IN · Maharashtra · 19.08°N 72.88°E

mumbai

Seafront walks, grand railway stations and vada pav between old-city markets.

Best time
November–February is the most comfortable time for walking. March–May is hot and sticky, and the June–September monsoon floods roads and can stop the Elephanta boats.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
About 5.5 hours direct from KL. Colaba is 1–1.5 hours from the airport by taxi, depending on traffic. India is 2.5 hours behind KL.
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IN · Maharashtramumbai19.08°N 72.88°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Seafront walks, grand railway stations and vada pav between old-city markets.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingMumbaiIN, Maharashtra
KLmumbai
≈ 3,598 km from KL, as the crow flies
The Bandra Worli Sea Link is an ubiquitous symbol of 21st century Mumbai. The 5.6-kilometre cable-stayed bridge is a remarkable technical feat, the first of its kind built over open seas in India. To

Photo: Rutiknatekar · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Mumbai runs on local trains, street snacks and the evening crowd along the sea. The old south of the city packs Victorian Gothic stations, Art Deco blocks and crowded bazaars into a few square kilometres.

Makan

  1. Vada pavMumbai's own snack: a spiced potato fritter in a soft bun with chutney and a fried green chilli.Map ↗
  2. Pav bhajiA buttery mash of spiced vegetables scooped up with toasted bread rolls, cooked on huge griddles at Chowpatty Beach.Map ↗
  3. Bhel puriPuffed rice, sev, onion and tamarind chutney tossed together, the classic beach snack.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Colaba and the Gateway of IndiaThe basalt arch on the harbourfront, with old cafés and the Colaba Causeway stalls behind it.Map ↗
  2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj TerminusStill called VT by many, a Victorian Gothic railway station of domes, gargoyles and stained glass, busy with commuters all day.Map ↗
  3. Kala Ghoda and FortThe old business district of Gothic offices, art galleries and small café lanes.Map ↗
  4. Marine DriveThe curving seafront promenade, where half the city seems to sit on the sea wall after dark.Map ↗
  5. Elephanta CavesAn hour by boat from the Gateway, an island of rock-cut cave temples with a huge three-faced Shiva.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Colaba or Fort is the base for the old city; a hotel near the airport means long taxi rides every day.
  • Mohammed Ali Road and the lanes around Minara Masjid are full of Muslim-run restaurants and kebab stalls, busiest in Ramadan. Elsewhere, vegetarian Udupi and Gujarati places are everywhere.
  • Local trains are packed at rush hour, so a mid-morning ride is the gentle introduction. Every train has ladies' carriages.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.