Bombay India. Bombay slums of India (54 photos). Entertainment and recreation

The slums are one of the main tourist symbols of Bombay. Largely thanks to the film: "Slumdog Millionaire", which was filmed here. Remember the huge chimney that the residents used instead of a road, all those houses, etc.? That's all Bombay.

Soon, by the way, this symbol may not be. The slums are now being reconstructed, high-rise buildings are appearing in place of an anthill of dilapidated houses, and instead of narrow labyrinths of streets, flyovers and wide roads

The most famous and largest slum in Bombay is Dharavi. At one time it was the largest slum in the world, then in Asia, but times are changing and now it is just a very large slum. How many people live here - no one knows. Some say a million, others three. The area of ​​the district is only 215 hectares. There are factories, schools, hospitals, warehouses and, of course, thousands of shacks. The average area of ​​the house here is 10 square meters. This square often fits a large Indian family, sometimes up to 15 people.

01. Let's start from the bottom. The poorest people in Bombay live in tents. Tents are built near the sea or very close to the railways, where it is impossible to build normal houses. Here they cook, throw away garbage and wash dishes.

02. The life of such tents is short, they are blown away by the wind, they burn down when the inhabitants try to keep warm on a cold night.

03. In some places you can find whole blocks of rags, and tarpaulins, and plywood.

04. Patio in one of the blocks of such slums

05. Locals

06. Despite the dirt around, the residents themselves try to take care of themselves, the clothes are clean, everyone is washed regularly, the girls dress up. Meet them in another place, you won’t even think that they can live in tents among the garbage.

07. They also try to maintain cleanliness in the dwellings themselves and the passages between them

08. Washing

10. The main type of Bombay slums are these multi-storey houses made of metal sheets and plywood. It all starts with one-story houses, and then grows up. and there are also 10-story slums!

11. On the left is one of the quarters

13. It is impossible to understand these houses. No one knows where one ends and the other begins. Of course, there are no addresses here and there are no these houses on any map of the world.

14. Such slums are terribly picturesque!

16. Residents

17. Let's go inside. Narrow aisles, where it is sometimes difficult for two people to miss each other. There is almost no sunlight here. Numerous stairs that lead to the upper floors.

18. Entrance to one of the dwellings. The dwelling here is actually a bedroom-living room. They eat, cook, relieve themselves on the street.

19 Within the slums themselves run grooves filled with water, where waste is usually dumped. Children shit right in these grooves.

20. Small needs are celebrated where necessary

21. Another type of slum is along the railroads.

22. They are built in close proximity to the railway.

23. There is an Indian train

24. Slum dwellers run off the rails. I wonder if anyone keeps statistics on how many people die here under the wheels of a train?

25. Rails are often used as the only way out of the slum anthill.

26. Children play on the rails

28. Outskirts of the slums and the famous big pipe

29. Look how cozy!

30. One of the yards

31. White House.

32. Some slums are located on the banks of rivers and canals. In ordinary cities, the proximity of a river or seashore is rather a plus. In India, it's the other way around. Garbage is dumped into the rivers, the beaches are used as a big toilet, so the poorest sections of society live on the banks.

33. Sometimes the river is not visible, as everything is littered with garbage.

34. Please note that the garbage is thrown right out of the back door of one of the houses. That is, people could live on the banks of the canal, but they decided to live near a stinking garbage dump

35. This is also a channel completely littered with garbage. Somewhere down there, water is flowing ... Garbage decomposes and rots, the stench is terrible.

36. Like this!

37. But people like it

39. Here is such a resident. The monkey turned out to be angry and almost ate me!

40. Let's look inside the dwelling. As you can see, it's very clean.

42. Living room

44. In some houses there are enterprises for sewing clothes or cooking. Maybe your favorite jeans are sewn somewhere here!

45. Now the slums are being actively built up. In place of dilapidated houses, multi-storey buildings are being built; instead of narrow passages, overpasses are made. So, soon you will be able to see the famous slums of Bombay only in old photographs.

47. Be sure to take a walk here

48. You won't regret it.

49. I will not advise bad.

51. Tomorrow Bombay will be like this!

Mumbai (until 1996 the city was called Bombay) is the economic and financial capital of India. The main bank of the country is located here - the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, the headquarters of many large Indian companies (Tata Group, Relaence Industries Ltd, Mahindra and Mahindra), commercial banks, as well as representative offices of a large number of transnational corporations. Mumbai is a major hub for international communications. With a deep natural harbor, it is the largest port in western India. Mumbai is the center of the entertainment industry: most of India's television and satellite networks are located here, as well as the Indian "dream factory" Bollywood.

Attractions

Elephanta Island.

One of the main attractions of Western India. A small island located in the Bombay Bay (10 km from Mumbai) got its name from the stone figure of an elephant carved into the rock, which in 1864 was transported to Bombay.

There is a temple on the island, built between 450 and 750 BC. AD, dedicated to the god of the Indian pantheon Shiva. A long wide stone staircase (approximately 90 m) leads to the place where this temple, consisting of four caves, is located. In the main cave there is a relief image (about 6 m high) of the trinity of Indian gods: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The arch is supported by 42 massive columns, and the side walls are decorated with relief images of scenes from the myths about Shiva. The entrance to the temple is guarded by eight figures of mythical guardians carved from stone.

Other sculptural compositions of interest are Arddhanariswar (where one side of Shiva's body is made as male and the other as female), the wedding scene of Shiva and Parvati, the dance of Shiva, shaking the world. Noteworthy is the sculpture of the demon Ravana, who is trying to destroy the abode of the gods, Mount Kailash.

Gateway of India.

