In this new Get Ahead series, we hope you, Dear Reader, will tell other readers how to make the most of 24 hours they spend in your favourite city or town.
Please mail us on what you think visitors can do when they visit Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, any city you love...
From visits to historical monuments like the Gateway of India, Haji Ali Mosque and the Taj Mahal Hotel to a ride on local trains and chilling at Hanging Gardens, Marine Drive, Juhu Beach and Chowpatty, a day in Mumbai can be quite eventful.
Exploring any area of the city isn't complete without samping the streetfare and delicacies served around there. Be sure to go to Haji Ali juice centre and have bhel at Juhu Beach, where Bachchanji himself used to snack when he was a struggling actor. You could also stroll down the aptly-named Khau Galli near jewellery market Zaveri Bazaar, or then Kalbadevi if you love to tickle your tastebuds with delicious (but not too hygeinic!) street food. As evening rolls around, a stroll around the brightly-lit Gateway of India, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and/or the Queen's Necklace at Marine Drive are a must.
Mumbai is also a shopper's delight. From an assortment of posh stores at Bhulabhai Desai Road in south Mumbai and up-market designer boutiques in Bandra and Khar to export clothing sold at Fashion Street and low-priced electronics at Alpha Market in Vile Parle, they have it all. To pass the time, you can also visit multiplex theatres and gaming parlours in the malls -- Inorbit Mall in Malad is the biggest I've ever been to.
If you are a young couple or just out of your teens, you must visit the Bandra Bandstand area, where all the love birds of Mumbai flock every evening. Once there Mannat, the den of Shah Rukh Khan, the king of Bollywood, will be pointed out to you by your cab driver, along with a host of other celebrities' homes.
Nights in Mumbai are great for those who want to shake a leg and guzzle a few drinks. Not Just Jazz by The Bay, a pub on Marine Drive, is a popular destination for its theme nights. Other niughtclub options are Poison in Bandra and the JW Marriott discotheque.
Here's a personal suggestion -- start your day at Aksa Beach in Malad at around 7 am. Freshen up there, enjoying the sea water which is relatively clearer then Juhu Beach or or Chowpatty. At 11 am, visit Inorbit Mall. You can shop, eat and enjoy there till early evening, but don't tire yourself out completely.
Then head to south Mumbai and visit the Siddhivinayak temple, Haji Ali mosque and take a ferry ride at the Gateway of India.
Have your picture taken outside the Taj Palace hotel, then take a drive along Marine Drive and around 9, 10 pm move on to a nightclub -- I recommend the one at the JW Marriott -- where you can shake a leg with your favourite celebs.
Enjoy your trip to Mumbai, guys!
What can visitors do in your favourite city or town? Write in at getahead@rediff.co.in and tell us in about 300 words where we should be going and what we should be doing on a day out in your fave city. Please don't forget to add your name, age and what you do for a living. The best contributions will be published on rediff.com
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