Mumbai What to Pack

Miscellaneous: Bring the less you can ;-).. yes, I didn't make a mistake in writing: in Mumbai you can find maybe not exactly your trade mark but almost anything and at really bargain prices and if by chance one of your flights is on a low cost company with severe restriction on lugguage weight, you could find yourself at the check in moving some of your heavy stuff in the hand luggage not to pay for the extra weight, provided you meet a kind and understanding employee.. what I mean is that unless you need something really particular with you, there is so much you see and think you would like to buy and then some of Indian handicrafts are made of heavy material like carved stones and wood so don't forget to keep some empty space in your luggage..

Miscellaneous: Forget your wife, your husband, your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your mother, your father, your sister, your brother or any other travelling companion. These little things will be your best friend throughout your whole time in India. Look after them, nurture them, feed them , water them and by all means, don't lose them!

Miscellaneous: The Virtual Calling Card from MTNL is available in different denominations of Rs50, Rs100, Rs250, Rs 500, Rs1000 & Rs2000.

I'd suggest you buy a Virtual Calling Card (nothing to do with Virtual Tourist but just MTNL!!!) and it is available everywhere in different denominations depending on your need and can be used from any phone without having to pay for it from that number!!! And it can be used from any MTNL (the local telephone company) line. Minimum price is Rs.50/- and you can even make STD (Domestic Subscriber Trunk Dialling) and ISD (International) calls from a non STD or ISD phone too!!! And it's cheaper too.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: If Collaba is your first stop I highly recommend leaving the toiletry shop til you arrive! Go to any of the chemists along the main shopping street or the well- hidden supermarket to the left of the Citibank by the main roundabout in Collaba. Brand name toiletries are very very cheap (I stocked up on lots of Garnier & Sunsilk stuff for around GBP1 per product). Unless you need any specialist stuff, save the pennies and buy in Bombay!

Luggage and bags: Bring toilet paper with you when you're going around town! Most public toilets are dirty and don't provide toilet paper. Better still go to some of the 5 star hotels and use their toilets there, if you could scam it.

Luggage and bags: take a light back-pack with you. you can carry this easily while travelling around the city. avoid anything which you have to carry in your hand. bag snatching occurs sometimes in the city or crowded alleys.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: light cotton clothes for all the months except december. the city is extremely humid. wear shoes that can be easily removed. this is because you have to remove them before entering a temple or anyones house. indians generally do not allow shoes inside the house. also, do not wear anything flashy, as it mat disappear soon.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: avoid drinking water anywhere. carry bottled water in your back-pack. carry medicines for diarhhoea and dysentry. nearly all the doctors in the city dpeak english. stock up on medicines while in india. they are 1/100th the price of medicines in the US or Europe. and since india exports the drugs in the first place, the quality of the medicines will not be a problem.

Photo Equipment: film rolls and development (Kodak) are very cheap in india compared to Europe. also, the film developers convert the snaps to digital format (CD) free of cost.

Luggage and bags: For long hauls- carry a suitcase. Why? -becoz you are gonna buy a lot of stuff from bombay to take back with you.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Jeans and shorts are ideal. You can also BUY very cheap clothes from the 182 shops lined up at Fashion street or Linking road. Wear em'- toss em' at the end of the trip or even better- give them to charity! Cool cottons are ideal. (PICTURE OF FASHION STREET ON THE SIDE)

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: AVAILABLE AT VERY CHEAP PRICES AT EVERY LOCAL CONVINIENT STORE

Photo Equipment: AVAILABLE AT VERY CHEAP PRICES AT EVERY LOCAL CONVINIENT STORE- batteries, rolls, converters for the equipment to work at the voltage running in the city. (yes- you can get all electric supplies too at the small local convinient stores)

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: No campsites in the city vicinity-Camping not recommended

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Depending on when you arrive your clothing should be:
During Summer (March-June) : Light clothing, cottons, shorts, hats/caps, sunglasses etc
During Monsoon (June-Ocober): Rain wear, water protective clothing/jackets/caps etc. The rains are pretty heavy so I'd advise proper rainwear.
During winter: It's never too cold in Bombay, in fact it ranges from a pleasant to warm season during winter, so clothing can be light/normal wear. Woollens are rarely required, while heavy winter/fur jackets are an absolute waste to carry.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Most medicines are available all throughout Bombay, so unless if you have an uncommon/specific medicine/drug to carry, don't bother carrying anything more than a basic first aid kit which is also easily available anywhere in Bombay.

Photo Equipment: Adjoining pic: National Centre For Modern Art (near Prince of Wales Museum)

Miscellaneous: Other useful info:
Time Zone: GMT + 5 1/2 hours
Visa: All foreign visitors to India require a valid visa. A tourist visa, valid for 90 days from the date of entry, can be obtained from any Indian embassy, high
commission or consulate, an extension of visa is possible in Bombay.If a visit extends beyond 90 days, an Income Tax Clearance Certificate is required at the time of
departure. This is available from the main tax office in Bombay