City of Contrast- Love or Loathe
Life is not a race but a journey to be enjoyed at each step of the way.
Shawkat Ali Sawant >>> Youtube Channel linkThis blog/portal is not influenced or sponsored by any business or organisations. It was developed purely from intention of 'helping others'. As and when I come across information I feel would be useful for visitor to Mumbai I add to my blog.
This page is created for important information from
point of arrival so that one can plan in advance to make journey easy. For easy navigation there are links to pages within the site as well as good selection of external links too.
I have included information about Mumbai city as well as travelling from Mumbai to Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kochi and other cities on route. Information as altitude, population, area size, distance from Mumbai and distance in-between cities, mode of transport to choose, sightseeing, malls etc. Similarly I have also created page on other countries too so that information shared would benefit others
I have included information about Mumbai city as well as travelling from Mumbai to Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kochi and other cities on route. Information as altitude, population, area size, distance from Mumbai and distance in-between cities, mode of transport to choose, sightseeing, malls etc. Similarly I have also created page on other countries too so that information shared would benefit others
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Types of visa:
Transit Visa: maximum 15 days
Tourist Visa: maximum 180 days with gap
of 60 days for return.
People with Indian origin can
apply for OCI/PIO as permanent visa with no days restriction for Indian Diaspora.
Business Visa: exhibition participation,
trade, monitoring project, post sales activities, training, technical support
often applied by foreign national.
Employment visa: consultant on contract,
artist, trainer, expertise as consultant, teacher, interpreter, skill base
work,
Student visa: full time education.
Research visa, Conference visa,
Journalist visa etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Transport: Pre-paid taxis on arrival: There are desks in Airport terminal arrival hall, where payment can be made for taxi journey so it is haggle free. There are 75,000 black cabs operating in city. Yellow and black cabs as well as airconditioned cabs can be booked on www.citycoolcab.in, www.tabcab.in, www.merucabs.com, www.olacabs.com, www.easycabs.com, www.bookmycab.com, Uber,
Car Hire companies: These can be booked at airport as are there are many car hire companies counters or online in advance. It is mostly with driver. www.carzonrent.com , www.samruddhitravels.com , www.luxurylimo.in, www.avis.co.in ,
www.rushabhrentacar.com,
www.aerowheels.in, www.ecorentacar.com, www.savaari.com
Driving Licence & Car purchase: AA International driving licence is valid in India. There are many driving schools who could assist in getting local provisional licence and full driving licence from transport office where local driving test is necessary. All types of new or second hand cars can be purchased. There are many new Car dealers and pre-owned car dealers and internet sites such as www.carwale.com, www.gaadi.com, www.cardekho.com. There is no annual tax on car or annual inspection of car. One has to service as appropriate. There are many online insurance companies.
Mumbai transport page link...
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For internal travel in India- Mumbai to other cities travel
Indian Railway- Tourist with overseas passports can book tickets from special quota reserved by Indian Railways. At main stations there is special counter for tourist and last minute booking can be made for inter city travel.
Buses- Private bus companies run luxury buses to many cities from Mumbai.
However a typical 700km to 1000km journey would be of 14 to 20 hours by bus or train.
Flights- India is well served by domestic flights and there are many flights even for same destination all day. Flying is best option as distance of over 1000 km is 2 hours flight. So Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kochi and many other cities can be reached in around 2 hours. The internal flights operators are listed on Travel page.
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Communication:Mobile Phone SIM: There are many operators (Vodafone, Reliance,
AirTel, DOLPHIN, Loop Mobile, IDEA, Aircel, TATA DOCOMO) offering
'post paid' (contract) and 'pre-paid' (Pay as you go) schemes for
talk time and 3G data. (Police use mobile number to solve crime
hence SIM
cards are only issued with photos and address proof. In
India mobile numbers are linked to Debit/credit card by banks and the moment
any payment transaction is done or cash withdrawal at ATM immediately text
message comes to phone).Driving Licence & Car purchase: AA International driving licence is valid in India. There are many driving schools who could assist in getting local provisional licence and full driving licence from transport office where local driving test is necessary. All types of new or second hand cars can be purchased. There are many new Car dealers and pre-owned car dealers and internet sites such as www.carwale.com, www.gaadi.com, www.cardekho.com. There is no annual tax on car or annual inspection of car. One has to service as appropriate. There are many online insurance companies.
