Mega City Mumbai

Mumbai as we all know is a very densely populated city.So for an overly crowded city we have  four major public transportation options:

    Local trains

    Buses

    Auto Rickshaws

    Taxi's

Auto rickshaws are only available in the suburbs of Mumbai. They do not run beyond Mahim towards south Mumbai. So people staying in the suburbs are lucky as they can catch an auto rickshaw just outside their door and get dropped where ever they want at a cheaper price than catching a taxi/cab. An auto rickshaw can accommodate only three people at a time. It is black in color and is known for causing traffic jams and small accidents. 

I guess all private cars in Mumbai some time or the other would have had a brush with an auto. All the auto drivers are always in a hurry, instead of using signal lights they use their hands and legs to notify the car driver behind that they are turning or stopping. Their brake lights never seem to work.  Though all autos are supposed to take you wherever you want , some of them can even reject you. But when compared to local trains and buses autos are a blessing in disguise for short distances.

Local buses have a very good network in Mumbai.  Our red BEST buses have increased in number drastically in the last couple of years. This is due to the increase in population. The frequency of the buses have also increased.  No longer can one see those double decker buses that used to run on the roads before.  In some areas the buses are so crowded that people sometimes have no place to even stand and you find them hanging outside from the back entrance. It's a sight to see. Travelling by bus is cheaper than travelling by auto rickshaws or taxis. 

There are reserved seats for ladies, pregnant women, senior citizens and handicapped people right at the front of the bus. But when the bus is overcrowded no one seems to care as long as they have a seat to sit in.  Usually you board the bus from behind and leave the bus from the front but still at peak hours this norm goes for a toss. Bus drivers are known for stopping not at the bus stop but right in the middle of the road causing a traffic jam. Who cares for others as long as their job is being done. 

I suggest a dedicated left lane for all buses but this seems as a farfetched option as our roads are narrow, cars on roads are more, roads are being dug every second and population is increasing every millisecond. Now we even have a/c buses running on the roads. They are more expensive than the red BEST buses but are very comfortable. The only drawback is its frequency is very very low.

The black and yellow taxis of Mumbai can run from south Mumbai to Thane, Navi Mumbai and Vasai-Virar. So you can travel in private anywhere comfortably. Only four passengers are allowed in a taxi. Some of the privately owned taxis are so very well decorated as in they have extra lights, decorations like artificial flowers etc. even the seat covers are nice, but some taxis are very shabby. Taxis are the most expensive of all the public transports. But then you get private service. 

One thing I have noticed in most of the cabs that their tail and brake lights never seem to work so if you are driving behind them keep a safe distance. The air conditioned cabs are becoming very popular amongst the higher class people in Mumbai. You call the cab service and the cab waits for you at your doorstep in less than 30 minutes.  There is nothing like travelling in an air conditioned car in Mumbai as Mumbai is heavily polluted.

The local trains are the life line of Mumbai. Most of the population uses this form of transport as it is faster, convenient as frequency is very good, good network throughout Mumbai and above all is cheapest  form of transport. There are stations in mostly all the areas of Mumbai. The local trains carry around 7 million commuters on a daily basis. Earlier, all the local trains had 9 coaches, but due to the increase in usage, some of them were made into 12 coach trains. 

Now most of the local trains are 12 coaches leaving some, and there is demand for 15 coach trains, but that is a hurdle since all railway platforms cannot accommodate 15 coach trains, so the main stations are being extended to accommodate 15 coach trains. There are two classes in the trains first class and second class. Both vary in their ticket prices. If you are a regular on the train than you can buy a monthly pass which will save you the time of standing in queue everyday to buy your ticket and plus it turns out cheaper. 

The women and men compartment is different but at nights you can get into any compartment. A female should preferably avoid travelling alone in the train late at night. The government have provided security guards inside but most of the times they are never to be seen. Local trains do not function between 2am and 4am.

The local trains in Mumbai are divided into three zones - Western line, Central / Main line and the Harbour line. The western line originates from Churchgate and goes upto Virar. The central line originates at Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus (also known as VT / CST station) and goes upto either Karjat or Kasara. The harbour line also originates at CST, and takes a detour at Wadala and goes upto Andheri on the Western line.

The rakes of the Mumbai suburban network have a maximum speed of 85 km per hour, but the drivers are given strict instructions to follow speed limits while entering or exiting a railway station. There have been lot of accidents of people trying to cross the railway tracks and now keeping this in mind, the Government is coming up with various programs to educate the people about the risk of crossing Railway tracks.

If you're visiting Mumbai for the first time, it is advisable NOT to board a Virar fast from Churchgate station, because when you board the train, it might be empty but slowly it fills up so much that it is impossible for a new person to get off the train. Most people travel in groups on this route, and bully new people who wish to either get off at Bandra or Andheri station. At peak hours the trains get so crowded that people hang out of the door and travel on top of the trains.

Now, I guess all mumbaikars are waiting for the metro to start to ease out our lives more.  So all in all  Mumbai has a fantastic  public transportation network. So run Mumbai run- smooth.

Film City: The Film City of Mumbai located next to the precincts of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Goregaon (East) is synonymous with the Film City of India. Film City was the dream endeavor of Dada Saheb Phalke, the renowned cine-figure of India. Indian Film Industry is the largest in the world and produces thousands of films every year. Bollywood is only next to Hollywood. The Film City is sprawled over a large area well equipped with indoor and outdoor shooting facilities. A prior permission from relevant authorities is required to access this place.

