MISCELLANEOUS, Mumbai

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Dhobi Ghat is an open air laundromat in the city of Mumbai. The washers (Dhobis), collect the soiled clothes from different parts of the city from houses, hotels, hospitals and bring them here in the open to wash. There are rows of concrete wash pits & stone slabs to hammer wet clothes. Called the world's largest outdoor laundry, Dhobi Ghat is a very popular attraction among foreign tourists.

It's worth to know that the washers operate in a quality level of 9 sigma that means a single defect of clean cloth might not reaching the right destination within an opportunity of a trillion is simply unbelievable.

The laundromat is located just right of Mahalaxmi railway station on the Western Railway as you getting down the flyover towards Saat Rasta junction. Parking is little difficult in that area so better to park little far away if you want to spend quality time at the place.

Even if you can't afford to stay here (and I couldn't) it is worth the trip just to see this famous hotel that has long been considered one of the world's finest. George Bernard Shaw is supposed to have said that once he saw the Taj Hotel he didn't need to se the real Taj Mahal. I did manage to get in for an $18 breakfast.

Each day up to 200,000 "lunches from home" are delivered to workers in Mumbai by the approximately 5,000 dabbawalas, " a person whose job is to carry and deliver freshly made food from home in lunch boxes to office workers".

A dabba, or tiffin as it is also called, is a cylindrical aluminium container with up to 4 separate compartments. One section may contain your rice, another your roti/chapati, another dal, and another a curry or vegetable dish. It is India's version of a lunchbox.

The dabbawala picks up the tiffin from someone's home and delivers it to his office by lunchtime. Although it may sound easy, it is a complex process that involves no "Western modern high technology".

From their site: "The success of the system depends on teamwork and time management that would be the envy of a modern manager. Such is the dedication and commitment of the barely literate and barefoot delivery men (there are only a few delivery women) who form links in the extensive delivery chain, that there is no system of documentation at all. A simple colour coding system doubles as an ID system for the destination and recipient. There are no multiple elaborate layers of management either — just three layers. Each dabbawala is also required to contribute a minimum capital in kind, in the shape of two bicycles, a wooden crate for the tiffins, white cotton kurta-pyjamas, and the white trademark Gandhi topi (cap). The return on capital is ensured by monthly division of the earnings of each unit."

Amazingly it is said that there is only one mistake in every 6,000,000 deliveries.

The dabbawalas became celebrities when Prince Charles visited. Richard Branson (Virgin), actually did "a day with the dabbawalas".

Although I have not done a day with the dabbawalas, I thought this might be of interest to some of you visiting Mumbai (if you have the stamina to do it!).

Basically this is what is involved:

3- You will have to report to our Andheri office or directly at the residence of Dabbawala at about 8AM.
4- If required, we will arrange for a English speaking guide to help you discuss with Dabbawala.
5- You will go with Dabbawala to the customer and collect the Dabba.
6- Then you will travel in local train with Dabbawalas to the destination station.
7- At the destination station , you will do sorting and arranging with Dabbawalas.
8- Then you actually travel with Dabbawala and deliver the Dabba to customer.
9 - Then you take lunch with the group of dabbawalas.
10- After this the empty Dabbas are collected.
11- The you return back to station with empty Dabbas.
12- Again you travel in local train and reach the starting station. It will be fun this time with Dabbawala in local train as the customer is served and Dabbawalas are relaxed.
13- After reaching destination station the Dabba is returned back to customer and this finishes " A Day with Dabbawala".
14- If required any of the above points may be escaped by you and you may be part of a particular event.

You have to apply to participate. All of the information/form is on their website.

Please note: the photo here was not taken by me; it is from the official dabbawala website.

One of the most memorable things that I still miss is the Vada pav that is sold in the train startion around 3:00 PM. Simply fantastic 3 for approx Rs. 5.00 in those days wrapped in a newspaper, no other even comes close to that taste.

I still hope that I have it in me to go back and have the stomach to eat it and not get sick.

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Taj Mahal is one of the most expensive hotels in Mumbai, so of course I did not stay here. But you can always visit the bathroom or one of the many shops, restaurants and bars (they are quite expensive though). I went to Harbour Bar, which is situated on the ground floor and which is facing the Gateway of India.

This luxurious 5-star hotel was built by the wealthy Indian industrialist Jamsetji N Tata in 1903. It is said he built the hotel because he had not been allowed to enter another hotel in Mumbai because he was a native. This is debated though and many say he built it because he thought Mumbai needed a grand hotel that could enhance the reputation of Mumbai in the world.

The Tower block was added in the 1970s.

In November 2008 the Taj Mahal Palace was attacked by terrorists. The terrorists held the hotel for three days killing many people and holding others as hostage before the military could secure the place. The Taj Mahal Palace was only one of many places that were struck by shooting and bombings in an coordinated attack across Mumbai.

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Dhobi Ghat is a place where lots of clothes and linen in Mumbai is washed by hand. Washing has been done here for 140 years and there are over 1000 concrete wash troughs where the washing is done by the Dhobis, washmen. It is a fascinating place to visit and it becomes very colourful when everything washed is hanged to dry.

Dhobi Ghat is situated 4-5 km north of Colaba. I decided to walk there from Colaba as I would see different parts of Mumbai as I passed. But going back I took the train from Mahalaxmi Train Station, which is just next to Dhobi Ghat, to the end station at Churchgate.

Walking to Mahalaxmi Train Station you will get great views from the bridge over Dhobi Ghat.

Hey there are farmers markets opening up all over mumbai..
where you could buy veggies and fruits directly from farmers..
also all the waste gets bio-degraded..

Details of phone numbers and timings are posted here:
http://www.wherecity.com/articles/farmers-in-the-big-city-44.html

Lining the street in front of the gateway you will find a number of ostentatious (silver) gilded horse drawn carriages.
The idea of being pulled around in one of these units did not appeal to me. It was stinking hot and I felt that there would be absolutely zero pleasure for the poor horse who would have had to endure the heavy weight. I therefore have no idea what outrageous amount they may or ma not charge... you would have to make your own enquiries!