Mumbai transport page link...
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For internal travel in India- Mumbai to other cities travel
Indian Railway- Tourist with overseas passports can book tickets from special quota reserved by Indian Railways. At main stations there is special counter for tourist and last minute booking can be made for inter city travel.
Buses- Private bus companies run luxury buses to many cities from Mumbai.
However a typical 700km to 1000km journey would be of 14 to 20 hours by bus or train.
Flights- India is well served by domestic flights and there are many flights even for same destination all day. Flying is best option as distance of over 1000 km is 2 hours flight. So Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kochi and many other cities can be reached in around 2 hours. The internal flights operators are listed on Travel page.
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Non
residents Indians (NRI) and foreigners
with other country passports can obtain mobile sim. There are many shops selling
chips. You will require 2 photos, passport photocopy and mobile number of local
contact and his/her address who will agree to act as guarantor. Once issued SIM
will be operational in 48 hours. Many coffee shops have wi-fi zones.
There is android mobile application called www.freecharge.in which allows you to make pre-payment for talk time and 3G usage.
There is android mobile application called www.freecharge.in which allows you to make pre-payment for talk time and 3G usage.
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Shopping Trip: There are many areas full of shops offering broad range to fit budget. Shopping trips with eating out at huge selection of eateries makes shopping fun.
Mumbai Malls, Mumbai Markets & Bazaars and Wedding shopping in Mumbai has more information about shops. Shopping Trip: There are many areas full of shops offering broad range to fit budget. Shopping trips with eating out at huge selection of eateries makes shopping fun.
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Medical: All international brands of medicine is available and there are
many private diagnostic centers and medical centers. over 150,000 people come to India (Chennai,
Hyderabad, Mumbai) for Medical treatment. There are many private hospitals
offering excellent service. In Mumbai there are www.hiranandanihospital.org, www.kokilabenhospital.com,
www.hindujahospital.com,
www.lilavatihospital.com
, www.saifeehospital.com , www.jaslokhospital.net , www.fortishealthcare.com , www.nanavatihospital.org , www.kohinoorhospitals.in , www.wockhardthospitals.com ,
In addition there are many specialist consultants and many more hospitals.
For more information on Medical trip click here...
In addition there are many specialist consultants and many more hospitals.
For more information on Medical trip click here...
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Education- There are 160 colleges in Mumbai offering commerce & science
courses, 6 Pharmacy colleges, 60 Engineering colleges, 50 Management colleges,
17 Law colleges, 25 Applied arts colleges, 8 Dental colleges, 6 Media colleges,
15 vocational institutes - over 30,000 come to study. (UK & US each attracts 10 times more students). Many come for short IT courses too.
For more information on Education visit click here...
For more information on Education visit click here...
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Bank Account: There are many banks offering NRE (Non Resident External) account where money can be remitted from abroad and if required can be repatriated. NRO account is 'Ordinary' account to make deposit of India income. All banks issue debit and credit cards and there are many ATMs in all cities. To avoid fluctuation in currency 'Foreign currency account' are also available in major currencies.
If you have UK or any other country account where same bank operates (such as HSBC), you can have 'Global' access and see all connected account on same computer screen and transfer funds between account at a click of computer in real time. You could have other currency accounts linked to same. Banks are listed in Business related information
Money transfer & Forex: There are many branches of money transfer agencies (western union etc) in Mumbai and in many other cities too. Foreign currency could be exchanged at banks and Forex agencies.
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PAN Card: PAN card (Permanent Account Number- 10 digits) is issued by government as tax code. It is important document as it is required by banks for opening account, buying property, register car and also acts as proof card. It links all transactions to tax office. A foreign national working in India can apply for PAN card by using form 49AA.
