Mumbai is a dream destination and every day several tourists visit the city to experience its charm. Mumbai is home to a number of sightseeing attractions and there are several tourist agents that have a pre-planned itinerary to showcase the best things of the city. however, there is more to Mumbai than the Marine Drive, the Gateway of India and Mumbai Darshan on a bus. These days, there are spealized tours that take you off the beaten track. So if you’ve already seen the highlights of the city, take these tours to experience something more that Mumbai has to offer.
Bollywood tour
Mumbai is synonymous with Bollywood as the industry is based here and every single day, several come to Mumbai with the hope of making it big and coming on the silver screen. If you want a taste of the life Bollywood celebs lead every day, you should go for a Bollywood tour that takes one to a film studio, dubbing studio as well as makes you shake a leg with Bollywood dancers. And if you are lucky, you can even run into some stars who are shooting at the studio. Many TV serials are also shot here so you have the chance of running into television personalities as well. The tour usually lasts for five hours and you even get to see some of the most famous homes in Mumbai where these Bollywood stars live.
Bollywood Tours (+91 9820255202) is a company that conducts these tours in Mumbai. Popular with foreigners who love Bollywood movies, this tour is soon becoming a part of several tourists’ itineraries when they are in the city of dreams.
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Dharavi slum tour
Dharavi is one of Asia’s biggest slums and is in Mumbai. It is baffling to know that people would want to take a tour of a slum but such tours started after the success of Slumdog Millionaire which was based on the life of a slum-dweller in Dharavi. Tourists who came to Mumbai wanted to visit the slums to see how the living conditions really are and how these people survive in it. Soon, it became a thing and many tour agencies started exclusive Dharavi slum tours. These tours typically last between two to five hours and are covered on foot. You go through the narrow lanes of Dharavi and see how people go about their lives. Children running around, housewives standing in queues to fill water and men engrossed in hard labor are a few things you will encounter. You can see the hutments where several live together in harmony and also learn more about the booming industries within this large community. Did you know these have an annual turnover of nearly US $665?
SlumGods Tours (+91 9167426537) and Travels is a company that was formed by three men living in Dharavi. It organizes such tours that showcase the life in Dharavi. The tour includes a visit to the recycling area, fresh produce from the bakery, poppadom-making by Dharavi women and visit to the Kumbharwada pottery colony. Tickets start at Rs 650.
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Heritage walks
Mumbai which is a collection of seven islands is steeped in history and played an important role in the trade as it became an important port. The Gothic, Victorian architecture we see were built during the British Raj and even today dot the landscape of the city. they have their own unique story that takes us back in time. A walk to admire these monuments and learn more about their architecture and history is perfect to learn more about the city of Mumbai as well.
Raconteur Walks (+91 9769187580) conducts daily tours in the city that highlight its history. Its heritage walk takes to old Fort and tells you about some of the most iconic buildings in Mumbai. The three-hour tour includes CST or VT as it was known before, DN Road and Kala Ghoda. Apollo Gate is another walk for history buffs. They also conduct walks in Bandra, Malabar Hill and a walk-cum-drive called Independence where areas in Mumbai where the freedom struggle was held are highlighted.
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Pub crawl
You haven’t experienced Mumbai unless you see its nightlife. The city that never sleeps has a number of eateries, pubs and clubs that are some of the best in the country. Add to this the fact that Mumbai is relatively safe for women and you have all the right ingredients to enjoy what Mumbai has to offer to the nocturnal souls. Pub crawls are becoming quite popular these days not just with tourists who are new in the city but with also with locals who love mingling with new people and hop from one bar to the other in a single night.
Seek Sherpa (+91 9643982934) regularly conducts pub crawls in the city that take you across the best places. From beer crawls to pubs that serve the best cocktails or are known for their music or are open-air bars, they have different themes every month. Look up to find what’s on this time.
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Bicycle tour
Mumbai is jam-packed with honking vehicles with people in a rush to reach their destination. Among all the chaos, it is refreshing to cycle around and explore the city. Bicycles are usually used by delivery boys but with the growing trend of being fit and eco-friendly, you are likely to find more bikes on the road. A bicycle tour is one of the ways to see the glamorous city of Mumbai. Peddle your way into narrow lanes and discover places that are not always on the usual tourist map.
Reality Tours & Travels (+91 9820822253) organizes bicycle tours in Mumbai that take you around the CST area, Sassoon Dock which is Mumbai’s main fish loading and trading centre, Bombay Panjrapole which is a welfare shed for cows, the Mumbadevi Temple after which Mumbai is named and Marine Drive. It starts early morning by 6.15 and ends by 10 am. The cost is Rs 1700.
Mumbai is also beautiful by night and Mumbai Travellers (08692086927) conducts night bike tours that show you a different side of the city. They have themes like ‘coastal Mumbai’ and ‘Mumbai’s heritage’ and the cycling route changes accordingly. The cost is Rs 999 and you will be required to carry your own water and snacks.
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