Mumbai

We spent one day in Mumbai, (aka Bombay) in the state of Maharashtra on the central western coast of India. With a population of more than 18 million, it is the most populous city in India (however, the metropolitan area population of Delhi (22M) is greater than that of Mumbai (20M)).  With the exception of Goa, by all appearances, Mumbai was cleaner than other places we visited in India (at least those parts of the parts of the city that we saw).  Traffic and air pollution even seemed better and the temperature was much cooler than Goa. Reading over my shoulder, Zoe questions whether anywhere has air pollution as bad as Delhi.

We stayed in the Colaba district, a very narrow peninsula (former island) surrounded by water at the southern tip of Mumbai.  Our hotel was near the Taj Mahal Palace, a very touristy part of town where the 2008 terrorist attacks occurred. Lots of police and no worries these days. With little time and a mix up with a guide, the children and I ended up just wandering around on about a four mile walk taking a loop along the waterfront to north of the Gateway to India and then south along the Colaba Causeway (a shopping district/market). The architecture was colonial and varied.  It took several hours and was very hot.  Street hawkers exhaust the kids and me too. We followed up with a swim at our hotel.

Ann-Kristin rejoined us in Mumbai the night (10 hours) before we left India. We all missed her and were happy to see her again.

Zoe coined “TMI” (too much India) the day we arrived. We used it throughout our visit each time we saw something mind bending. 

Namasthae (goodbye) India.

View from the hotel

Colaba waterfront

Gateway to India (built to welcome King George V in 1911)

Taj Mahal Palace

North end of Colaba Causeway