Five hours in Mumbai

Sorry I have already asked a similar question but did not quite get all the info I needed.

We arrive in Mumbai (26th July) at 10am and fly out to Jaipur at 1835 the same day. Allowing for 1 hour to get off our London flight and pick up baggage and allowing 2 hours safety margin at the end of the day to make sure we catch our Jaipur flight, we have about five and a half hours.

Is this enough time to get for a car to drive into Mumbai and back at those times of day and still leave us 2 hours or so for lunch and very quick look round or are we better just sitting at the airport? Or is there anything near the airport worth seeing?

Five hours in Mumbai

Immigration in Mumbai is quick and painless; there are 24 counters. If your flight is on time you will be out by 10:45 even accounting for baggage delays. Let%26#39;s say you%26#39;re free only at 11:30, that still gives you enough time for a tour of the city.

There are guided tours that you can take, or you can just take a taxi from the airport, and tell them it%26#39;s for going to Colaba and coming back. They%26#39;ll love you for it and be quite happy to take you. You can take the blue ';Cool Cabs'; which are airconditioned, or you can take non-AC black and yellow taxis depending on your budget.

Your drive to Colaba will take you an hour and a half, along the way there are interesting places - Dhobi Ghat, our outdoor laundry, Haji Ali the dargah in the sea, Mumbai%26#39;s now famous slums, the mayor%26#39;s house, Shivaji Park where many major cricketers of Indian team grew up practising the game, Mani Bhavan (Gandhi%26#39;s home in Mumbai). You first stop can be Dhobi Ghat, the second Mani Bhavan. After that drive through Marine Drive and Chowpatty towards Gateway of India.

Here is my list of things to see:

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i8250-A_woman_s…

Five hours in Mumbai

Two hour lunches are not the Mumbai way! This is a fast paced city :D

Try a sumptuous thali meal at Rajdhani, or at Chetna or Samrat, it is served quickly and efficiently.

Remember that you need to leave South Mumbai at 4:00 p.m. to be at the domestic airport by 5:30.

Deepa,

That%26#39;s very useful. If we just take a taxi for the full 5/6 hours can we safely leave our bags in the car when we get out?

I wasn%26#39;t suggesting a 2 hour lunch, that%26#39;s not the English way either, I was suggesting 2 hours as the combined time we might get for lunch and looking around the India Gate area.

No, I don%26#39;t think you can leave your bags in a public taxi. Contact a travel agent or a guided tour operator.

Or just hire a car for the day, which I think is what you suggested in another post.

Thanks

Yes, you need a travel agent (or car rental company) who will hire you a car.

- Deepa

Hi,

My question is similar. I have 7 hours to fill before my international flight at 19.25. However, I have already had 6 days staying in Colaba and having a look around the sights you have mentioned. Is there anything do-able on the north side of town? Can I check in my luggage atthe international terminal as early as 10.30 am?

Cheers,

FW

Kanheri Caves is a 2000+ year old Buddhist settlement inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Not advised if you are alone, but if a couple then you can explore the caves.

Tim,

You may contact Mega Cabs, which is very excellent and organised cab service in Mumbai. It will pick you up from Airport and will drop you at Airport after site seeing. The Cars are mid size sedans, fitted with GPS and temper proof electronic meters.

The tariff has been fixed by the Government at Rs. 15 for First KM and INR 13 for subsequent Kms. Waiting charge are Rs. 30/hour (built into the fare meter).

You may contact them at +91-22-42424242 or you may prebook them from UK also at www.megacabs.com. This way you%26#39;ll find them waiting for you outside arrival lounge.

Tim,

I tried to arrange to use a pick up this weekfrom the airport through this company via email , but got no response. Had to run the gauntlet of all the taxi touts outside, which I would not recommend if you can help it. Tim, note that you cannot enter the International Airport earlier than 3 hours. The area you wait prior to this is currently a large concrete floored air conditioned room with lots of seats, one snack stall and 2 TV%26#39;s, located past Gate D. So if you have the option of spending time at a local hotel or restaurant, shopping etc it would be preferable. Local experts, is this a new or a temporary arrangement due to renovations and/or new security processes?

FW

shiseido