My Tips For Traveling To India

Dear sisters,

When I got invited to my friend Jhanvi’s wedding in Mumbai, I knew I couldn’t pass up seeing my beautiful friend’s union. However, going to Mumbai - alone - felt a little daunting, but also exciting. 

The food, the colors, the fashion, and the people are what make Mumbai truly a spectacular place to visit. Below are a few tips and a handful of my favorite eats and sights to see!

I stayed at the Trident Hotel Nariman Point in Maharashtra, India. (Not affiliated, but just so you know what area of town I was in.) 

TIPS:

In order to visit India, you need more than just your passport. You have to apply for a tourist visa. Make sure to do this far in advance because it takes some time for it to get approved.

Pay attention to what time of the year you go. Some months are mango season, some are monsoon season.  When I went in January, it was technically the “cool” season, even though I found the weather to be very hot still. 

Bring modest clothing, especially for when you want to visit religious sites. I brought many loose fitting blouses and light linen pants so I wasn’t dying in the heat. 

Taxis and Ubers are easy to find, quick, and very cheap. I took an Uber ride for over an hour, and the cost was around twelve dollars! 

When going to meet up with friends, leave enough time for traffic. The traffic I experienced in Mumbai was way worse than what I’m used to in Los Angeles.

EATS: 

Shree Thaker Bhojanalay since 1945 - This was my favorite meal.  With a series of small plates, it is one of the most popular restaurants for Gujarati Thali. With a lot of vegetarian and vegan options, it’s a good, laid-back place to visit. I wish I had had more time to go back again!

Copper Chimney - Delicious Indian food in a modern setting, with excellent service. The bride-to-be recommended this spot, and it didn’t disappoint.

Taj Mahal Tea house - A great spot to grab a cup of chai and a treat and also pick up a lot of loose leaf tea to bring home to your friends!

Trishna - A great seafood restaurant recommended by my friend, Dhruv.  We picked out a live crab, and they went ahead and cooked it for us in loads of butter and garlic. It was absolutely delicious.  

Bastian - Another spot recommended by the bride-to-be. The interior of this restaurant is hip, elegant, and quite beautiful. Definitely a great dress-up date spot. The food was excellent, but the drinks were what really stood out. 

Burma Burma restaurant and tea room - A cute little spot tucked away with an excellent tea selection and yummy Burmese food. 

Bayroute - A little bit more on the fancy side, but you don’t need to dress up. Highly recommend. 

These spots below are also worth noting, but the above are my favorites:

• Mag St Cafe

• Madras Cafe

• Swati Snacks

• Tibb’s Frankie

• Subko coffee - (hipster coffee spot)

• Kala Ghoda Cafe

SIGHTS: 

Gateway of India - Take a walk, buy some snacks, and sit by the water. It gets super crowded though so be prepared.

Marine Drive - Favorite place to walk, especially at night when the weather is cooler. There are groups of teens here listening to music, couples taking romantic strolls, (and weirdo solo travelers like me, wanting to take in the ocean and community!)

Elephanta Caves - I didn’t make it here, but it’s a popular destination.

There are also a lot of temples and museums in Mumbai. Honestly, I spent more time on this trip meeting new people and eating all the foods, so I can’t give too many personal recommendations. 

SHOPPING: 

The bride-to-be recommended these 3 spots if you’d like to get traditional clothing. I went to Roopkala! 

• Roopkala Marine Lines

• Jade

• Fabindia