|
Airport
Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji international airport
is a main gateway to India. It is 25 km (15
miles) from the main business district, and
is not served by bus or train; use car or taxi.
Travel time from the airport to the city is
about one hour, but during peak hours, it can
take at least two.
Business Hours
Public and private offices: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. Mon.-Fri. Some open on Saturday, but all
are closed on Sunday.
Shops: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
Post offices: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon._Fri.;
Saturday until noon.
Banks: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sat.
Restaurants: until 11 p.m.; nightclubs
and discos close much later
Currency
One rupee=100 paise. Indian coins come in denominations
of 5, 10, 25 and 50 paise and 1, 2 and 5 rupees.
Notes are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500.
If you are handed a grubby note, insist on having
it exchanged for a newer one. Have a big supply
of small bills as change almost does not exist
in India. See our listings of
Money
Changers in
the Travel
Directory
Climate
The cool months (November-March) are the best
time to visit as temperatures range from 4.5-15.5
deg. C (40-60 deg. F) in the north to 18-30
deg. C (64-86 deg. F) in the south. The summer
months (March-June) can be very dry and hot.
During the monsoon months (June-Oct.), rainfall
reaches 50-200 cm. (20-80 in.). Click here for
3-day weather forecast in Mumbai.
Credit Cards
American Express, Diners Club, Mercard, MasterCard
and Visa are accepted by large establishments,
but it is still wise to carry Indian currency.
Credit cards can be used to get cash advances
in rupees.
Clothing
Casual attire is acceptable for business meetings
but it is best to dress formally. The appropriate
attire for men is a long-sleeved shirt with
tie and/or jacket, depending on the weather.
Long skirts are required of women, but they
may try wearing a sari or salwar kameez (pants).
Useful
Numbers
Here is a list of some useful telephone
numbers that might come in hand while traveling
in Mumbai. For a detailed list, view our
Useful
Numbers page.
Fire department: 101
Police: 100
Local directory assistance: 197
International directory assistance: 197
MasterCard hotline for lost or stolen cards:
1-314-542-7111 (call collect to the United States)
Health Risks
Gastroenteritis, typhoid, cholera or jaundice
may be acquired through unhygienic water or
food. Conjunctivitis is common as the pollution
level is high in Mumbai.. As a protection from
disease-carrying mosquitoes, flies, etc., wear
long-sleeved shirts or blouses. The estimated
number of AIDS cases is also quite high in Mumbai.
Drink bottled water for prevention from water
borne diseases.
Check out the MumbaiTI- Tourists'
Medical Checklist
for important medicines that you should
carry while traveling in Mumbai.
Holidays
Jan. 26 Republic Day
March 4 Mahashivratri
March 16 Bakri-id (id-ul-zuha)
March 20 Holi
April 1 Bank's yearend account closing
April 5 Gudhi Padwa
April 12 Ram Navami
April 14 Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti
April 15 Moharrum
April 21 Good Friday
May 1 Maharashtra Day
May 5 Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti
May 18 Buddha Pournima
June 15 Id-e-Milad
Aug. 15 Independence Day
Aug. 21 Parsi New Year
Sept. 1 Ganesh Chaturthi
Sept. 30 Bank's half-yearly closing of accounts
Oct. 2 Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
Oct. 7 Dusserha
Oct. 26-28 Diwali
Nov. 11 Guru Nanak Jayanti
Dec. 25 Christmas
Learn more about
Mumbai's
culture,
Mumbai
At A Glance
|