They are located at the end of the street. Shivaji (national hero of the Marathas). This massive arch, which was officially opened in 1924, is located on the waterfront of the Mumbai bay. Designed by J. Whittet, it was built in honor of the visit of King George V to India in 19110. and symbolized the inviolability of British rule. It is notable for the fact that in 1947 British troops passed through it, leaving India after the country gained independence. Near the India Gate there is an equestrian statue of Shivaji, erected in 1960, as well as the building of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club, which was built in 1898 in the Gothic style.

Taj Mahal Hotel.

Located next to India Gate. The hotel building was built in 1903 by the famous industrialist J.N. Tata according to the project of W. Chambers. The hotel is also notable for the fact that it housed the first Russian diplomatic mission in India. Now it is one of the best five-star hotels in the city, where a large number of cultural and business events take place.

Museum. Chattrapati Shivaji.

The museum, also known as the Prince of Wales Museum, was built to commemorate the first visit to India in 1905 by King George V, who laid the foundation stone for the museum. In 1923 it was opened to the public. The building of the museum is made in the Indo-Moorish style. The exposition has three main sections: art, archeology and natural history. The basis of the collection was the funds of the Royal Asiatic Society. Subsequently, the museum's collection has been constantly replenished with works of art and historical values ​​donated by representatives of the financial and industrial elite of India. In particular, the Tata family made a great contribution to the development of the museum.

The gallery on the ground floor houses sculptures by local craftsmen and a rich collection of Indian birds. On the second floor, various art objects are presented, including paintings, dishes, weapons, etc. On the third floor, there is a wonderful collection of Indian miniatures.

The entire exposition occupies 18 halls on three floors and includes more than 6 thousand exhibits. Main halls: ancient and ancient history, Assyrian palace bas-reliefs, Indian sculpture, Indian bronze sculpture, Nepalese and Tibetan art, European painting, art of the peoples of the Far East.

Station them. Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Station them. Ch. Shivaji, previously known as the station. Queen Victoria, is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in the city. Completely built in 1888, it was originally designed by the English architect F. Stevens as the headquarters of the Hindustan Railway Company. Included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

Bombay University.

The university, which is one of the oldest universities in India, was founded by the British in 1857 (simultaneously with the Calcutta and Madras universities). Now it has 46 faculties, including the Russian language department, and unites 338 colleges. More than 380 thousand students study at the university and colleges.

In one of the university buildings there is a large hall with a round stained-glass window depicting the signs of the zodiac, as well as a university library with spiral steps and colorful galleries. The building is crowned by an 80-meter clock tower, reminiscent of London's Big Ben.

Jyotiba market of Mahatma Phule.

This is Mumbai's largest food market. Better known as the Crawford market, it was built in 1869 with the participation of the father of the famous English writer R. Kipling. It is believed that Kipling Sr. is the author of the bas-reliefs on the market building. On the opposite side of the street, in the depths of the garden, the Kipling house, where the writer spent his childhood, has been preserved.

Mumbai Stock Exchange.

The modern high-rise building of the exchange, also known as the Bombay Stock Exchange, is located on Dalal Street. The exchange was founded in 1875 as the Association of Stock Brokers and is the oldest exchange not only in India but also in Asia.

Fountain of Flora.

This fountain is located at the intersection of the most important streets in the southern part of the city on the site of the gates of the English fort that were previously located there. It was built in 1869 in honor of B. Frere, Governor of Bombay.

Asian Society Building.

This large white building with columns used to house the municipality. Then it was transferred to the Asiatic Society, and at present there is an extensive library there. Next to it is the building of the old mint, built in 1828, and not far from it is the old customs house (1720).

Afghan church.

The church was built in 1847 in memory of British military who died during the Sindh campaign of 1838 and the Afghan war of 1843

Cathedral of Saint Thomas.

Anglican Cathedral of St. Thomas at the intersection of St. Veer Nariman and Kovasji Patel is Mumbai's oldest English building.

Marine Drive.

This crescent-shaped promenade stretches along the entire Back Bay and is considered one of the best places for walking.

Chowpatty beach.

Located at the beginning of Marine Drive. This sandy beach is one of the city's favorite pastimes. He is also famous for having witnessed a number of events in Indian history. So, during the period of the struggle for independence, it was there that one of the largest anti-English speeches began. In 1920, a prominent leader of the national liberation movement, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, was cremated here, and his monument is erected on the beach.

Taraporeval Aquarium.

Built in 1961, the aquarium is located on Marine Drive and has a rich collection of freshwater and ocean fish and shells.

Hill of Malabar.

Some sections of this hill in one of the most famous areas of the southern part of the city offer a wonderful view of Mumbai. In addition, there are a number of attractions here, including the Hanging Gardens, famous for its collection of plants. Next to them, covered with dense foliage of trees, are the so-called. towers of silence, where the Parsis (immigrants from Persia, followers of Zoroastrianism) used to bury their dead. According to their religion, water, fire and earth are sacred and cannot be defiled by the bodies of the dead, so it is customary for the Parsis to give the corpses to be eaten by vultures, placing them on the tops of these towers. On the same street as the Hanging Gardens, there is one of the best parks in the city built in 1952 - the park named after. Kamala Nehru. In the southern part of the hill is the Raj Bhavan, the residence of the governor of Maharashtra.

Mahalakshmi Temple.

Located in the prestigious Breach Kandy area at the foot of Malabar Hill, this renowned temple is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, Mahalakshmi.

Mausoleum of Haji Ali.

It was built a few dozen meters from the shore at the site of the death of a Muslim saint named Haji Ali, in whose honor it was erected. It is connected to the shore by a long passage, which sometimes goes under water at high tide.

Siddhivinayaka Temple.

One of Mumbai's main Hindu temples is located in the Prabha Devi area. Dedicated to the god of the Hindu pantheon Ganesha, whose statue, made of black stone, is inside.

Mani bhavan.

