www.istockphoto.com

Doing business
Mumbai is the business and financial capital of India. Apart from meeting times being regarded as flexible (Mumbai’s notorious traffic takes care of that) you won’t find too many surprises. Though it’ll probably be sweltering outside, bear in mind that most meetings will take place in air conditioned comfort. The Asian preference for evading saying an outright ‘no’ will be very much in evidence, and go with the flow over the seemingly interchangeable use of Bombay/Mumbai.

Cool hotel
Built in 1903, the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel is something of an architectural marvel, and offers panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India. A true landmark of the city.

Hip restaurant
Indigo on Mandilk Marg in Colaba may just be the city’s finest eating option, with European cuisine cooked with a Mumbai twist. Bandra West and Juhu in North Mumbai are great eating districts if you’d like your nose to choose for you.

Happening bar
Henry Tham’s (Apollo Bunder, Colaba) has been the Mumbai jet-set's hangout for a while now and is the perfect place to get a flavour of the money shaping the modern city. Expect Bollywood celebs and well-heeled expats in this upmarket bar-cum-restaurant.

Must-see sights
Not many cities have a train station as an unmissable icon, but Chhatrapati Shivaji (formerly Victoria) Terminus is a riot of gothic architecture. Once you’ve taken in the noise and colour here you’ll be ready to tackle Crawford Market. The Gateway of India is the place to people-watch and catch a boat to Elephanta Island to check out the maze of ornately carved temples.

Getting downtown
A prepaid taxi from the airport is the easiest option, and costs from £5.50 in an air-conditioned vehicle. Mumbai’s traffic problems mean the trip can take from 45 minutes up to two hours at busy times. Don’t schedule any meetings until lunchtime if you have an early landing.

The details
Visas are required – details depend on how long you’re staying and what you’re doing. The easiest way to get one is to apply for an ETA (eletronic travel authority). They cost £8 from www.immi.gov.au. Sydney is GMT+10hours. Currency is the Australian dollar: £1=$2.51 (Feb ‘07)

Getting there
Direct flights from London to Mumbai are operated by Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Air India and Jet Airways, with fares starting at around £500. Cheaper flights, sometimes as low as £350, are available via other Indian and Middle Eastern hubs.

The detail
Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra State and is subject to the monsoon season during the British summer, with rainfall peaking in August. The coolest time to visit is November to February. There are 85 Indian Rupees to the pound. Mumbai is five and a half hours ahead of GMT.

INSIDER’S TIP
“If you want to sample more than the typical fine dining and five-star hotels now available on every street corner in Mumbai, take a walk down the Juhu beach where you will find scores of stalls selling delicious local food – we recommend that you only try the hot, cooked food though!”

Parineeta Sethi, publisher, Selling world travel
mumbai

Compiled by Tom Hall on behalf of Lonely Planet. www.lonelyplanet.com

BACK