This is my sixth installment recounting experiences from a long-awaited trip to India with my husband in December 2025, continuing on from our stay in Chandigarh, City Beautiful. After our experiences traveling by train and automobile, we flew to Mumbai, rising before dawn for a morning flight that arrived before lunch. (Our trip coincided with a dramatic period of widespread cancellation of Spice Jet flights. Fortunately we had booked our tickets on Air India which was fine.)
My past experiences in Mumbai centered around business conferences so I had never visited as a tourist. Still, I have amazing memories of the South Mumbai / Apollo Bunder area and the hotel district where I stayed with close colleagues for biopharma industry events over the years.
We made the most of our limited time in India’s capital of industry and entertainment with 1/2 day tour and a few amazing, iconic experiences. We visited Ghandi’s Bombay headquarters and residence, called Mani Bhavan, where they still have twice weekly classes to teach hand-spinning / weaving fabric – an important element of Ghandi’s drive for Indian self-sufficiency.
We also visited the famous Central Laundry where major institutions still send vast amounts of uniforms and other linens – right in the middle of the city:
It was wonderful to revisit quintessential South Mumbai sites including Gateway India, the Bay of Bengal and the most of all the iconic Taj Mahal hotel. My first stay at the flagship Taj Mahal Apollo Bunder hotel was part of my introduction to India dating back to April 2000.
As mentioned in my earlier travelog installments, my ulterior motive for the December 2025 trip was to give my husband a series of wonderful experiences, to make the best introduction possible of India in the hope that he could love it as much as I do. And the Taj Mahal Hotel never disappoints.
For my husband’s first visit, I requested a room in the restored original wing of the hotel with a view of Gateway India – the emblematic arch erected as a symbolic ceremonial entrance to india first for King George and Queen Mary, and later Viceroys and Governors of Bombay. There is no better introduction to Mumbai than a window facing Gateway India.
As a special treat, we also took a sunrise cruise of the Bay of Bengal, which ended up being a cruise for two. Pollution in December resulted in overcast skies and a beautiful sunrise.
Following our sunrise cruise, we enjoyed a full Indian breakfast overlooking the Bay of Bengal with a view of fishing boats bobbing in the glittering water.
After breakfast I enjoyed an outdoor yoga class while Matt took the Taj Mahal hotel tour. We ended our brief but memorable stay with a photo before check-out. On to the next adventure!