In this house, located near August Kranti Square, from 1917 to 1934. was the headquarters of M. Gandhi in Bombay, where in 1931 and 1934. important meetings of the Working Committee of the Indian National Congress took place. It was here that on January 4, 1932, M. Gandhi was arrested by the British authorities.

The library located on the first floor of the museum contains more than 30 thousand volumes of works by M. Gandhi, books telling about his life, as well as studies on the philosophy of Gandhism by Indian and foreign authors. On the second floor there is an auditorium where visitors can watch films about M. Gandhi or listen to recordings of his speeches. The room on the third floor gives the museum guests a complete picture of the conditions in which M. Gandhi lived and worked, its furnishings and furniture are as close to the original as possible. The museum also has an exhibition of M. Gandhi sculptures and a small art gallery with a rich collection of photographs, letters, articles and documents, including manuscripts of M. Gandhi and his associates.

Caves of Kanheri.

Kanheri Caves are located 45 km from the historical center of Mumbai, in one of the most attractive corners of the National Park. S. Gandhi. These are 109 caves of various sizes, carved in stone in the period from the 1st century BC. BC e. by the ninth century n. e. From the point of view of the development of Buddhist culture, the history of the creation of caves can be divided into three stages: the first stage covers the end of the 1st-2nd centuries. BC, the second - IV-V centuries. AD and the third stage - IV-IX centuries. AD In their design, the Kanheri caves reflect two branches of Buddhism - "Hinayana" and "Mahayana".

The caves were used by Buddhist monks for housing, study, and as places for prayer and meditation. The high architectural level of the cave temples gives visitors a clear idea of ​​the existence in Kanheri of a highly organized settlement of Buddhist monks who had well-developed ties with many major trading centers in India. In the mid-70s, Indian scientists discovered evidence that the Kanheri cave monastery was a major educational center.

The most interesting is the largest in size and original in execution cave No. 3, which attracts attention with its high colonnade and architectural style.

The name of the city comes from the name of the Hindu goddess Mumba Devi.

In Marathi, this word means "mother".

Previously, Mumbai was called Bombay and only in 1995 did it acquire its modern name.

Hindi is spoken in the city, but the official language is Marathi. English is also popular.

Mumbai is interesting for many: here are ancient monuments, and unique nature, and developed infrastructure, and a lot of opportunities for entertainment.

Climate and weather

Mumbai has a sub-equatorial climate, which implies a clear division into two seasons: dry and wet. It rains here from June to November, at which time the air warms up to +30 ° C and above. The dry season runs from December to May, with the coldest months in Mumbai being January and February.

Nature

Mumbai is located in western India along the coast. Arabian Sea, at the mouth river Ulkhas. It includes the islands Bombay and Solsett, which rise 10-15 meters above sea level. The northern part of Mumbai is hilly, the highest point is 450 meters above sea level.

There are three rivers flowing in the city, in some places there are mangrove swamps. In addition, Mumbai has lakes Tulsi, Vihar, Povai. Chowpatty beach this city is one of the cleanest in the world.

Attractions

An important attraction of Mumbai are Gateway of India- a triumphal arch of an unusual shape, which stands on the water in the city harbor. It was built in honor of the visit to the country in 1924 of the English King George V and Queen Mary. Also visit Prince of Wales Museum, which houses a large collection of artifacts of Indian art. An impressive ensemble of a Buddhist cave monastery is located 42 kilometers from Mumbai. Cutherty, created in the period from the II to the IX century AD. Many tourists are especially attracted by the island of Elfant. It has stunning cave temples with huge sculptures inside.

A striking example of Victorian Gothic is Mumbai Central Station - Victoria terminus.

IN national park you can see the rock city, which is about 100 caves dating back to the 3rd century AD. Once these caves served as a dwelling place for Buddhist monks. Today, the park is home to numerous tigers, so you should not go deep into the caves without a guide.

Connoisseurs of natural wealth should also visit bird sanctuary, which is home to more than 146 species of birds. It is located between Mumbai and Goa.

Other attractions worth noting include:

• hanging gardens adjacent to the Tower of Silence,
• the famous cinema complex where you can meet the stars,
• statues of Hindu gods on the walls of Elephanta cave,
• Cathedral of St. Thomas,
• Fountain Flora.

Nutrition

Indian cuisine is one of the oldest in the world. Her hallmarks are spices and tea. The most famous seasoning here - curry. She makes every dish special. You can appreciate all the features of Indian cuisine in the best places in Mumbai. So, in the building of the Jahangir Gallery, be sure to visit the restaurant "Samovar". This place is very popular among Mumbai's creative elite. Persian, Indian, Chinese and European dishes can be tasted at the restaurant "Leopold"- the place is popular among young tourists.

Of the not too expensive establishments, it is worth mentioning the restaurant "Goa Portuguessa", which has a wide range of seafood dishes. At the restaurant "Oberoi" French cuisine awaits you.

Accommodation

In Mumbai, you can stop to rest in the mountainous places of Matherane and Mahabaleshwar or in the upscale famous Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. If you want to save money, then pay attention to cozy inexpensive hotels. Hotel Kohinoor Elite,Residence Hotel And Residence Hotel Andheri.

In general, there should be no problems with housing in Mumbai - the main thing is to find it immediately upon arrival, preferably in the morning, as hotels are overcrowded by evening.

Entertainment and recreation

Mumbai is the center of the entertainment industry in India. The famous film studio is located here Bollywood.

Mumbai is also famous for its nightlife. The most popular clubs in the city are considered to be fire and ice And Not Just Jazzby The Bay. From Wednesday to Saturday, Indian musicians perform here. Almost all luxury hotels have their own nightclubs and bars. The most famous are Insomnia V "Taje" And Opium Den V "Oberoe". Best for young people and tourists Athena.

