Mumbai: The City That Never Sleeps

Mumbai hit me like a wave. It is loud, it is crowded, it is expensive compared to the rest of India, and it is absolutely electric. I had three days there, and I barely scratched the surface. I stayed in Colaba, the colonial district, which is a great base for first timers. My first stop was the Gateway of India, the iconic arch overlooking the Arabian Sea. From there, I walked to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, which is stunning even just from the outside. I spent an entire afternoon at Dhobi Ghat, the open air laundry, watching hundreds of washermen beating clothes against stones. It is a sight you will not see anywhere else. The food in Mumbai is a highlight. I had vada pav, the city's signature street food, from a tiny stall near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and it was the best thing I ate all trip. In the evening, I went to Chowpatty Beach and tried bhel puri while watching families fly kites. Mumbai is chaotic, but it has a rhythm. Once you find it, you will love it. My advice is to use the local trains for getting around, but avoid rush hour unless you want to be packed in like a sardine. And definitely take a ride in a black and yellow taxi at least once. It is a quintessential Mumbai experience.