Mumbai Tips for Travellers | Travel | IPL 2013

Get familiar with the sound of the kiss

In Mumbai, people (especially drivers and shopkeepers) tend to call out (to tourists or others) by making a kissing-type sound. Do not be offended, it's quite a common thing and they have no carnal intentions.

Submitted by Deepak Gopalakrishnan

Don't be taken for a ride

If you live in Mumbai and have a GPRS/EDGE phone, you can use technology and not get cheated when you have to pay up for your ride thanks to a new Mumbai auto-rickshaw and taxi fare calculator. Open your browser and browse to the URL http://rickfare.com/. Once you do that, you can enter the metered amount into the input box and get the amount you have to pay during day time and also after midnight, where additional charges are applicable. Enjoy and pay less while you travel in Mumbai rickshaws and taxis.

Submitted by Talwinder S

Experience Chowpatty

Travellers to Mumbai must visit Chowpatty. It's just 2km from the Wankhede stadium, which is holding the final of the World Cup. Chowpatty is a beach and the food there is amazing - Indian snacks like bhel puri, pani puri, sev puri, pav bhaji, cold drinks like kala khatta, orange, and not to forget golas (crushed ice lollies). And for digestion the traditional Indian paan (betel) leaf.

Submitted by Burzin Mistry

Use public transport

1. Hire a regular taxi or auto rickshaw with a meter (not a call taxi). it will give you a taste of Mumbai and will be cheap. 2. People are friendly. Don't hesitate to ask directions or anything. 3. Take off your shoes outside while visiting temples and mosques. 4. Learn a little bit of Hindi. People will be happy, interested and helpful to you. Happy stay!

Submitted by Anshul Kashyap

Be careful

Do not entertain any tour operators you meet next to the Gateway Of India as they are not registered ones and may rip you off. Public latrines are not very clean, so use the facilities available at your hotel. It is advisable to not eat at food carts on the roads as many are unhygienic. Never give any type of bribe to any public servant. Always pay in Indian rupees and not foreign currency.

Submitted by Ronith Ramesh

Try the trains and buses

Depending on where you are staying, the Mumbai local trains and the bus service are what you should look for if you want to commute in the city. The trains are the fastest, most efficient, ways of commuting, albeit a bit crowded at times. Visitors should look out for tourist passes for the buses and trains, available at any railway station.

Submitted by Srivastav Ranganathan

Get there well ahead of time

For those coming from outside the city, it would be a good idea to arrive in Mumbai at least a day before the game. Look for a suitable accommodation in the western suburbs for moderate pricing. If you are in the western suburbs, you could get to the stadium either in a cab or better still by local train. If travelling by train, get down at Churchgate and walk down to the stadium in less than 10 minutes. If you pick a central Mumbai hotel, drive down in a taxi. It should take not more than 30 minutes. Plan to be there well in advance, at least three hours before the start of the game, to avoid any disappointment, provided you have a confirmed ticket. Entry into the stadium could take as long as an hour or two depending on the stand you have chosen.

Submitted by Srinivasan

Don't let on you're not a local

In Mumbai you do not have to decide upon the auto-rickshaw/taxi fare before you get in. You do that in other cities like Delhi. Here we have meters attached to every taxi or auto-rickshaw with a fare chart. Asking the driver about how much he'll charge will indicate to him you do not know anything around (which will be a fact!) and he might charge you exhorbitantly for the ride.

Submitted by Ed