Sports are well developed in Mumbai. The most popular outdoor activity is cricket. For him, there are two international stadiums here - "Wankhid" And "Braburn". Football is the second most popular sport. Also in Mumbai, equestrian sports, tennis, field hockey, rugby, and golf are well developed.

Movie lovers should definitely visit local cinemas. Gala premieres of new Bollywood films often take place here. For lovers of cultural entertainment, there are always many exhibitions, festivals, and theatrical performances. Fans of excursions can always see Mumbai from the windows of a double-decker bus. Tours are not available between June and September due to the monsoon season.

Well, those who love water procedures will definitely like it in the water park. water kingdom, which is open all year round from 10:30 until the evening. After 14:00 there are usually a lot of people.

Purchases

In Mumbai, you can visit many excellent shopping centers with exclusive clothes. Leather bags, shoes, exquisite accessories and handmade jewelry will cheer you up at any moment. at fashion markets Bandra And Colaba you can buy everything from a wooden figurine to Indian diamonds. At the farmer's market Javeri a wonderful selection of jewelry will open, each of which is one of a kind. On Bhubaleshwar you can go for the famous Gujarati fabrics. Chor Bazaar trades in antiques.

Inorbit is the largest mall in Mumbai. Here you will find ethnic items, and fashion brands of Indian manufacturers, and clothing from world brands such as Wrangler And Tommy Hilfiger.

There is a coffee shop and fast food restaurants on the ground floor. Pizza Hut And Ruby Tuesday. You can enjoy your day by shopping in Phoenix mills, where, in addition to a variety of shops, you will find an amusement park for children, 5 cinema halls, coffee shops and restaurants.

Transport

Buses run constantly around Mumbai. To move around the city, you can also turn to auto rickshaws or order a taxi. A subway is currently under construction in Mumbai.

Connection

Mumbai has a city telephone network, and the city is also provided with a fairly high-quality mobile connection. When you come here, you can not worry about how to contact your loved ones. Internet access is available in hotel rooms and Internet cafes.

Safety

By the standards of India, crime in Mumbai is at an average level and this figure is gradually decreasing.

You have to be very careful in the city. Take care of your documents and money. Before leaving for Mumbai, make copies of documents in advance. Do not forget about the rules of behavior in society. Treat cultural monuments with respect.

Business climate

Mumbai is a city of contrasts where luxury exists alongside poverty. However, it is also one of the largest economic centers of India. About 10% of all workers in the country work here. Mumbai has a well-developed cotton, chemical, oil-refining and machine-building industries, there is a nuclear power plant. Also in the city, the branches of information technology and healthcare are actively developing.

Mumbai is home to many financial institutions and large companies. The business center is located in the southern part of the city. In addition to the Indian financial institutions themselves, there are many different foreign organizations located there.

Real estate

Real estate in Mumbai is very expensive. A special jump in prices occurred at the beginning of 2011. Today, 1 square meter of real estate costs an average of $9,000 to $12,000.

It is worth making a reservation in advance about a hotel room, as the demand for housing in the city is very high. After 21:00 all places in budget hotels are usually occupied.

Avoid traveling on rush hour trains with important documents.

Mumbai (aka Bombay until 1995) is the largest Indian city with a population of over 21 million people. This is the economic and cultural center of the country: the offices of the world's most famous corporations, luxury hotels and haute couture shops are located here. Here, in the world-famous Bollywood, most Indian films and television programs are filmed. People from all over the country and from all over the world flock here in search of a better life. And while in Mumbai are in the world! Mumbai is absolutely different from the rest of India: both in terms of its breathtaking colonial architecture, and in terms of how representatives of different cultures and religions coexist organically here. When you get to Mumbai, you seem to be transported from dirty noisy India to Kipling's Bombay and, despite the life raging around, it seems that time has stopped. We tell you how to get there, where to stay and what to do in this amazing city.

Guide content:

Many airlines fly to Mumbai and you can often catch a ticket with a decent discount. However, there are no direct flights either from Minsk, or from Kyiv, or from Moscow. Arabic flies from Minsk with a transfer to Abu Dhabi Etihad. The cheapest way to fly from Moscow Aeroflot, however, here you will find a long transfer to Delhi.

If you want to visit the Indian capital at the same time, then there are two ways to leave Delhi for Mumbai. Local low-cost carrier indigo from $30 per ticket. The flight will take 2 hours. By train, which will get to Mumbai in a day, for about the same cost in a 3rd class carriage. Train timetables, seat availability and ticket prices can be found on the Indian Railways website.

The most comfortable way to get from the airport to the city center is by taxi. In the terminal building there are Pre-paid Taxi counters with a fixed fare. A trip to the city center starts from $7.

In Mumbai, heavy street traffic often leads to many hours of traffic jams. Therefore, if you arrived at peak hours, it is faster to get to the city center by train Mumbai Suburban Railway Network. The nearest Vile Parle station from the airport can be reached by taxi, rickshaw or bus: No. 312 (from Terminal 1) and No. 321 (from Terminal 2).

Comfortable BEST shuttles run from the airport to the city center every 15-20 minutes. You can see the bus route and build it for yourself on the company's website.

For all you need to know about public transport in Mumbai, download the app m-indicato. This is a must have in the city! With it, you can build bus and railway routes, find out the timetable for transport, calculate the cost of taxi rides.

Rickshaws and bombillas are banned in Mumbai, only official taxis. True, at peak times and at night, a taxi driver may refuse to take you to the meter, requesting a large amount. Trade down.

The most comfortable way for short distances in the city is to travel by taxi. The first kilometer on the meter costs $ 0.25, then $ 0.15 per km. Don't forget to remind the driver to turn on the meter!

