If you're looking for a cheap flight to Mumbai, your local travel agent is the place to start. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, the major centre for flights into Mumbai, has been upgraded in recent years and is the largest airport in South Asia. There are a total of eight airport lounges distributed throughout the facility, and there is a free Wi-Fi service. Taxis are available day and night for the 25-kilometre trip to the city centre.
ATM cash machines can be found in terminals 1B, 1C and 2C, and lockers are provided in both domestic and international terminals. The foreign exchange counter will compete with touts to change your currency, and is the recommended option. Wary travellers take note: pack insect repellent.
Getting to Mumbai from the airport is best done in a taxi. You can hire a car, but Indian driving conditions are quite extreme at the best of times, particularly around Mumbai, so it is not recommended unless you are confident that you can cope with it. Taxis and auto rickshaws are available day and night, and will get you where you want to go.
A note to the wise though: ask the driver to use a fare schedule to make sure you are paying the correct price. There are regular bus and train services to within the city and surrounding areas.
Mumbai is home to the famous Gateway of India, situated on the waterfront in the Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai. This historical monument has witnessed countless events in the political and social history of India, and should be high on your list of things to do.
The Kanheri caves, containing statues hand carved from basalt, date from the first century BC and are just a short drive from the city. The Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum is situated in Malabar Hill, and was once home to Mahatma Gandhi himself. Anyone interested in the history of India will be spellbound.
The Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market, once known as the Crawford market, is located just five miles from the city centre, and is packed with market stalls selling fruits, vegetables, meats and items of interest. The Chor Bazaar, in Mutton Street is a mecca of tiny shops selling antiques and curios, and is highly recommended for the interested traveller.
For a more conventional shopping experience, the bustling Heera Panna shopping centre has over 130 stores dealing in quality products including electronic goods and fashion accessories. Book your flight to Mumbai today and discover what India has to offer.