Cool Cab

Taxi's, Buses & trains
Bargaining ,Dress & Site seeing
History ,Colaba Area & Fort
Marine Drive ,Chowpatty beach & Nightlife

INTRODUCTION :

The best way to see Bombay in a day is to take Maharashtra tourism's Bombay Darshan bus tour of south bombay, as most of what is there to see is in the part of town. But since this trip is between 2pm and 6pm, an ideal way to spend your morning, is to window shop at chor bazar, an antiques market at "Mutton Street", if you like something you expected to bargain, often getting fantastic deals at great prices. The Oberoi shopping arcade is another interesting place to shop, Don't be Daunted by the air conditioned interiors. bargaining is norm here too!

TAXIS:
Bombay has a huge fleet of black and yellow taxis. They are the best travel option. Each one has a meter, which is now out of date but, every cab driver sould have a tariff card shown below. There is also a blue and silver cab which is know as the, "cool cab" these are all fitted with air-conditioning.
Tel nums: 8246216 / 8227006 / 8016622 / 8649955.

TRAINS:

Bombay has perhaps the best suburbian electric train system in the world.Best option for long distance runs between * 04:30 and 01:20, on three lines: Western Harbor and central. Avoid rush hours (* 07:00, 11:00 , and 16:00- 21:hours). The central line operates, 1082 trains carrying 3.4 million commuters per day and the western line 961 trains carry 2.9 million.

BUSES:
Bombay's red double Decker buses are best for short distances in the city. The problem with bus traveling is figuring out where the buses go since the route maps sold at newstands are indecipherable. It is the best to make as many friends as possible at the bus queue.somebody will always help.

A local train at Churchgate Station

BARGAINING:
Street stall holders expect bargaining. In shops when buying in bulk, ask for a discount. They should oblige. Other wise fixed prices are the convention.

DRESS:
Skimpily dressed woman, (no matter how'normal' by western standards) will be started at. Wear informal loose cloths during the day and you wont feel uncomfortable. If your invited to an Indian home or eat out, dress formal.

SIGHTSEEING IN BOMBAY:
Bombay is the city of Gold where one willing can achieve his dreams. People from all parts of the country come and try their luck here. This is the reason behind the cosmopolitan and mixed population of the city. You will people of all caste, culture and religion. The dressing, eating habits are a cross section of the traditional beliefs and the new western influence. The urban and educated people are greatly influenced by western culture.

BIT OF HISTORY ON BOMBAY:
Bombay has much to see. Once a tiny island covered by palm trees was used to belong to the native koli fisher-folk, who still live here in their little villages surrounded by huge skyscrapers. In the seventeenth century the Portuguese came and dotted the island with several forts, which stand even today. In 1661, Bombay was finally ceded to Charles II of England and eventually became one the largest ports in the British Empire. The local language is Marathi, but Hindi is widely used and known to all. Also as English is the medium of instruction is offices, even the locals understand and can speak the basic words to help a foreign tourist get around without much trouble.

COLABA AREA:
Situated in South-Bombay, this is a tourist preferred location. It has plenty of budget and midrange hotels. The majestic Taj Mahal Hotel has great views of the Gateway of India from its top floor Apollo Bar. The streets behind the Taj Mahal Hotel are the traveler's' center of Bombay The main drag of Colaba is plenty of street vendors, shops, stalls and cafes.

The new Taj Mahal Hotel

FORT:
The extravagant blend of Victorian gothic buildings in the Fort district of Bombay, supports the European roots of the city. This lively area occupies the site of the old British built fort and is the established commercial center of Bombay It's jam-packed with commuters, street stalls and the 19th century British institutions and trading houses. The Bombay Stock Exchange on the famous Dalal Street is one of the many establishments.

MARINE DRIVE :
Built in 1920, Marine Drive runs along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. It passes Chowpatty Beach along the way. It's one of Mumbai's most popular romantic spot and sunset view is amazing. Tourist brochures are fond of stating it as the Queen's Necklace, because of the dramatic curve of its streetlights at night.If you're feeling energetic, a stroll down Marine Drive is possibly the best way to discover Mumbai. This is a windswept promenade, flanked by the sea and a row of art deco buildings. Looped between the concrete jungle of Nariman Point, Mumbai's Manhattan, and the leafy green slopes of Malabar hill, Marine Drive is sometimes called the Queen's Necklace, strung with glittering street lights like an enormous strand of imperious jewels. It is also one of Mumbai's busiest roads, an important artery for the heavy suburban traffic heading downtown. Cars whiz continually past the two mile stretch, past huddled lovers, children and babies in perambulators. This is where most of south Mumbai comes to breathe in some fresh air.

CHOWPATTY BEACH :
Mumbai's famous beach is no place for a sunbathe or taking a dip. In fact, there's not much going on at Chowpatty at all during the day, but in the evening it develops a magical atmosphere as locals come to stroll among the balloon sellers, fortune tellers, magicians, nut vendors, ferris wheels and shooting galleries. You might even catch a film shoot or a street play. At one end is a row of bhelpuri shops hawking Mumbai's most popular snack: crisp puffed rice and semolina doused in pungent chutneys, all scooped up with a flat, fried puri. Eating at the collection of stalls is an essential part of the Mumbai experience. Chowpatty is a great place to witness the annual Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in August/September when large images of the Lord Ganesha are immersed in the sea. If you go to Mumbai and have not gone to Chowpatty and enjoyed the beach-side snacks then you have lost lots of fun.

NIGHT LIFE:
Bombay takes its night life very seriously . there are several pubs, bars and night clubs. likes to party HARD till early in the morning, even on weekdays. To be a apart of this citys incredibleenergy level, it's worth going to on of these spots. with activity till 1am.

BACK TO TOP