The Mumbai Suburban Railway Network includes 4 branches and connects remote areas of the city. The fare depends on the distance and starts from $0.07 for a couple of stations. Tickets are bought at the box office at the stations. As a rule, the railway train has 1st class cars (which differ in price, but not in comfort - from $ 0.70) and separate purely women's cars.

Bus service in Mumbai is very developed. As a rule, all inscriptions on city buses are in Hindi, including numbers. You can try to learn how to count in Hindi, but it is still extremely difficult to navigate without Arabic numerals in the bus flow.

Surprisingly, it can be difficult to find a home in Mumbai: prices are 3 times higher than the national average (even higher on Booking.com), hotels are often overcrowded, many hotels accommodate only Indians, only men or only Indian men! Couchsurfers themselves do not recommend stopping through Couchserfing.com. In addition, web services for booking accommodation in India are not so common, especially for budget accommodation.

An inexpensive guesthouse can be found by walking along the street Shahid Bhagat Singh Road (Colaba Causeway) where the famous Leopold Cafe. 4-5 star hotels are nearby along the fashionable Marine Drive. Mid-range hotels are scattered between the two indicated streets.

Salvation Army House or Salvation Army House (43/45, BEST Marg, Apollo Bandar, Colaba) . Its 4-storey building is located just behind the famous Taj Mahal Palace. The Salvation Army is a Protestant charity that helps the homeless and the underprivileged. Now the building has been completely converted into a hostel: both dorms and separate rooms (AC and NonAC) are offered. This is the cheapest place in Mumbai! The cost of a night with breakfast starts from $ 5 (per bed in a dormitory). There are always few free places, you can only book in advance for groups. Salvation Army is also famous for its peculiar “semi-military” atmosphere: barracks-style dorms, staff in military uniforms, an ascetic dining room, no hot water and thousands of travelers from all over the world! Negative: no bed linen and hot water. Pros: price, breakfast, location and atmosphere.

Hotel Volga II (Rustam Manzil, 1st floor, Above Leopord Cafe, NF Road, Colaba) located right next to the Leopold Cafe (very small shabby sign, you have to climb the stairs to the 2nd floor) - a popular budget place. Private rooms (AC and NonAC) are the cheapest on Colaba. NonAC room with shared bathroom starts at $10. Cons: Small rooms, no breakfast. Pros: price, location.

Apollo Hotel (Mathuradas Estate building, Mathuradas Estate Building, 43/45 Colaba Causeway, Colaba) . A small guesthouse occupies the 1st floor of a residential building. Rooms (AC and NonAC) starting at $10/night. Cons: small rooms, no breakfast. Pros: price, location.

Carlton Hotel (Florence House, No.12, MereWeather Road, Behind Taj Mahal Hotel) - tolerable hotel for the unpretentious. The small, no-frills rooms make up for the great location. Great for dropping off and falling asleep after a busy day in Mumbai. Rooms (AC and NonAC) from $12 per night.

Bentley Hotel Marine Drive 2* (Krishna Mahal, 3rd Floor, Marine Drive, Churchgate) - a decent hotel in a historic building located right on Marine Drive, within walking distance of the Churchgate railway station, but far from Colaba. But jogging along the morning Marine Drive is guaranteed! Modern rooms with breakfast from $45/night. Some of the rooms overlook the bay. Minus: remoteness from Colaba. Plus: Breakfast, Marine Drive.

Bentley's Hotel 3* (17, Oliver Road, Colaba) - a no frills quality hotel with large AC rooms and private bathrooms. Wi-Fi only at the reception, in India it is called "in public areas". Price per night from $45. Pros: location, breakfast, large rooms, renovated building.

Taj Mahal Palace 5* (Apollo Bunder, Colaba) . To fully feel the spirit of British Bombay, you should stay in the most famous 5-star hotel in the city, built in the century before last. The Taj Mahal is a museum and a hotel in one. Famous artists and musicians, politicians and members of royal families stayed here. The rooms are decorated in Indian style and some overlook the Arabian Sea and India Gate. The hotel has several restaurants, SPA, swimming pool. Nightly rates start at $215.

Mumbai is a city where poverty and wealth do not coexist so organically in the world. The business center of the city with the main attractions, hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs is located in the south in the Colaba area. In the north of Mumbai are the world-famous slums.

In the mid-90s, the city underwent a large-scale renaming. Therefore, get used to the fact that almost any attraction or institution has two names: the old well-known and the new, as a rule, difficult to pronounce. Until now, many establishments in Mumbai are called Bombay.

Rich Mumbai

Mumbai's nightlife is in full swing until 2am. After all the establishments are closed, the city is strict with this. Bars are usually open until midnight. Most nightclubs prefer Indian music!

Air (Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, 1/136, 34th Floor, Hotel Rooftop, Dr. E. Moses Road, Worli) - a pretentious bar on the roof of the Four Seasons hotel, which offers a gorgeous view of Mumbai. Expats prefer to gather here to admire the city over a cocktail and pleasant conversation.

Trilogy (Hotel Sea Princess, 969, Juhu Tara Rd, Airport Area, Juhu) . Bombays' favorite two-story club is located near Santracruz West Airport. On Saturday, the entrance fee can reach $20.

wink (Vivanta by Taj President, 90, Cuffe Parade) - one of the most glamorous bars in Mumbai. Located at the Vivanta by Taj President Hotel and open until midnight. Japanese cuisine and a pint of beer starting at $7.

China House (Grand Hyatt Mumbai Off Near Bandra Kurla Complex, Western Express Hwy, Vakola, Santacruz East) . Another club popular with locals is located at the Grand Hyatt in the Santracruz area. There is strict face control here. On Fridays the club is open until 3 am. In addition, it is famous for its excellent Chinese cuisine.

