)
Each year, the founding of the Republic of India on this day in 1950 is marked with pomp and pageantry. Celebrations include official ceremonies, colourful military parades and general merry-making, including street theatre and fireworks.
February 12: Vasant Panchami (national)
This one-day Hindu festival celebrates the arrival of spring. In and around Mumbai, the day is celebrated with kite flying, singing, dancing and feasting.
Mai 1: Labour Day (national)
August 15: Independence Day (national)
The anniversary of India's independence from British rule in 1947 is celebrated each year with flag raising and other patriotic ceremonies, military parades and cultural events.
Sixth month of the Hindu calendar (between August 20 and September 15): Ganesh Chaturthi (national, but especially in Mumbai and its region)
Mumbai's most famous festival lasts for 10 or 11 days and honours Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god of good fortune, who is the city's patron. Celebrations are particularly ecstatic on the last day, when huge processions, including many dancers and musicians, make their way to Chowpatty Beach carrying clay images and giant statues of the god, which they submerge in the sea.
October 2: Gandhi Jayanti - Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday (national)
Commemorated throughout the country, this holiday celebrates the anniversary of Gandhi's birth on this day in 1869. All schools and stores are closed. Numerous religious ceremonies are held to remember independent India's founding father.
November: Diwali (national)
Oil lamps, lanterns and candles illuminate Mumbai and all of India during this five-day festival of lights. According to tradition, Diwali celebrates the god Rama's return from 14 years of exile in the forest, when citizens lit his way with oil lamps, after his victory over the demon Ravana, as told in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Festivities also include firecrackers and fireworks, feasting with loved ones, and exchanges of sweets and gifts.
December 25: Christmas (national)
Mumbai has a tropical climate, with two main seasons. The dry season, which extends from November to February, sees warm temperatures and few days of wind in December or July. The rainy season, known as the monsoon, runs from June to September and brings not only torrential rains but extreme heat as well.
January 19/66 30/86 0/0.0 Not the best period to go
February 20/68 30/86 0/0.0 Not the best period to go
March 23/73 31/88 0/0.0 Not the best period to go
April 25/77 32/81 2/0.1 Good period to go
May 27/81 33/91 12/0.5 Good period to go
June 26/79 32/90 592/23.3 Not the best period to go
July 25/77 30/86 682/26.9 Not the best period to go
August 24/75 32/90 487/19.2 Not the best period to go
September 25/77 30/86 307/12.1 Not the best period to go
October 25/77 32/90 61/2.4 Good period to go
November 23/73 33/91 23/0.9 Good period to go
December 21/70 31/88 2/0.1 Good period to go
The Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of the city centre.
Getting from the airport to Mumbai and back:
Accessible via the Western Express Highway (NH-8).
Parking facilities are available in both terminals, with rates ranging from INR 140 for up to 30 minutes to INR 1,000 for 24 hours.
Several car rental companies have counters in the domestic terminal (halls 1A and 1B) and in the international terminal. An international driver's licence is required to rent a vehicle.
Taxis are available at the ranks outside the arrivals halls at terminal 2 (halls A and C). Apart from rental cars, taxis are the only direct means of transport connecting the airport with central Mumbai. The trip takes from 45 minutes to 2 hours and costs around INR 400. It is strongly recommended to use prepaid taxis.
Express buses 308, 312 and 321 connect the domestic terminal with Vile Parle East and Andheri East stations, located respectively in Santacruz and Sahar (both linked to the city-centre). The travel time to either station is about 30 minutes and the fare is INR 140 each way.
Services: shops, bars and restaurants, free Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
Telephone: +91 (0)22 66 85 10 10
Website: www.mumbaiairport.com
Mumbai is a bustling and massive metropolis. Getting around the city can be incredibly difficult. However, as the main sights are concentrated in the central area, it is always possible, and in fact highly recommended, to visit the city on foot!
There is only one metro line operated in Mumbai for now, connecting the east and west neighbourhoods. Trains are often overcrowded, especially during rush hours. Single tickets cost between INR 10 and INR 40.
Mumbai has many bus routes, using both single- and double-decker vehicles. But as the buses are very often crammed with passengers, this can be a rather uncomfortable means of transport in the hot climate of Mumbai. Fares start at about INR 50.
By chauffeured car
Chauffeured vehicles are certainly the most convenient option for getting around Mumbai, but also the most expensive. Hiring a chauffeur for a week costs about INR 18,000. Added to this is the rental cost for the car and fuel. Daily car rental fees are generally in the range of INR 1,000 to INR 2,000.
Metered taxis are plentiful in Mumbai. There are two types of cabs, easily identified by their colour: blue taxis are air-conditioned, and most trips within the centre of the city cost about INR 20 per kilometre. Black taxis are not air-conditioned and the fare is approximately 40 percent lower than those for blue taxis.
Upon your arrival in Mumbai, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.
Indiatourism Mumbai
Offers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
Address: 123, Maharsi Karve Road – Opp. Church Gate Station, Churchgate, Mumbai 400020
The official travel website maintained by India's Ministry of Tourism provides a wealth of information on Mumbai.
Website: www.incredibleindia.org
The currency used in is the Indian Rupee (INR).
1 JOD = 104.19 INR
1 INR = 0.01 JOD
See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Mumbai counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.
There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to India. However, booster doses of the following vaccines are strongly recommended for anyone travelling to the Indian subcontinent: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, typhoid, hepatitis A and B, anti-meningococcal, Japanese encephalitis in case you travel to rural areas.
For longer stays, a rabies vaccination is also recommended.
Address: 38, Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
Website: (http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr)
It is recommended to keep food safety measures (cook food, carefully wash produce before eating…).
It is recommended to drink water in sealed bottles.
Entry requirements for India
All foreign nationals must apply for visas before travelling to India.
Since Mai 2015, the e-Tourist Visa allowing for visa on arrival issuance has been available in 16 airports including in Mumbai. It may be redeemed online for short-stays (less than 30 days).
For further information, visit the website of the Indian Bureau of Immigration:
http://boi.gov.in/content/apply-visa-online
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in India, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few basic Hindi phrases that will make your stay in Mumbai a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: Namaste
Good evening: Namaste
Goodbye: Alavida
Yes: Jee haan
No: Nahi
No, thank you: Nahi dhanyawaad
Thank you very much: Bahut dhanyawaad
Please: Kripya kar key
I don't understand: Mein nahi samjha
Could you repeat ?: Kripya dohrain?
What time is it ?: Time kya hai ?
Sorry / Excuse me: Shama kijiye
Airport: Airport
Train station: Train station
Hotel: Hotel
Hospital: Hospital
Bank: Bank
Telephone: Phone
I'm (…): Mein (…)
I'm looking for (…): Mein janna naa chahta hoon
How much is (...)?: Kya kimat hai (…) ?
Do you have (…)?: Kya aap (…)?
Where can I find (…)?: Kahan milenga (…) ?
Where can I buy (…)?: Kahan khareed saktey hain (…) ?
I'd like (…): Mein chahata hoon (…).
+ phone number (without the 0)
There is no Daylight Savings Time in India
Usually open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 or 4 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 12 or 1 p.m. on Saturday
Usually open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
There are no hard-and-fast rules on tipping in India. Nevertheless, with the influx of tourists it has become increasingly common, especially in large cities like Mumbai. The expected tip is usually about 10% of the bill. Some Mumbai restaurants add a service charge to the bill. When this is the case, no additional tip is necessary.