How I Spent 3 Days in Mumbai – A Culturally Immersive, Memorable Escape

Mumbai! The name itself is thrilling—the city of dreams, the Bollywood city, the financial capital of India. The city is known by many other names. People dream of coming here and working hard for their dreams. I too had a dream! A dream of coming to this city and settling here. But somehow, Delhi replaced Mumbai. Anyway, that’s a different story. I stayed in Mumbai for 3 days in June 2022. Be with me till the end of this blog and see how I spent 3 days in Mumbai, exploring some of its iconic places and monuments. 

I have a good friend who lives in Mumbai and has been asking me for a long time to shift (Again, a different story). So, yeah! It was just a random idea of taking a trip to Mumbai, and within a couple of days, I booked the flight ticket, and the day came when I took a flight to Mumbai from Delhi. Wait, I just mentioned the word flight. This was my first ever trip to this side of India and the first-ever flight of my life. Yes, I traveled in flight for the first time ever in my life. 

First flight of my life, my first trip to Mumbai, and my first trip to this part of India; there were a lot of reasons why this trip was so important for me. However, June isn’t the best time to visit Mumbai. Especially if you are a North Indian, you wouldn’t appreciate the weather in Mumbai at that time. And that happened to me on the second day of my Mumbai trip. Humidity and rain made me exhausted. 

I Spent 3 Days in Mumbai Exploring Its Major Iconic Places

What is the first word or picture you get when you hear the word Mumbai? Gateway of India, most probably, right? And it wasn’t different in my case either. Back in childhood, I sometimes confused the Gateway of India with the India Gate of Delhi. So, the flight from Delhi to Mumbai was in the evening, and it took us around 1:30 hrs to land at Mumbai airport. It was a good flight. I had mixed feelings. I have heard when you take your first flight; you will experience a little unease. However, I felt nothing. Or maybe, I was too excited to feel anything weird or strange. The flight departed on time and landed on time. Everything went smoothly. It was Thursday night.

The next day, Friday, I was working. So, I didn’t get to do much. However, I left to visit my friend who was living in Versova village. I took an autorickshaw from IIT Powai to his place. And this was the worst mistake I made there. I shouldn’t have taken an autorickshaw. I ended up paying him nearly 400 INR, and it took close to 4 hours to reach there. So, that night we went to Social Versova, had a good time there and I crashed a night at his place. He is working as a scriptwriter in Mumbai, and we have been friends for over a decade from college.

From Boarding A Wrong Train to Trying First Ever Baklava – 3 Days in Mumbai Were Incredibly Wonderful

On Saturday morning, I left for Powai and took an autorickshaw from Versova village to the nearest metro station, which I don’t remember (probably Andheri West). After breakfast at Finch Brew Cafe (Hiranandani Gardens), we left for Kanjurmarg Railway Station to go to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. (When I was in Delhi, I asked an Instagram connection about the best place to have vada pav in Mumbai, and I was told to try the street side stalls instead of any fancy restaurant).

After buying a ticket to CST Mumbai from Kanjurmarg, I asked someone for the train, and somehow, I ended up boarding the wrong train, which was heading to Pune. And I realized this after reaching Karjat. And I changed the train from Karjat, got a ticket to CST, and managed to reach there somehow. The train station is extremely beautiful. From there, I kept on roaming around to find a good place to sit and eat. I already had a good adventure of the day. While roaming around, I found this place, Hurrem’s Turkish Baklava Confectionary. And this was my first time ever trying baklava. I have heard a lot about this dish, read about it on blogs, watched vlogs, and on TV as well. Though I am not a sweet lover, I had to try this one. I tried different types of baklava (expensive stuff) and Turkish coffee. From there, I went to Hutamata Chowk. What a beautiful place! And then, from there, I visited Flora Fountain, yet another beautiful monument. From Flora Fountain, I moved to St Thomas Church. The church was about to shut. From there, I walked to Kala Ghoda Statue, which is also Mumbai’s art, hip, and creative area with lots of fancy restaurants.

From Kala Ghoda, I moved to Mumbai’s second most famous iconic place, The Gateway of India. Such a massive monument. Though it was a very crowded place (considering the weekend and evening), I really enjoyed it there. Next to it are The Taj Palace and Oberoi. After spending nearly two hours there and eating two vada pavs, I headed back to Kala Ghoda and looked for a nice place to sit, relax and eat. While roaming in the streets, I came across this fancy Vietnamese restaurant called The Plural. I ordered their signature Vietnamese coffee. And I loved it. Next was Vietnamese Pizza and Hummus+Pita. 