Tryst (Phoenix Mill Compound, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel) - one of the most popular and expensive clubs among the residents of Mumbai. You will have to pay $ 15-30 for entrance, depending on the day of the week, Saturday is the most expensive. Renting a table will cost $450.

Hype (Atria, The Millennium Mall, R1, 4/F, Dr Annie Beasant Road, Worli) . If you want to plunge into the atmosphere of a Bollywood party, then you need to go to Hype. Indian movie stars often visit the club, remixes of famous Bollywood songs are heard here and theme parties are held.

Colaba Causeway (Shahid Bhagat Singh Road) . Shops and stalls stretch along the street with everything a tourist needs: souvenirs, magnets, clothes, shoes, jewelry. However, the quality leaves much to be desired. If you want to buy really good Indian things, you should go to local markets. For small souvenirs, prices here are lower than the national average.

bookstores on Mahatma Gandhi Road(in the Flora Fountain area). In India, books in English cost mere pennies. For example, a large collection of Kafka can be bought at the collapse for $ 4. On the back of books, the publisher prints the recommended price, but even here you can and should bargain!

Chor Bazaar (Mutton St, Kumbharwada) . Mumbai's largest flea market is famous for its variety of antiques and antiques sold for pennies. Here you can find Victorian furniture and home decoration, whimsical musical instruments and vintage Bollywood posters. The last ones in the store with the huge Mini Market sign.

Mangalda Market(Janjiker St, Lohar Chawl, Kalbadevi) - the largest textile market in Mumbai with 200 years of history. Here they sell the best silks and saris in the city. In a huge number of shops you can find traditional Indian clothes of excellent quality at a low price (overshirts, bloomers, scarves, etc.).

Zaveri Bazaar (Sheikh Menon St, Lohar Chawl, Kalbadevi) - the jewelry mecca of Mumbai, where a thousand shops sell cheap jewelry made of yellow gold beloved by Indians. For jewelry you need to go to Bhuleshwar Market (Marine Lines East, Panjarpole, Bhuleshwar) - this is a real women's paradise, where the glitter of jewelry blinds the eyes! The latter does not work on Sundays.

To the spice market Lalbaug Market (Dinshaw Petit Rd, Lal Baug, Parel) you should go for the world-famous turmeric, red and cashmere chili peppers. Good factory-packed spices can also be purchased at any grocery store. For example, in the Sahakari Bhandar supermarket (Colaba Chamber, Ground Floor, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Colaba) on Colaba.

Buying good tea in India is more of a myth than a reality. As often happens, excellent tea is immediately exported, and Indians drink what is left or powdered (as we have in tea bags). When brewed, it turns out to be very strong and completely tasteless. Of course, in shops and markets they sell loose leaf teas in beautiful packages especially for tourists. But do not confuse them with the very real Indian tea.

Map of Mumbai with attractions from the guide

Bargain like it's the last time in your life! Know that an enterprising Indian for the first time calls the price at least 2 times higher than the real one. You need to bargain for everything except food, medicines and prices in state institutions (transport, mail, etc.). Retail prices are already printed on food and drink packages by manufacturers.

Currency. In India, money is not changed by banks, but by special exchangers with the Currency Exchange sign. They charge a fee of 7% of the amount and set not the most favorable rate, so it is better to change on the black market (both from dollars to rupees and vice versa). In Mumbai, it is advantageous to change money at Colaba Causeway (Shahid Bhagat Singh Road). Just walk along the market street and the money changers will come to you. You have to bargain for the course! Focus on the official exchange rate minus a dozen or two Indian cents. The larger the amount you change, the better the rate you ask for.

Internet. In connection with the terrorist attacks in 2008, the strictest security measures were taken in Mumbai. First of all, this is reflected in the availability of communications and the Internet. It may well happen that your roaming will stop working in the city. There is no access to Wi-Fi in public places, only in rare cafes and restaurants, as well as in hotels of a medium and high price category. At the same time, to connect to the network, you may be required to present a passport and restrict access during the day.

If you need to always be in touch, you should connect a local SIM card. 1 GB of mobile Internet will cost about $ 4-5. You can do this at any street stand with mobile operator badges. In the area of ​​Colaba Causeway (Shahid Bhagat Singh Road) and in Bharucha Road, they are at every turn. To connect, you need a copy of your passport and visa, 2 photos 3x4 and, optionally, a receipt for paying for the hotel. Activating a purchased SIM card can take from several hours to a couple of days. This process is quite complicated and consists in the fact that the mobile operator carefully checks your data and be sure to call the hotel to confirm that you are staying there. The SIM card can be used throughout the country and recharged anywhere.

Indian airports are allowed only upon presentation of an air ticket. Make sure that it is downloaded to your smartphone. If you arrived and left the airport, they will not let you back, because. ticket used. Therefore, first of all, try to change money or withdraw it from an ATM in the airport building, it will be almost impossible to do it on the street.

First aid kit. If you have never drunk sedatives in your life, take stronger and more poignant ones with you to India. You can start taking them at the airport. Don't flatter yourself, this is India, you won't get off with a simple valerian here. Also make sure you have a complete set of medications for digestive problems with you. Don't forget gastal and hand sanitizer. If you have asthma or lung problems, take an antihistamine, a thick face mask (available at any Mumbai pharmacy) and do not walk around the city in the morning when smog descends on the streets. In Mumbai, the air is so polluted, especially in winter, that unaccustomed tourists often become allergic to it. If this happens, go straight to the nearest hospital, they will give you special strong antihistamines against air allergies.

What to take with you. Make several copies of your passport and visa, they are needed when checking into hotels and connecting a SIM card. India has its own ideas about the purity and whiteness of white, so it will not be superfluous to take bed linen with you, which is not a pity. If you are going to travel around the country or go to Goa by train, take a light sleeping bag. If you are going to the north - the sleeping bag is denser. Not all the streets of Mumbai are lit in the evening, and in Goa there is no street lighting at all, so a flashlight will not be superfluous. It is better to bring hygiene items with you, in India it can be extremely difficult to find them. Indians do not use toilet paper, they sell it to tourists at a price of around $ 1 per roll.

