24-hours in Mumbai: Unplanned adventures in a new city

Everlasting memories of an impromptu trip

In a city that never sleeps, my birthday turned into an unforgettable experience when a friend surprised me with a trip to Mumbai. Without a set itinerary, we embarked on an impromptu adventure through the lively streets of Mumbai, exploring its famous landmarks, enjoying its street food, and soaking in its vibrant energy.

It was almost a year ago when my friend called to inform me that he was coming to Mumbai for my birthday. Initially, I thought he was joking, as it was my birthday month and I was in Pune, away from friends and family. However, little did I know that he had already booked his flight and hotel. This unexpected visit turned out to be a memorable adventure.

On 10 March 2024, I booked a seat in a shared cab and embarked on my journey towards the Maximum City via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. As a first-time visitor, the journey was worthwhile, offering breathtaking views of the Western Ghats. After a nearly three-hour drive, I reached Mumbai, covering a distance of 150 km.

Visiting Mumbai wasn’t the exciting part, what made it thrilling was not having a planned itinerary. Our hotel was in Jogeshwari West, and since our trip was only for 24 hours, we began by visiting Versova Beach where we watched the sunset, strolled along the seashore, and then headed to the famous Juhu Beach, just about 5 km towards the south. At Juhu, we savoured the famous pav bhaji and sev puri, enjoying the bustling seashore and lively atmosphere.

While returning to our hotel, our auto driver suggested places to visit the next morning, and we had an engaging conversation about Mumbai being the city that never sleeps. Witnessing the crowds at the beach and streets just before midnight reinforced this notion. It was truly a dream come true to experience the nightlife at Juhu Beach.

Next morning, as it was my birthday, we decided to seek the Lord’s blessings by visiting Sidhivinayak Temple, for which we boarded a local train from Jogeshwari to reach Dadar. From Dadar station, we took a shared taxi to reach the temple. After offering prayers, we had breakfast at Arya Bhavan, a South Indian restaurant. Then, we headed to the Gateway of India, at the southern tip of Mumbai, about 12 km from the temple. From the Gateway, as per our driver’s suggestion, we took a ferry to the Elephanta Caves, a one-hour ride offering stunning views of the Mumbai harbour.

The ferry ride was exhilarating, with perfect weather and mesmerising historical caves. On our way back, we spotted sea gulls, adding to the natural beauty of the scene. As we left the sea, we witnessed a breathtaking sunset with the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel and Gateway of India in view. This moment has been etched in our memories forever.

After returning to mainland, we explored street shopping in Colaba Market. Walking through the streets felt like being in a Bollywood movie. We enjoyed Mumbai’s staple snack, vada pav, from a street vendor and saw colleges, playgrounds, and the Churchgate Metro station on our way. Finally, we reached the market and did some shopping for my birthday.

As our trip neared its end, we realised we couldn’t miss Marine Drive, also known as the Queen’s Necklace, is a scenic promenade along the Arabian Sea. We quickly wrapped up our shopping and walked to Marine Drive, a 50-minute stroll. Despite being tired, we didn’t stop. We reached, talked, had bhel puri, and clicked pictures, thus concluding our 24-hour vacation. The view of the sea and the city skyline at sunset was breathtaking, making it the perfect ending to our adventure.

My inspiration to visit Mumbai came from the 2009 Hindi movie Wake Up Sid, featuring Ranbir Kapoor. During this trip, I lived those moments, though I couldn’t cover everything. I had to return to Pune, but I carried a bag full of cherished memories with me. The trip was a reminder that sometimes the best experiences come from unplanned adventures.

As I booked my cab back to the hostel, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the surprise visit from my friend and the opportunity to explore Mumbai in such a unique way. The city, with its vibrant energy and endless possibilities, left an indelible mark on my heart, and I look forward to returning someday soon.