It was already 10 PM at Plural, and Powai was around 30 KM away from there. After quickly finishing the dinner, I booked a cab from there to Powai. 

We left for Marine Drive after breakfast the next day (the last day of my 3-day Mumbai trip). The first most iconic place of Mumbai, which often remains crowded, especially during evening hours. However, it was day, and it wasn’t that crowded. We spent an hour or so there and then headed to Pizza By The Bay for lunch, the famous restaurant close to Marine Drive. From there, we headed back to Gateway of India to take a ferry to visit the caves.

We left for Marine Drive after breakfast the next day (the last day of my 3-day Mumbai trip). The first most iconic place of Mumbai, which often remains crowded, especially during evening hours. However, it was day, and it wasn’t that crowded. We spent an hour or so there and then headed to Pizza By The Bay for lunch, the famous restaurant close to Marine Drive. From there, we headed back to Gateway of India to take a ferry to visit the caves. But unfortunately, it was Sunday, and it was raining, and ferries were not operating. That made me a little sad. Because I don’t visit Mumbai that frequently (I am writing this blog after one year of my Mumbai trip). Anyways, what’s done is done! We kept on roaming in Mumbai from this point to the other, just like we had nothing to do. However, visiting Mumbai’s iconic Irani cafes was on the list for the day. So, after reaching Kyani & Co., the legendary Irani restaurant, I got to know that it was shut due to Sunday, and that’s how I got to know that most of the cafes and restaurants were closed there due to Sunday, another disappointment for the day.

I headed to CST Railway Station and took a ticket to Vile Parle. The plan was to visit Juhu Beach, the third most iconic place of Mumbai, which shouldn’t be missed if you are visiting Mumbai for the first time (like me). After reaching Vile Parle station, I came out and went to this restaurant called Maruti Pav Bhaji to try some authentic Mumbai dishes, but it didn’t turn out to be that great. It did fill my belly but not my appetite. After reaching Juhu, I took a small walk to the beach. And that’s when I reached this nice, cute cafe called Ananda. I had cold coffee and a bowl of smoothie full of nuts and dry fruits, which satisfied me to my core.

Juhu Beach was a crowded place (obviously, what I was even expecting it to be, a private beach?) But this was my first time ever visiting an ocean beach, so yeah, there will be memories. People partying around, picnicking, enjoying, dancing, and singing; this place had all the vibes. I spent some time here, and tried the famous Chana Jor Garam, which is blasphemy if you don’t try it there. 

I took a cab back to Powai from there. And that’s how I spent 3 days in Mumbai. (I took a flight to Goa from Mumbai the next day). 

As I bid adieu to the vibrant city of Mumbai, my heart is filled with gratitude for the incredible journey through its rich culture during these 3 days in Mumbai. These three days have been nothing short of magical, and I leave with a heart brimming with cherished memories and new found inspiration from my time in Mumbai for 3 days.

Mumbai’s spirit is truly unique – a seamless blend of tradition and modernity, colors and chaos, yet all intertwined with an unmistakable sense of unity that I experienced during my 3 days in Mumbai. From the iconic landmarks that narrate its storied past to the hidden gems that whisper tales of its lesser-known facets, every corner of this city holds a captivating story woven into my 3 days in Mumbai.

The warm hospitality of its people, the tantalizing flavors of its street food, and the infectious enthusiasm have left an indelible mark on my soul during these 3 days in Mumbai. Mumbai’s culture is a symphony of diversity, and I am humbled to have been a part of it, even for a brief moment during my 3 days in the city of dreams.

As I write the final lines of this travel diary, I can’t help but feel a twinge of nostalgia for the unforgettable experiences during my 3 days in Mumbai. Yet, it is this longing that fuels my passion for exploration and discovery. For every goodbye is an opportunity for a new hello – to embark on yet another adventure, to unravel the beauty of another culture, and to create memories that will last a lifetime during my 3 days in Mumbai.

To those who have journeyed alongside me through these words during my 3 days in Mumbai, I hope this blog has ignited a spark of wanderlust within you for your Mumbai trip. May it inspire you to pack your bags, step into the unknown, and immerse yourself in the tapestry of cultures that adorn our planet.

As I move on to new destinations, I carry with me the lessons, love, and laughter that Mumbai has bestowed upon me during my 3 days. And as I embrace the world with open arms during my 3 days in Mumbai, I invite you all to continue following along on my adventures.

Remember, dear readers, life’s most profound experiences often lie beyond our comfort zones. It’s in these moments of exploration that we discover not only the world around us but also the depths of our own souls.

So, until we meet again in the next chapter of this wanderlust-filled journey, I wish you all safe travels and a life filled with the magic of cultural exploration. Bon voyage!