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Hey guys,
So i need some advice/info…one of my mates is getting married in november, and as is the fashion nowdays, it’s gonna b abroad…the destination is Goa. Obviously I’m pretty excited to go (wanted to see it ever since Dil Chahata Hai), but I’m thinking of checking out Bombay for a few days prior to the wedding. The rest of my friends don’t have as many days off so are all gonna head straight to Goa, but I’m thinking that since I’ve never been to Indian before, and also seeing as the flight is via Bombay anyways, it makes sense for me to stop there for a few days.
So my first questions is whether it sounds like a reasonable thing to do! I mean i’d have no qualms about spending a few days alone in Rome or New York or Copenhagen…but Bombay! Is it manageable? How hard is it in terms of getting around and seeing places? As a tourist will people be trying to rip me off at every step? I dont mean to be negative, I just wanna be prepared, cos sum ppl I know have totally loved Bombay whilst others have found it to be a nightmare!
My second question is, how much film stuff is there to see? I mean are there museums about old movies and things? How about visiting homes/graves of people like Madhubala and Meena Kumari? Is there any kind of tribute place to the old stars/filmmakers? I dont really have any desire to watch shooting of current movies, and all the stars I’d like to meet are either dead or retired (Waheeda Rahman/Sadhana/Dharamendra/Dilip Kumar/Mala Sinha).
Thirdly, do you think it would be in anyway possible to see/meet Lata? In honesty, she’s the one thing that really makes me want to go to Bombay…but is she at all accessible? Maybe I can get a hotel near Peddar Road…will be easier to stalk her :=)
And lastly, any specific must-see places I should see in Bombay? Temples/historic sights/buildings/malls etc etc.
Thanks guys!
S.
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rks 18 August 2009
03:53:38 pm
“As a tourist will people be trying to rip me off at every step? ”
That is always a possibility. Last time in December, the ticket agent at Delhi Police pre paid Taxi service booth at domestic airport tried to swindle Rs500 (changing 500 bill with 100)
But I guess if you speak Hindi/Urdu, you would be fine.
Qalandar 18 August 2009
03:59:49 pm
Yeah, at Varanasi airport the prepaid taxi booth claimed the rate was 750 rupees. I told him the guidebook said it was 350, he refused to budge. Then I switched to Hindi/Urdu, and he came down to 500. Finally, I walked out of the airport and got an autorickshaw for 150!
Qalandar 18 August 2009
04:13:59 pm
Salim: in my experience, people try and rip you off far less in Bombay than in Delhi. I think you should be completely fine.
In terms of specific places to see, it’s not a “monument-driven” city the way a historic city like Delhi is, but I think all visitors go to:
1. Victoria Terminus (now CST); more generally the South Bombay area, locals just call it “Town”, i.e. the heart of the British-built city, and superbly well-preserved. Tons of iconic buildings here, including the Town Hall (most recently seen in Ghajini, I think); the clock tower, the Oval Maidan, the Metro cinema (the irani hotel Kiyani’s is opposite — superb qeema ghotala here), the Prince of Wales museum (now named after Shivaji, like everything else in the city)….
2. Marine Drive: every Bollyfan has to!
3. Haji Ali; Maha Laxmi Temple, nearby.
4. Sanjay Gandhi National Park
5. Elephanta caves.
6. The various beaches: Juhu-Chowpatty, Aksa, etc.; and the Bandstand (Bandra cornische)…
7. Gateway of India.
8. Take along your love of street food and food from irani hotels, and don’t listen to wusses who tell you not to eat and drink. I ate all manner of things and was completely fine.
Some other points:
1. Ride the local trains; off-peak hours are more manageable. Definitely ride the harbor line. Ride the buses too.
2. Siddhi Vinayak temple (replica of the original shrine in Maharashtra, but this is the one frequented by tons of Bombayites).
3. The dargah of Makhdoom Baba in Dadar.
4. There’s a famous church in Bandra, forget the name (Mount Mary?)
5. The picturesque fishermen colony north of the city (Utaan?)
6. Sivaji park, Dadar
Some pics from my Mumbai trip HERE.
rks 18 August 2009
04:15:31 pm
Q – You got a deal. That airport (I call it a bus stand) is far from main varanasi. I think Taxi rates are in vicinity of 400 from airport. @750, you will get 6-8 hr/80km rate.
Salim – Sorry, I have never been to Mumbai. But there are members who are from Mumbai or have visited Mumbai, can help you.
Qalandar 18 August 2009
05:16:03 pm
remember, i ended up getting an auto, not a taxi…
Doga 18 August 2009
05:26:41 pm
Well Saleem its going to be hard but interesting.
I have been to Delhi many times, but last time i was alone and i must have given twice the rates that should have been charged.
(I was practically ripped apart).
Good Luck and follow what the Above Gentlemen have to say.
Doga 18 August 2009
05:34:44 pm
Great Pics Q bhai, those Small Single screens playing mithun da movies makes one ultimately nostalgic.