How to become a disco dancer? Bollywood organizes boring and insanely expensive excursions, where at best they will show one small film set. Do you want to see Bollywood from the inside? Go to the daytime Leopold Cafe (Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Near Colaba Police Station, Colaba Causeway) or Salvation Army House (43/45, BEST Marg, Apollo Bandar, Colaba), where Bollywood casting managers hang out and gather Western youth for extras. A European face in an Indian film is prestigious! The shooting process takes all day, but you will plunge into the world of Indian cinematography and earn about $ 7 for shooting.

Text - Ekaterina Borisova, photo - KIDKUTSMEDIA , marina.shakleina ,

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Mumbai is the most populated city in India: the concept of the city includes the so-called. Mumbai Municipal Corporation, which includes two districts of the state of Maharashtra: "Mumbai" itself (157 km², 3,145,966 inhabitants in 2011), as well as the "Mumbai (suburban)" district (446 km², 9,332,481 inhabitants). in 2011), total 603 km², 12,478,447 inhabitants. in 2011 . Together with satellite cities, it forms the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the world with a population of 21.3 million people [ non-authoritative source?] .

Located at an altitude of 10 meters above sea level. The population density is 21,665 people per km² (in terms of density, the city ranks first in the world), about 1/2 of the population are Marathas, about 1/4 are Gujaratis. The city itself occupies the island of Bombay (German) Russian (English) Isle of Bombay) and the southern part of Salsett Island, which are interconnected by bridges and dams.

Mumbai is a major hub for international communications. The city has a deep natural harbour, being the largest port in western India. About half of India's passenger traffic passes through the passenger terminal. Mumbai - one of the most important economic and cultural centers of India, is a city of great contrasts, where luxury and wealth coexist with poverty. Modern quarters are adjacent to slums - the northern districts of the city, which are considered breeding grounds for various diseases.

Compared to other cities in India, Mumbai has a relatively high standard of living and high business activity. Employment opportunities draw labor to the city from all over South Asia, apart from India itself.

Origin of the city's name

The name of the city of Mumbai comes from "Mumb", which is the name of the local Hindu goddess. Mumba Devi And ai which means "mother" in the Marathi language. There is an opinion that the name "Bombain", which was given to the city in the 16th century by the Portuguese, supposedly comes from words meaning "good bay", but modern research refutes this. Under British rule, the word was anglicized to Bombay. The name was officially changed to Mumbai in 1995. The former name is still used by the city's residents and prominent institutions, and is also popular in the West.

Geographic location

Mumbai is located at the mouth of the Ulhas River. Ulhas), occupying the islands of Bombay, Salsett and the adjacent coast. Mumbai is located at altitudes of 10 to 15 meters above sea level. The northern part of Mumbai is hilly, the highest point of the city is at an altitude of 450 meters above sea level. The area of ​​the city is 603.4 km².

Within the boundaries of the city there are lakes: Tulsi (eng. Tulsi), Vihar (English) Vihar), Powai (eng. Powai). The first two, located in the Borivali National Park (eng. Borivali), supply part of the city with drinking water. There are three rivers in Mumbai that originate in the national park. There are mangrove swamps within the city limits. The coastline of the city is indented by numerous streams and bays. The soil in the city is mostly sandy due to the proximity of the sea, in the suburbs it is alluvial, clayey. The rocks are classified as black basalts. Mumbai is in a zone of seismic activity.

Climatic conditions

Sea coast within the city

The city is located in the subequatorial zone. There are two seasons: wet and dry. The rainy season lasts from June to November, especially intense monsoon rains come from June to September, causing high humidity in the city. The average temperature is about 30 °C, the temperature fluctuates from 11 °C to 38 °C. The amount of annual precipitation is 2200 mm. Especially a lot of precipitation fell in 1954 - 3451.6 mm. The dry season from December to May is characterized by moderate humidity. Due to the predominance of the cold north wind, January and February are the coldest months, the absolute minimum in the city was +10 degrees.

Demography

Street traffic in Mumbai

Mumbai has over 17 million people. The ratio of women to men is 811 to 1000. The greater number of men is explained by the influx of the male population from the countryside to the city to earn money. The literacy rate is 77%, which is above the national average. Among men, literacy is 82%, among women - 71.6%. By religion, Hindus make up 68% of the city's population, Muslims - 17%, Christians - 4% and Buddhists - 4%. In addition, followers of Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Sikhism and Judaism live in the city, there are atheists. Mumbai uses the spoken form of Hindi (a mixture of Hindi, Marathi and English), but the official language of Maharashtra is Marathi. English is popular among the working intelligentsia. Bengali, Tamil, Punjabi, Nepali, Marathi, Telugu, Urdu, Gujarati languages ​​can also be heard in the city.

City `s history

City map. 1888

In the second half of the 19th century in Bombay, for the first time in India, a national industry and a large national commercial and industrial bourgeoisie began to emerge and take shape. Along with this, the city becomes the center of the labor movement in India. Repeatedly held mass demonstrations of workers and sailors. The uprising of naval sailors in February 1946 in Bombay led to the independence of India ().

Economic potential

Mumbai is one of the largest economic centers in the country. About 10% of all workers in the country work in this city. The city gives 33% of income tax revenues and 60% of all customs fees. Mumbai accounts for 40% of all India's foreign trade. The city has developed industries: cotton, oil refining, chemical, mechanical engineering. Electricity is provided by hydroelectric power plants located at the foot of the Western Ghats, thermal power plants on the island of Trombay. There is a nuclear power plant. There are many financial institutions in Mumbai: Bombay Stock Exchange, Reserve Bank of India, National Stock Exchange, Mint. Large companies such as Tata Group, Godrej (eng. Godrej) and many others have their headquarters in the city.

