"Organized chaos" Mumbai by Tijavi

Mumbai Travel Guide: 2,229 reviews and 3,829 photos

South Mumbai's (costly!) residential area

Perhaps, no major city in the world is as assaulting to the senses as Mumbai. Particularly if it's your first time to this city of 18 million (c. 2000), touted as India's commercial hub and home to Bollywood, the world's most prolific entertainment industry.

Potholed streets, stinking sewers, monstrous traffic jams, sprawling slums, annoying touts and heart-rending poverty characterize this megacity.

On the surface that is.

Look deeper and with an open mind, you will see Mumbai in a different light - humming, vibrant, dynamic. Amazingly, the hum and buzz of 18 million (and perhaps even more!) Mumbaikars going about their lives create a distinctly colorful trapestry of urban life - one that offers opportunities to those seeking their fortunes - and another, for visitors, a wonderfully unique experience worth coming back for.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Safe, cosmopolitan with a distinctive Indian flavor
Cons:Filthy, smelly
In a nutshell:A colorful tapestry of urban life worth coming back for

Last visit to Mumbai: Jul 2004
Intro Updated Feb 17, 2005
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Reviews (10)

Chic café in Colaba Restaurants (3)

It was serendipity, plain and simple. I was walking along Arthur Bunder Road, in what could be Mumbai's version of Arab... more travel advice

Getting intimate...with books Shopping (2)

The shop is located at the ground floor of historic Taj Mahal Hotel. Although the shop could use some more space given... more travel advice

Oberoi Mumbai's comfortably furnished room - Mumbai

(Good) Old Oberoi Hotels (2)

The Oberoi Mumbai is Oberoi's flagship hotel (adjacent is the Hilton Towers, which used to be the known as Oberoi... more travel advice

India's most famous gateway Things to Do (1)

Not even Delhi's India Gate could surpass the iconic status of Mumbai's Gateway of India. And rightly so.... more travel advice

Tourist Traps (1)
Why thou has created those Mumbai taxi...

Nightlife (1)
Is there any?

Comments (17)

lynnehamman Oct 11, 2009 at 3:45 PM Report Abuse

I agree about relaxing in bookshops! I have found that Indian bookshops, especially Kolkata, have excellent and wide choices. Good page on Mumbai.We loved this crazy city.
hopang Aug 9, 2009 at 10:50 AM Report Abuse

Wonderful Mumbai page with lovely photographs! Mumbai's Gateway of India certainly looks amazing. Thanks for sharing. ~ho & pang
MM212 Jan 27, 2009 at 4:08 AM Report Abuse

Looks like you had a rainy visit to Bombay. Going there in February for the first time - in the dry season!
SLLiew Dec 2, 2008 at 2:22 PM Report Abuse

Great page and well written tips. When i read your hotel tips - felt really sad about what happened.
deecat Sep 17, 2008 at 7:37 AM Report Abuse

Had not visited since 2004! Another honest, on-target description with vivid language & talented writing. The paper shredding incident amused me. Terrific restaurant & hotel tips...the introduction was superior.
matt10gonzalez Sep 24, 2007 at 11:29 PM Report Abuse

Oh Mumbai! Organized chaos? Haha! The sparwling slums, the poverty, the annoying touts and so on? But still an amazing city? Oh wow! You really hit Mumbai on the jackpot!
RickinDutch Aug 30, 2007 at 9:33 AM Report Abuse

Nicely done. Your contrast of Singapore and Mumbai are similar mine of Hong Kong and Calcutta. Like stepping back 100 years. Birthday greetings from Alaska!
kokoryko Jul 28, 2007 at 2:05 PM Report Abuse

Yes exactly: organized chaos! Good info and if I happen to come back there I will think of your tip on the book shop. . . . excellent!
toonsarah Jun 18, 2007 at 7:59 AM Report Abuse

Excellent tips - thanks for sharing. I too love the scent of basil but I must admit didn't expect to read about it on a page about Mumbai ;) The joys of VT - expect the unexpected!
kyoub Sep 1, 2006 at 6:01 AM Report Abuse

Very interesting page on Mumbai. Excellently discribed tips, especially the food. Funny about the shredder.