Doga 18 August 2009
05:38:21 pm
Other Movies being shown:
Laadla
Judwaa
Aandhi Aur Toofan
Qalandar 18 August 2009
05:54:29 pm
In Varanasi they were even showing Chandaal! See HERE
Doga 18 August 2009
06:16:24 pm
These pics and also my general experience tells me that though Boxoffice is a very critical parameter, nothing beats the following stars like Mithun da have in interiors.
Once we had a new building construction in our college ,at one occasion we heard loud noise at midnight so we went out looking for the source what we found was that the labourers were watching mithunda movies exclusively(and they had 5-6 more of his movies) in the big hall they were constructing. So yeah.
By interiors i dont mean small towns, India as we know is very varied, within a big Town there are city area and there are interiors as is evident by the pics.
Qalandar 18 August 2009
07:40:03 pm
Well said Doga — in all our box office discussions, it is important to remember that when we use terms like “small center”; “large center”; “multiplex” and “single screen” we are actually talking about abstractions, each and every one of which contains and conceals a wealth of diversity. These terms are (perhaps) useful for purposes of discussion, but if we fetishize them, we confuse the symbol with the thing itself.
Tango 18 August 2009
07:45:20 pm
“Salim: in my experience, people try and rip you off far less in Bombay than in Delhi. I think you should be completely fine.”
I agree with Q, unlike Delhi and Agra, Varanasi Bombay taxi wala’s are quite honest. But be very specific with where you want to go, rather than Hotel Chalo. I’ve been there twice and things were quite normal.
I do have a bad impression of Chennai auto walas who are very much like there Delhi brethrens.
In Bombay check out Gateway Of india, Hanging gardens, Juhu beach (early morning) and Girgaum chapatti late evening.
From eating joints, take astroll down Mohd Ali Roda and good eateries like Delhi Durbar there. Food is very cheap (price wise)
BUT BOOK YOUR HOTEL ONLINE OR THROUGH SOMEONE and have the address at hand.
RAJ 18 August 2009
10:31:36 pm
Salim,
Mumbai is better and i assure you wont be ripped apart provided you show to them that you belong to that place…
Marine Drive is a delight so as Gateway of India…Haji ali is a good place to visit as well as siddhi Vinayak temple…
If you are a BW fan then dont forget to visit…Jalsa and Mannat…
ritz 19 August 2009
02:47:07 am
“I do have a bad impression of Chennai auto walas who are very much like there Delhi brethrens.”
Tango, I agree that they ask too much for small distance in chennai but ….yahan pe loot maar ka darr jo delhi/bangalore me hota hai wo nahi hai. Better than loosing your wallet/mobile/watch.
Anna 19 August 2009
02:57:08 am
“yahan pe loot maar ka darr jo delhi/bangalore me hota hai wo nahi hai.”
Bangalore? LMAO. Did you mistake Bangalore for Coimbatore? I had my worst experience in Chennai city. Udhar sab log chor hai (except for the ones who migrated from Karnataka)
Anna 19 August 2009
03:01:20 am
Q bhai, For you
DNA EPaper
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulk/sets/1391361/
Angels and Belds 19 August 2009
03:21:56 am
bangalore mein tho bahut chori hoti hai…..magar anna aur main sirf dil churathe hain! koi shak tho poochke dekhna NG ki goriyon se
RAJ 19 August 2009
03:24:09 am
Beld,
Kis gori ka dil churaya tune???:)
Anna 19 August 2009
03:37:33 am
“Kis gori ka dil churaya tune?”
Gori.. lla ki
Anna 19 August 2009
03:38:55 am
Coming to topic, No city to beat Amchi Mumbai..I love mumbai more than any city in the world
Angels and Belds 19 August 2009
03:43:02 am
lol Anna – is baat par ek gaana yaad aa gayi
Chura ke dil mera Gori…lla chali….!
Mumbai is good, NY is good too, Chennai is nice, Pune is great, San Diego is the best but Bangalore is priceless!
Gorilla 19 August 2009
06:40:57 am
‘“Kis gori ka dil churaya tune?”
Gori.. lla ki’
hahahaha
‘Chura ke dil mera Gori…lla chali….!’
Koi Ila Arun ko bachaao!
Qalandar 19 August 2009
08:55:37 am
Wow, thanks for the links re: Elgin Talkies Anna, those pics were awesome!
Rocky 19 August 2009
11:23:46 am
Salim- It’s not Bombay, It is Mumabai !! LOL
Sorry – Kaminey ka effect abhee gaya nahee hai !! LOL
Salim 19 August 2009
03:53:31 pm
Thanks everyone! Appreciate all the info/advice. I think i’m convinced…will book my tickets later this wk
I do speak hindi/urdu, but i’m not as fluent as in katchi/gujerati, so i’ll need to do some practice over the next couple of months!
Q – wicked pics dude!
S.