Mumbai Prices

« To get to Elephant Island, you need to take a ferry from the main tourist spot, the Gateway of India, which was once used by colonists. It’s definitely a touristy place, mainly filled with locals. By the evening, when we were returning, the crowd was so thick that we had to elbow our way through, just like in that song. By the way, restrooms in the city are quite rare; if you see one, you should rush to it. Near the Gateway of India, the restroom charged 10 rupees, and I handed the girl collecting the fee 20. She started banging on one of the stalls with some colorful language, and a woman in a sari rushed out. The girl, smiling and gesturing, cheerfully said, "Go, lady." She was so pleased with the tip of 10 rupees (around $0.12). On the ferry, as per tradition, we were the only foreigners, but the crowd that can afford ferry rides (about 2.20 USD per person) behaves quite differently - kids openly stare with joy, adults smile, point out things to photograph, and ask where we’re from, etc. »

« About transportation. In the photo, Indian men fight for a place in the metro train every day. Notably, there are separate cars for men and women, as well as first and second-class sections. Tickets for second class cost around ₹10 (equivalent to about $0.12), while first class tickets are ₹80 (around $0.96). We traveled everywhere in a large group, so we used Uber for convenience and cost-effectiveness. For a 21 km trip yesterday, it only cost ₹350 (approximately $4.20). »

« We went to see the authentic Indian movie "Guru" in Marathi at the huge R-city mall. Let me say this: not knowing the language didn’t hinder the experience, as everything was clear, and the actors' actions were predictable. The whole film felt like one big music video. They also used animation, sound effects, and so on.

The ticket costs only $1.20, and the theater was about 20% full with very comfortable seats. Plus, before the film starts, they play the national anthem, and everyone actually stands up and sings along. 🎥🇮🇳 »

« The Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai. Just $200 for a double room for one night. »

« At dawn, there are very few tourists, which can't be said about sunset. Although we definitely had our fun! 😊

The thing is, there are photographers who for just $0.50 offer to take your picture and print it on the spot with a portable printer. While we were there, various locals kept asking us to take photos. That's when we realized we could monetize the "monkey photo" opportunity! 😄 Once we got into the swing of it, we approached a photographer with a proposal:

- You send us clients, and we'll give you 15 rupees per person. So that’s $0.50 for you, and $0.25 for us!

Too bad it’s a long journey to work! 😅 »

« In the photo, it looks quite nice. In reality, just 50 meters away, there’s a long market where both sellers and buyers gather. Women and children roam among the cars, selling one or two limes. Here, people smoke despite the heat to mask the smell. The rickshaw drivers are barefoot, and while they can be tricky, in my experience, they are usually straightforward – they won't try to pull a fast one on you. For instance, “if you want the air conditioning, it will cost you an extra 300 rupees.” The key is to be firm and let them know that won’t fly with you; after all, you’re not new to this. »

« In Mumbai, there are the metro and local trains. We bought a ticket to the beach for 12 cents for both of us. »

« To buy a ticket to Delhi... In three hours, we visited 4 train stations... A sleeper class ticket with a seat cost $7.50 for one person. The distance is about 1500 km... The journey took a whole day. »

« Walking through the markets of Bombay, you can hire a porter who will carry all your purchases in a basket on their head for 50 rupees ($0.6)! »

« "Sunset in Bombay, view from the sightseeing boat that departs every 15 minutes from the Gateway of India. Price is $0.85. The feelings you get are priceless!" »

« To the right is the India Gate, and to the left is the famous Taj Mahal Hotel. The price for the cheapest room per night is approximately $300. »

« Upon arrival, we took a taxi to the Malabar Hill to the consulate. We continued to move around in the same way. By the way, taxis in Mumbai are affordable: about $0.23 for the first 2 km and $0.16 for each additional km. Plus, unlike in some places, they go by the meter without any fuss, regardless of the passenger's background. And they do give change, even the smallest coins. »

« Today we took a city tour of Mumbai so we wouldn’t have to lug our backpacks around. The tour costs $2.50 from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM and includes visits to over 30 Mumbai attractions. It’s in Hindi, though :) luckily I have this amazing brochure and my LP for navigation )))) Tonight at 11:00 PM we’re taking a train to Goa and will arrive in Margao tomorrow at 11:00 AM. »

« Here’s a lovely old vehicle that’s taking us to the hotel. It’s part of the official Pre Paid taxi network, which has its stations at every major train station and airport. First, you pay for your ride at the counter, and then they take you. They took my photo and asked for my last name. The fare was $1.80. While I was buying my taxi ticket, there was a huge black cow lying at my feet near the counter. »