Exploring Mumbai

Welcome to Mumbai or Bombay, Bambai or Mayanagari … or whatever you may wish to call it. 🙂

For some Mumbai is a city of freedom, for others it is a city of opportunities. For some it is a city that never sleeps, for others it is a city with no nightlife. For some it is a city of glitz and glamour, for others it is a city of slums and squalour. For some it is the city of vada pav and bhelpuri, for others it is a city of fine dining. For some it is a city for the sons and daughters of the soil, for others it is a city of migrants. For some it is a city that does not care, for others it is a city with a never say die spirit. For some it is a city of tomorrow, for others it is a dead city. For some it is a city of dirty beaches, the Marine Drive and the Gateway of India, for others it is a city with history stretching back to two millennia ago.

For me, Mumbai is all this and then some more. For me, Mumbai is home and a city that I love, but not necessarily like. It is a city which, in my opinion, has been given a raw deal by everyone concerned—its politicians, its administrators, its visitors and most of all by its residents.

And that has what made me write about different facets of Mumbai as an insider, as a resident of this city and who attempts to look beyond the dirt, squalor, grime, glamour, glitz, high rises, slums, and crowds and reveal the various sub-cultures of Mumbai. Do read the posts that interests you. But I would recommend you to read every single one, as each one is special 🙂

Art Scene in Mumbai: Art galleries, exhibitions, street art, festivals, installations… Mumbai has it all.

Day Trips from Mumbai: Easy-peasy trips that can be done in a day or even in half a day, if you’re in a tearing hurry like the city is.

Forts of Mumbai: Yes, it is forts in plural. Mumbai has 8 of them, each one vying for the position of the worst maintained one. The positive thing is they are still there, but only just.

Hidden Mumbai: These are treasures that visitors don’t necessarily know about and the city’s residents easily overlook.

Neighbourhoods of Mumbai: This explores the different areas of Mumbai, their history, their sub-cultures, their architecture, the changes sweeping through them, and what makes them tick.

Mumbai Lens: Mumbai Lens is photographic series which, as the name suggests, is Mumbai-centric and is an attempt to capture the various moods of the city through my camera lens.

Mumbai Skywalks: This series attempts to see Mumbai through a skywalk. To keep some sort of uniformity (and convenience), all skywalks are done on a Saturday and at approximately 9.30 am.

The Kala Ghoda Festival: I have been attending this arts festival for over 10 years now and have seen it grow and change over the years. Simply put, there is no other event like this in Mumbai.

Other Mumbai Stuff…

And this list will continue to grow… 😀

Join me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as I explore the world around me and share “My Favourite Things” with you.

31 thoughts on “Exploring Mumbai”

  1. That’s a neat categorization. Will be following these posts closely to get to know more about the unseen Bombay. One category I am missing here is Mumbai food! Do include that too. The many variations of batata vada, pav bhaji, bhel puri, pani puri, bheja fry! I am sure there are many more which only Mumbaikars would know about.

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    1. Thanks, Nishi. I love this city of mine and am constantly irritated when people tell me that there is nothing to do or see in Mumbai. That was one of the reasons why this separate section came about. As for writing about food, I enjoy the variety that Mumbai has to offer as much as the next person, but am not sure I can do justice to writing about it. But I will not say never. Thanks for the suggestion. 🙂

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  2. Hi, I follow your blog closely. It’s so well written & presented, a pleasure to read. Since you have a series on Mumbai, was wondering if you’ve checked out the temple of bells in Khar. I think it’s name is Ghanteshwar Hanuman temple. The facade has to be seen to be believed. The bells!

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    1. Welcome to “My Favourite Things” and thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. I haven’t been to the Ghanteshwar temple, though have heard about it. There is so much to see and do in Mumbai and I have not even scratched the surface. Thanks for reminding me of this temple. Do keep visiting.

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  3. You have written some excellent posts about Bombay/Mumbai/….
    I haven’t been to Mumbai but would love to visit it someday and your excellent posts may become my traveller’s guide.
    Thx

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    1. Welcome here, AQ Rana, and thank you so much for stopping by and commenting.

      Mumbai is known as a vibrant city, but for me what is fascinating about this city of mine is the history that is hidden between the skyscrapers and in forgotten lanes and what not.

      I hope that you get a chance to visit Mumbai and see the place for yourself. 🙂

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  4. great I really liked your blog..i left mumbai a decade ago and always thought its gone worst but may be i should come back and see the places you have mentioned. looking forward to more interesting places

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    1. Welcome here Kalpana and thank you very much for stopping by and commenting. Very happy that you liked my blog. Mumbai hasn’t changed; if anything the traffic’s worse, the pollution has increased. But the places I write about have always been there and hopefully will be there for some time to come. One just needs the patience and determination to seek out the places and enjoy them 🙂

      Do keep visiting. I have a lot of Mumbai related posts lined up in the coming days.

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    1. Welcome to the blog and to Mumbai. Thank you very much for your appreciation and I hope you do get to explore and visit the places I have written about.

      Cheers 🙂

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  8. I will come back to this post often now.
    Moving to your town after spending 7 years in Namma Bengaluru.
    Scared. Excited. And all other things in between.

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    1. Welcome here, Pinksocks. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting.

      And a big, warm welcome to Aamchi Mumbai. Just remember that this city’s bark is worse than its bite and everything will be fine. Do write to me if you require any information. 🙂

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  13. Awesome article. I’m pretty sure anyone who reads this article and who hasn’t visited Mumbai yet would eagerly look forward to it. 🙂

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  14. Light, simple & direct- aptly summarises your style of writing. You are doing a fantastic job in unravelling secrets of this great city for the current & future generations. Keep it up!

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    1. Thank you for providing list of so many places that can be visited in Mumbai. Also I have visited very less place in Mumbai but now after reading this article in future I may plan to visit this places with my family and friends.

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    1. Hello Hansel, welcome to “My Favourite Things” and thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. I have never visited Matharpacady village in Mazgaon, though it has been on my mind for a long time. Your comment has reminded me that it is high time I do so. Thank you once again.

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