An outsider’s perspective of the MaximumCity
Its been almost 6 years now since I call Mumbai home. My banking job brought me here and our bonding is going strong ever since.
Not only the largest metropolis of the country, it is also the hub for commerce, entertainment and fashion and that’s how this city is so bustling with activity and never gets to sleep.
Mumbai surprises you with many contrasts.
There is so much of crowd and congestion, from the traffic on the roads to the overstuffed buses and trains to the cramped living spaces. But then the coastline that runs alongside the city gives you the much needed escape in terms of beaches and boulevards like no other city.
There’s a sea of high-rises and most elite localities imaginable. But this wealthiest Indian city has 60% slum coverage.
It’s the seat of fashion and glamour in the country, being home to Bollywood but the average Mumbaikar is grounded, simple and unpretentious.
Hailing from a small town (Ranchi), it took me a while to adjust to the urbanity, pace and the ways of Mumbai.
But being an explorer at heart, I was thrilled at the variety of options Mumbai throws at someone who is game for experiencing.
Here are some of my reasons to fall in love with Mumbai like everyone else does...
The weather:
The climate of Mumbai is mostly humid owing to its proximity to the Arabian Sea. During the months of May and October the temperature and humidity levels shoot real high and it gets quite uncomfortable. However, once the rains descend on the city, its beauty is like nowhere else. And boy, doest it rain here? Once the monsoons embark, it goes on relentlessly for atleast 4 months straight (June to September). The Mumbaikars love their rains (Paush as they call it) however havock it causes upsetting their day to day lives. Waterlogging, immersed roads and railway tracks, moulds inside the homes…its all taken with the typical Mumbai spirit. It gets little unnerving for me at times, but the Mumbaikars never seem to complain! Winters in Mumbai are highly pleasant with average lowest temperature hovering around some 16 degrees and an occasional chilly northern wind. I have never used a woollen wear ever since I’m here. It’s the best time to be in the city if you aren’t particularly fond of torrential downpours.
The topography/ terrain:
I feel the greatest advantage with Mumbai is the varied terrains it is endowed with. Located in the west coast of India it comes under the beautiful coastal region known as the Konkan.Sahyadri Mountain range ("Western Ghats") forms the eastern boundary of the Konkan, and the Arabian Sea marks the western boundary. Virgin beaches, lush green valleys, waterfalls and hills are the “ major attraction / speciality” of Konkan coast. This is a unique metro city indented with numerous creeks and bays, and mangrove swamps, rich in biodiversity. And if that wasn’t enough, it also has a National Park (Sanjay Gandhi National Park) within the suburban limit which is one of the most visited parks in the world famous for Tiger and Lion safaris and being home to the ancient Kanheri caves. Being nestled in the Sahyadri range (also called Western Ghats) Mumbai offers a great getaway opportunity as the Sahyadri range receives a huge amount of rainfall which lends it a fairly unique flora and fauna. In the rainy season, these hills are blanketed with a green cover making them look very splendid. Wiki quotes “It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight "hottest hot-spots" of biological diversity in the world. It is sometimes called the Great Escarpment of India”. Sahyadris are also dotted with numerous forts (roughly 300) from Chhtrapati Shivaji’s empire. Beautiful hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries, forts, ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves, revered religious spots, trekking routes found amidst these mountains make it an ideal for the explorers and adventure enthusiasts who flock these hills throughout the year. What more can one ask for!
Food, an indulgence:
The list will go long if I have to mention about the spread Mumbai lays before a foodie. Various communities have settled in Mumbai and have brought along their own flavours to the cuisine of the city. Like no other city, here one can experience the rare Parsi, Bohri and Iranian cuisines, thriving merrily alongside the more indigenous Maharashtrian and Malwani cuisine. The native fishing community of “Kolis” might have given the city many of its seafood delicacies. Other equally popular cuisines are South Indian, Gujarati, Rajasthani and Goan. Migrants from Bengal and Punjab also can’t complain and can be satiated at one of the many restaurants specialising in regional cuisines. The global city that it is, it has something for every hungry soul from every corner of the globe. Restaurants catering to international gourmet food from any world cuisine are fairly common here. Italian, Mexican, Burmese, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, European, Lebanese, you name it and you get it. And if you are an expat and looking for some rare imported ingredients to cook a homely meal in your kitchen, that’s not a problem in this city either. Mumbai markets make it all available through fancy supermarkets as well as grocery home-delivery websites. One is spoilt for choice when it comes to sampling pocket friendly and yummy street food. The humble vada-pav which can shift roles from being a breakfast to a quick evening snack, to pav-bhaji, bhajiyas, samosas, all are deliciously stacked at every corner of the street. But if you are in mood for some luxurious indulgence, there are plenty of world class fine dine restaurants dishing out most elaborate preparations with a panache. Lastly, speaking of Mumbai food, you can’t afford to skip two things…the seafood that it owes from its coastal location and the much loved Alphanso mango or “Hapus” as locals prefer to call it.
Ideal for the Fashionista:
No doubt Mumbai is the fashion capital of India. Being home to Bollywood, the city seems no less inspired. It is the launchpad of every other fashion trend and brand. The fashion quotient is real high as the city stages many star studded events like movie-screening or a brand/outlet launch. Designer wear is easily accessible. Trendy styles and designs are lined up on the streets at fashion hubs like Bandra, Linking road, Lokhandwala, Colaba, Dadar wholesale market and a dedicated Fashion Street! Every new in-trend outfit and stylish look gets sucked into the hep crowd in no time. The commercial scene for Fashion designing and Fashion Blogging is really favourable here. If you have the talent to make it big in the fashion industry, this city will offer you the best of opportunities. The purchasing power is comparatively high and the city’s crowd is not shy about trying and adopting bold new trends. This is the reason it has every premium national and international luxury brand and designer houses.
People:
A city is what its people make it. So true! And amchi Mumbai is made up of a bustling crowd of hard-working, thoroughly professional, indifferent, yet helpful people. Its this basic nature of a Mumbaikar that contagiously affects any migrant who comes into its fold. It’s a melting point of many communities and cultures all bonding together on the basic spirit of Mumbai. This city gives you opportunities but also tells you the harsh realities of life and you tend to become focussed, practical and ambitious. The city does not judge you and you become unpretentious. It respects your safety and independence and you learn to do the same for every fellow Mumbaikar. And every time you fall, this city of professional, ambitious, indifferent people invariably picks you up and gets you grounded, that’s about the heart of Mumbai. And that is what makes Mumbai so amazing.
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