Formerly known as Mumbai it is the commercial & financial capital city of India. This port city (India's largest and busiest) accounts for a major share of the government's revenue, and has one of the world's largest harbour. In a recent survey of cities compiled, Mumbai is the fifth most expensive city in the world. 40% of this island city consists of reclaimed land from the sea.
This mega cosmopolitan city is a city of contrasts. The deceptively calm sea, its beaches and fishing boats, give lie to a city, which is bursting at its seams with population, pollution and space.
Over 60% of air pollution is due to the 7 lakh vehicles on the roads.
Space constraints have given rise to towering skyscrapers standing majestically next to sprawling slums ( Dharavi -Asia's biggest slum is here). Haute cuisine besides hawker stalls. World renowned designer labels and brands to exquisite made in India items.
People of various caste, culture, and religion inhabit the city, and due to this diversification the customs, languages, and even the food is of infinite variety. The language spoken here is Hindi & Hinglish which is street speak and slang a mixture of Hindi & English. The official state language though is Marathi. The city is multi religious, multi cultural, multilingual.
Essential Information
Airport -- There are two airports in Mumbai, The Chattrapathi Shivaji (Mumbai) International Airport and Santa Cruz Domestic Airport. Mumbai Airport is the busiest airport in India and is 35 km from the CBD and Santa Cruz is 25 km from the CBD.
Expect to take around ninety minutes to get into the city centre as the traffic can be very heavy. Take a prepaid taxi which are available outside arrivals and there is a free bus service between the two terminals.
Public Transport -- This includes taxis, trains and BEST buses. Probably the fastest way of getting around is by local train. City buses are fine for short trips with fares starting at 2 rupees. Be prepared for crowded conditions on all local transport. BEST buses go out to all corners of the city. Tickets can be bought from the conductor on the bus but do avoid the rush hours if you can.
Taxi -- There is no shortage of taxis with the average price being 12 rupees per kilometre. They usually have meters. However watch out for those metres set on the previous fares and make sure your driver has a conversion card.
Mumbai City Weather
The period between October and February is the most pleasant time to visit Mumbai, when the city enjoys a balmy season of blue skies and a cool breeze. From March, the temperature gradually rises and the humidity reaches saturation point. It is very hot just before the monsoon rains break in mid-June. The rains last until September. They come as a welcome relief to Bombayites but when the drainage system fails everyone encounters difficulties getting around town. After the initial few days of flooded roads, however, Bombayites take the downpours and regular drenching in their stride. In September, the humidity and temperature begin to fall. Luckily Mumbai does not suffer from the incessant power cuts that plague other parts of India, so offices and hotels remain air-conditioned and bearable through the hot months.
The city, being in the tropical zone and near the Arabian Sea, does not experience distinct seasons, but the climate can broadly be classified into two main seasons ? the humid season and the dry season. The humid season, between March to October, is characterized by high humidity and temperatures of over 30°C (86°F). The monsoon rains lash the city during June to September and supply most of the city's annual rainfall of 2,200 mm (85 in). The maximum annual rainfall ever recorded was 3,452 mm (135.89 in) in 1954[5]. The highest rainfall recorded in a single day was 944 mm (37.16 inches) on 2005-07-26.
The dry season, between November and February, is characterized by moderate levels of humidity and warm to cool weather. Cold northerly winds are responsible for a high wind chill factor during January and February. The annual temperatures range from a high of 38°C (100°F) to a low of 11°C (52°F). The record high is 43°C (108°F) and record low is 7.4°C (45°F) on 1962-01-22.
