12 HOURS IN MUMBAI

Mumbai is a city of contrasts: juxtaposed against the horizon are the well-maintained heritage buildings, by-products of a British colonial era, and on the other side are shantytowns where most of its population thrives. One moment, you're seeing the most expensive home in the world at a whopping US$1 BILLION cost - the Antilla, brainchild of Mukesh Ambani, and the next, you're witnessing the Mumbaikar dhobis hardworkingly washing clothes in the largest open-air laundromat. For most, the city is merely a gateway for other more popular destinations in India - but it would be shame to skip the sights of a city that has so much to offer.

11AM: I landed at the newly-refurbished Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport. I had an online visa approval on hand, so immigration was a breeze. The officer was quite friendly and chatty and even told me to come back for a longer time next time! The airport was swankier than I had expected, beautifully-design ceilings and hushed lighting.

Image: apaoindia.com

1130AM: Arrived in style at the luxurios ITC Maratha, which is 5 minutes away from the airport. Intricately-designed hotel that's fit for a mughal! Checking was a breeze and the staff - in all their colorful traditional garb - were respectful and accommodating - being a solo female traveler, they automatically billeted me on the Eva Floors which were exclusively for women.

1230PM: Vikram, my driver from Mumbai Magic, picked me up from the hotel to go to South Mumbai where majority of the city's sights were concentrated. Traffic in India is legendary - but I was surprised that we managed to arrive in the southern end of the city in just 45 minutes (I expected 90!). We met my guide, Nirmala - a smart and perky student (and fellow travelphile) who has been doing the Mumbai Local tours for a couple years now. It's a good way for the students to earn money on the side and provides a different exposure for travelers in Mumbai as you take various public transportations to go around the landmarks and do as the locals do!

Glimpsing the Arabian Sea as we passed by enroute to South Mumbai

1PM: We queued up for entry into the historical Gateway of India - one of the, if not THE, most enduring symbol of this city. In front of the mighty gateway is the magnificent Taj Mahal Palace Hotel - a wonderfully-designed luxury hotel splashed with its signature dark-red color that was built 21 years earlier than the Gateway! That makes it the first harbourfront building fronting the Arabian Sea. It has played host to several VIPs, dignitaries, and personalities.

Mighty and proud Gateway of India

Luxury in the middle of South Mumbai's swirling crowds

2PM: We continued with a walking exploration of the British Heritage District, which has the highest concentration of colonial landmarks: Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay University, High Court, Oval Maidan (which brims with people during days when it's not too hot), and ChurchGate Station. It's a fantastic opportunity to take all the sights in just one stop!

Scenes around the British Heritage District

Beautiful colonial architecture in and around South Mumbai

Didn't know until my visit that South Mumbai's real-estate prices are more expensive than Manhattan's!

The heritage buildings pop out against the cloudless skies illuminated by the searing Indian sun.

My favorite building in Mumbai: the faded glory of Watson's Hotel - once the home of the likes of Mark Twain.

It was shut down after 140 years of being a British Raj relic.

3PM: We took a bus ride from Churchgate to Mani Bhavan, Gandhi's home in Mumbai. It was a peaceful enclave in a residential area - so non-descript that save for it being noted in history books and tourist maps, I wouldn't have known it was the home of India's foremost legend. Felt honoured to have been able to walk around his home, full of literature and memorabilia.

4PM: We took a walk to Swati Snacks, one of Mumbai's famous eateries and had the Dahi Batata Puri. It was a good respite from the heat and the hours-long walking. After that, we headed over via train to the famous Dhobi Ghat: the largest open-air laundromat in the world where we witnessed the dhobis doing the backbreaking work of scrubbing and washing a massive amount of clothes in the dry heat. A lot of hotel chains and schools still have their laundry done here as it's the cheapest in the city.

Snacking at Swati's before going on the local Bombay train. FUN!

Doing as the locals do - riding the train to Dhobi Ghat

Seeing one of Bombay's symbols of the working masses. Only the men do this job as most items are heavy and bulky.

5PM: Our tour ended with a taxi ride to the Victoria Terminus - yet another stunning colonial building to see the landmark Gothic railway station. It was stunning!

Look at that beauty!

7PM-10PM: Back in the comforts of the ITC Maratha for dinner at their award-winning restaurant, Peshawri, and a relaxing massage at the ITC spa after a full day of walking, running after public transport, and sightseeing under the hot sun.

Image courtesy of ITC Maratha Mumbai

Didn't think at first it was doable to see Mumbai in a day until I found out about Mumbai Magic's local tour. I know it's just skimming the surface of this interesting city - but it was worth the amazing race from north to south Bombay to witness the key sights that make up the history of this Indian jewel along the Arabian Sea.

HAPPY TRAVELS! x

HOW TO SEE MUMBAI IN 12 HOURS: Go with Mumbai Magic - the local tour is only INR 2,000 and includes the snacks, public transportation costs, and entrance fee to the Manu Bhavan. You can also ask for pick-up and drop-off services, price dependent on where your hotel is located. This tour, which is run by trained students, is one of the best bang-for-buck tours I've ever been in - plus, you help them with their cause of helping out said trainees in practicing their craft.

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