Churchgate: It is a downtown business district in South Mumbai. It imbibes its name from Churchgate Railway Station. The city center is crammed with several offices and banks. Originally the name Churchgate has been derived from St Thomas Church that is situated about 500 meters from the railway station. Nariman Point the class business center of Mumbai is just a kilometer away. The Marine Drive lies to its west is a beautifully designed avenue in Mumbai.

Mahalaxmi Race course: It is an elite horse racing ground in Mumbai. This oval shaped ground is situated in the Maha Lakshmi area of Mumbai. The season for horse racing is from November to February. The Derby that is held annually on the first Sunday in February is the most awaited event.

Prithvi Theatre: Prithvi Theatre is a well-known theatre of performing arts in Mumbai belongs to Kapoors - the leading actor/director families in Bollywood. Prithviraj Kapoor, a legend is the source of inspiration for the establishment of Prithvi Theatre. Shashi Kapoor, the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor, along with his wife Jennifer Kendal, worked enthusiastically realizing his father's dream of establishing it.  At present Prithvi Theatre organizes an annual drama festival that features the best plays from India.

Malabar Hill: It is a small hill in South Mumbai that consists famous Hanging Gardens, Walkeshwar Temple and Kamala Nehru Gardens of Mumbai. It is the highest point in the city center with 50 meters height presents excellent view of the foothills. It is an elite residential area of the city. Malabar Hill is a worth visiting tourist place.

Town Hall: It is one of the best imperial structures among the heritage buildings of Mumbai. It is located the fort area of South Mumbai. The pillared monument is very significant for its exquisite edifice with old wooden flooring and spiral staircases. It houses the Asiatic Society of Mumbai consists of city's largest library with a collection of 800,000 antique volumes.

Climate of Mumbai

The climate of Mumbai is warm and humid throughout the year. From November to February, the skies are clear, and the temperature is cooler. From March to mid June, the temperature is warm and humid. Mid June is the beginning of monsoon, brings torrential rains sometimes disrupt the city life completely. The average rainfall in Mumbai is 180 cms. Monsoon ends by the end of September. October is comparatively hot and humid.

Mumbai is the business and entertainment center of India, because of its importance as a business hub for India, there have been a number of hotels established in Mumbai to cater needs of traveling businessmen as well as tourists. Finding hotel accommodations in Mumbai isn't difficult, but choosing a hotel that meets your needs can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you are a first-time visitor. Many visitors to Mumbai are looking for lavish accommodations that can fulfill their need to work and play. 

There are several options available for one looking for choices on hotels in Mumbai. They should know some geography of Mumbai which is mainly divided into two parts North Mumbai and South Mumbai. Simply as Town, South Mumbai is where the elite go to meet. This side of the city has all the places of historical importance, wide roads, hundreds of high-rises, the most luxurious accommodation in Mumbai, swinging bars and restaurants, and an eclectic mix of wealthy residents. 

On other side there is the up-and-coming North Mumbai. As people spread away from South Mumbai outlier towns like Juhu, Bandra, Chembur, Powai, Vashi, Jogeshwari, Santa Cruz and Khar came together to become what is now known as North Mumbai. This exciting district now boasts sprawling residential colonies, high-tech corporate spaces, nightclubs and restaurants, multiplexes, malls and world-class luxury hotels. All hotels in Mumbai are offering all facilities like 24*7 room services, medical help round the clock, transport facilities, access to computer, internet facilities, and all other required modern amenities for customers.

Budget Hotel in South Mumbai

South Mumbai attracts tourists due to many tourist destinations, which is why hotel businesses are flourishing well in this area. Also due to great demands of hotel accommodation, tariffs are also increasing for luxurious hotel accommodation. Budget hotels are the most flourishing and are offering the best of the facilities that are worth what we pay. In order to meet all the traveling and residential demands of any traveler, these budget hotels offer economical tariffs which makes easy for anyone to afford a stay in hotels. In order to meet various requirements of the customers, budget hotels in Mumbai provide en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, a telephone, an alarm clock, a television, internet connectivity and all other services.

Chateau Windsor Hotel is an ideal luxurious accommodation in the cosmopolitan town of Mumbai. The Hospitable attitude and personal interest taken by the staff makes it an eminent place in South Mumbai. All the rooms in this well-appointed budget hotel of Mumbai are well equipped with all contemporary facilities and services.  The management of the hotel is best to offer a relaxed stay in leading budget hotel of Mumbai and that is actually free from any uncertainties. The skilled and expert staff is dedicated to offer you all the conveniences that you always gaze for while you are far from home. Safe deposit lockers for your safety, centrally air-conditioned, round the clock room services, 24 hours running hot and cold water, Direct dialing with STD facility, doctor on demand, laundry and dry cleaning services, Airport pickup & drop services on demand etc.

Chateau Windsor is the leading budget hotel in south Mumbai offering 3 star luxurious accommodations and has 50 well furnished rooms. Deluxe room are comparable to any 4 star hotel room which are equipped with ultra modern facilities like anti-skid flooring, eco-friendly air conditioning systems, touch button electronic control panel, imported bedding system, etc. Moreover Chateau Windsor Hotel is located conveniently in all respects. 

It is located at a walking distance to all places a tourist might want to visit such as commercial centers, banks, airline offices, entertainment centers, shopping centers, night life, and many other tourist attractions. If you are looking for a cozy luxurious accommodation in Mumbai then Chateau Windsor is the best place to chose. Chateau Windsor will make your stay more memorable and pleasant with their extreme customer oriented services like 24 hrs room services, online hotel reservation, airport pickup facility, cook your own meal, car parking, car washing, etc.