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Hotels: List of hotels as 5 & 4 star and other in three direction of city are listed on Mumbai Hotels,
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Buying property or renting: Area rates of property on Mumbai property investment (NRI & Foreign National buying in India).
Renting apartment is done on licence basis which is renewed every year. The rent varies from area to area. South Mumbai and up to bandra the rent could be between six hundred to thousand pounds for one or two bedroom apartment. As you go further north (90 minutes from old commercial district) the rent could be hundred pounds per month.
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Mumbai Climate: Mumbai has 15c to 36c temperature all year round (36 in direct sun in summer). Never too cold but little hot in month of May. July to September is monsoon season. (Delhi weather can be as low as 5c and could go up to 45c, Hyderabad weather can be as low as 6c and could go up to 45c, Bangalore- Altitude 3000ft weather can be as low as 15c and could go up to 36c, Srinagar- Altitude 6000ft, weather can be as low as -3c and high would be 30c, Chandigarh weather can be as low as 3c and could go up to 36c).
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Groups, Forums, Blogs: Click on following for more information
Expats group- Mumbai Connexions, Internations, British Expats
Travel Forums- Team bhp, bcm touring, India mike, India travel, Virtual tourist,
Travel India, Trip advisor.
Development: Skyscrapercity,
Blogs: Mumbai boss, Brown Paper Bag, Mumbai net,
Food: Zomato, Burrp, Gourmet it up,
Transport: Transport app for phone, Transport page link
Activities: Time out, Cinema halls and Multiplexes,Online tickets,
Newspapers: Mumbai print media,
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Mumbai (Greater) Ranking:
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Internal pages of this blog. Click on links below
Mumbai Malls, Historical buildings of South Bombay (Sobo), Mumbai Markets & Bazaars, Mumbai Eateries
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Groups, Forums, Blogs: Click on following for more information
Expats group- Mumbai Connexions, Internations, British Expats
Travel Forums- Team bhp, bcm touring, India mike, India travel, Virtual tourist,
Travel India, Trip advisor.
Development: Skyscrapercity,
Blogs: Mumbai boss, Brown Paper Bag, Mumbai net,
Food: Zomato, Burrp, Gourmet it up,
Transport: Transport app for phone, Transport page link
Activities: Time out, Cinema halls and Multiplexes,Online tickets,
Newspapers: Mumbai print media,
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Mumbai (Greater) Ranking:
Area (Urban) Mumbai 700km2, Birmingham 268km2, London1500km2, New York 730km2,
Singapore 700 km2, London 1500km2, Jakarta 740km2, Cape Town 2500km2.
Singapore 700 km2, London 1500km2, Jakarta 740km2, Cape Town 2500km2.
Population of Greater Mumbai is 20 million (third of UK (60m) population, higher than 169
of 223 countries), (New York 8m, London 8.3m, Istanbul 14m, Singapore 5m, Birmingham
1m, Kuala Lumpur 1.2m, Cape town 3.4m). Mumbai is No. 1 city of India in opulation,
Delhi 20m, Bangalore 8m, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai 5m, Kolkata, Surat,
Pune 3m, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Nagpur 2m, Indore, Bhopal
of 223 countries), (New York 8m, London 8.3m, Istanbul 14m, Singapore 5m, Birmingham
1m, Kuala Lumpur 1.2m, Cape town 3.4m). Mumbai is No. 1 city of India in opulation,
Delhi 20m, Bangalore 8m, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai 5m, Kolkata, Surat,
Pune 3m, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Nagpur 2m, Indore, Bhopal
Slums: 40% live in slums- 8 million, most works as maid and drivers for others
Density (People/km2: 3rd in density 31,700/km2 Honkong 26,000/km2 ,
London 4,000/km2, Birmingham 4,000/km2)
London 4,000/km2, Birmingham 4,000/km2)
City Tag for Mumbai: The city of dreams, the city that never sleeps; this is a city of numerous tag lines. But the most apt is probably Mumbai–the commercial capital of India India