The business center is located in the southern part of Mumbai. In addition to Indian financial institutions, various foreign organizations are located in the business center. Until the 1980s, Mumbai's economy was heavily dependent on the textile industry and maritime trade. The port's cargo turnover was 25 million tons. 60% of all imports passed through the cargo port.

After the 80s of the XX century, other, more progressive and highly skilled industries began to develop in Mumbai, such as: diamond mining and polishing, high information technology, healthcare.

It is worth noting that employees working for the state make up a significant part of the entire workforce of the city, but at the same time there are many residents engaged in low and medium skilled labor: taxi drivers, shopkeepers, mechanics, repairmen and others.

Mumbai is the main center of the entertainment industry. Most of India's television and satellite networks are located in this city. Film Industry Center of India, so-called. Bollywood (English) Bollywood), located in Mumbai, where there are other, less well-known film studios.

City government

Mumbai is the capital of the state. It consists of two separate districts - the City and the Suburbs, which also form two districts in the state of Maharashtra.

The city is governed by a municipal council, headed by a mayor who performs purely nominal functions. The real executive power is concentrated in the hands of a commissioner appointed by the state government.

The Municipal City Council is responsible for the development of the city. Mumbai is divided into 23 city districts, headed by an assistant commissioner.

Crime among the population

Crime in Mumbai, by the standards of India, is moderate. In Mumbai, 27,577 cases were reported in 2004 (2001: 30,991 cases), with an 11% decrease in crime over that time. The city's main prison is Arthur Road. On November 27, 2008, riots and a chain of bombings broke out in Mumbai. There are victims.

Social and cultural life of the city, architecture, sights

Mumbai is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in India. European and Asian cultural traditions coexist in the city. There are many holidays and festivals of various ethnic groups and religions. The population of the city takes a wide part in them, often regardless of religion.

Mumbai has developed its own roadside fast food chain: Vada Pavs and Bhelpuri.

The city has many adherents of Chinese and South Indian cuisine. The city is a mixture of international and Indian tastes in music, food, art.

In 2004, Mumbai received three awards from UNESCO for the preservation of national traditions. Mumbai is the birthplace of Indian cinema, the first film was released in 1896. The city has a large number of cinemas, including the largest in Asia - "IMAX" cinema, which shows new films from Bollywood and Hollywood.

In addition to cinema, many exhibitions are held in the city, many plays are staged in theaters. The city has art galleries: the Jehangir Gallery, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Prince of Wales Museum, and others.

Mumbai is home to the only permanent symphony orchestra in India (The Bombay Chamber Orchestra).

The public library, the oldest in the city, is the library of the Asiatic Society, built in 1833.

Mumbai has six sister cities (this is the maximum allowed by the Indian government):

Bombay was actively built up during the period of British rule, in the second half of the 19th and 20th centuries. Its layout and development retains the features of colonial domination and social inequality. There are many buildings in the spirit of English neoclassical and neo-Gothic, as well as imitations of Indian architecture -XVIII centuries (Gateway to India, Museum of the Prince of Wales). The city has many buildings in European and American styles. In the old business quarter is the Armenian Church of St. Peter (XVIII century)

The center of the city around which Bombay was formed (Mumbai) is a former English fortress, a fort located in the southeastern part of the island of Bombay. The area has a proper layout, wide streets, lots of greenery. On the territory of the fort there are government offices, banks, shops, a university (), offices of commercial and industrial companies.

To the north of the fort are randomly built-up residential areas (the lower floors of the houses are occupied by shops and workshops) of the former "Black City". Warehouses, docks, moorings stretch along the eastern coast of the island; branches of both railways connecting Bombay with the mainland also fit here. Along the western coast of the island - rich quarters (villas, the residence of the governor); in the Malabar Hill area - Hanging Garden Park. On the island off the western coast is one of the symbols of Mumbai - Haji Ali Mosque.

Marine Drive is a semi-circular highway that skirts Back Bay in the south of the island. 8 km from Bombay - the island of Elephanta (Gharapuri) with cave temples (dating back to the VIII century); in the largest of them - a giant bust of the three-faced Shiva (about 6 m high; VIII century) and reliefs.

The city is expanding towards Salsett Island, and the official city area (since 1950) stretches from south to north, from the fort to the city of Thana. In the northern part of Bombay there is the Trombay nuclear research center, a technological institute (-, built with the help of the USSR), oil refineries, chemical, machine-building plants, thermal power plants.

The city announced the construction of the second tallest building in the world, India Tower. This building should be completed by 2016.

Department of Housing and Utilities

The municipality supplies the city with drinking water from the lakes of the national park, collects garbage (78,000 metric tons per year).

The city has a developed telephone network and mobile operators with a large area coverage.

mass media

Mumbai publishes newspapers in English (Times of India, Midday, Aftonun, Asia Age, Economic Times, Indian Express), Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, Hindi. The city has television channels (more than 100 in different languages), radio stations (8 stations broadcast in the FM band and 3 in AM).

Education

Mumbai has public and private schools. Private schools base their policies on higher quality education and good English language skills. Public schools educate the children of the poor who cannot pay for private schools. After ten years of study (secondary education), students study for 2 years in colleges in four areas: art, trade, the science And legislation. This is followed by a professional training course. Most professional colleges in Mumbai are affiliated with the University of Mumbai (one of the largest universities in the world). Mumbai also has a developed system of higher university education and university science. Universities in Mumbai are considered among the best in India and throughout Asia.
Among them:

• - the leading technological and engineering university of the country and one of the main research centers in the world.