If you’re anything like me, with spring semester around the corner, you’ve already started thinking about the most important part of it- spring break. You’ve probably flirted with the ideas of visiting Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, or Egypt, and been confused by the range of travel options near the UAE. Having lived in Mumbai, India all my life, I can definitely vouch for the fact that it’s one of the most vibrant and fun cities to explore as a student, making it a great spring break destination. Here are 5 reasons Mumbai should definitely be on your travel bucket list this spring.
1. It won’t bankrupt you
If you book your flights enough in advance, you can get a round trip between AD and Mumbai at 650 AED. The starting fare of a cab in Mumbai is just a little over 1AED, because of which your longest cab ride will probably cost around 15AED, and can manage to get you around almost the entire city. These prices definitely make it a feasible option for students on a college budget.
2. It’s the perfect place for a history buff
You can visit everything from ancient Buddhist caves dating the 1st century BC, to Gandhi’s house, which was the focal point of his political activities during India’s freedom struggle, all within the same city.
Personally though, my favorite thing to do is to just walk around South Bombay, which is a historical spectacle in itself with its gothic architecture from the colonial era, and spend an afternoon visiting the art galleries and cafes in area.
3. It’s a foodie’s paradise
I’m a firm believer in the idea that food is an essential part of travel, and is one of the best ways of getting to know a culture. Mumbai’s food scene is diverse and multicultural, just like the city itself.
Whether you’re looking to try spicy local street food like pav bhaji, vada pav, and cutting chai, or traditional Indian food from other parts of the country, the city offers a wide variety of amazing food options at every price point.
At the same time though, if you’re looking for something that’s easier on the palate (and stomach), you can find everything ranging from good ol’ pizza to lobster mac n cheese. Most importantly, if you’re a foodie who likes to document their food adventures, you can also find highly insta-worthy eats here.
4. The nightlife is pretty dope
There’s something for everyone here-whether you want to go clubbing, or just spend the evening chilling at a bar.
From pubs in which the drink prices change based on real time supply and demand like a stock exchange, to bars that are a throwback to the Cold War era with their communist theme, Bombay is the perfect place to wind down during an intense semester, while also feeding the nerd in you.
5. It’s a great place to watch the sunset, observe the buzzing city, and just be
Bombay is a city with a lot of character, pace, and authenticity. I can spend hours together sitting at the seafront, people-watching and just thinking. It’s definitely not a “chilled out” city, with a population of about 20.7 million people, there’s a constant buzz in the air. But it’s this energy and density that make it a really unique experience for people who visit.
In the words of director Danny Boyle, “It’s not so much what you learn about Mumbai, it’s what you learn about yourself, really. It’s a funny old hippie thing, but it’s true as well.”