Living in Mumbai

Living in Mumbai, India, can be a life changing experience. With an estimated population of almost 20 million people, it not only the largest populated city in India, but also one of the largest in the world. It is home to India’s growing movie industry (Bollywood) and is the main commercial and economic hub in the country.

The city was formerly known as Bombay and boasts modern sky-rises, a large national park, a number of sandy beaches and a passenger harbour. It has long been regarded as India’s main sea gateway, which has helped to develop businesses and the economy.

Relocating to Mumbai will undoubtedly be a shock to the senses. It is crowded, noisy, often polluted and at times unbearably hot. However, despite the sometimes uncomfortable conditions, it is a very cultural and beautiful city with lots to keep the entire expat family occupied.

Unless you want to be right in the very heart of all of the action, there is no need to live in the city centre. The suburbs are very nice and home to many expatriates. If you have relocated due to work commitments, the likelihood is that you will be working in the heart of the city and therefore it will be nice to escape the frenzy after work and at weekends. The suburbs are home to a number of international schools, large numbers of expatriates and their own entertainment areas.

Living in Mumbai: Guide Contents

The Expat Info Desk guide to living in Mumbai addresses the following topics-

1) Living legally in Mumbai

Our expat on the ground in Mumbai is deeply knowledgeable about all the Indian visa and immigration processes and can use this knowledge to aide you through the entire visa application and renewal process. The Expat Info Desk guide to living in Moscow explains the difficulties and complexities of obtaining the correct paperwork for your needs as well as providing practical tips for avoiding problems.

2) Setting up home in Mumbai

Our international relocation guide to Mumbai contains a comprehensive house hunt guide for renting a house or apartment in Mumbai. We point you in the right direction for finding suitable accommodation and provide a detailed guidebook that provides up-to-date information on prices, locations and popular expatriate living areas.

3) Navigating the infrastructure

You will need to thoroughly research Mumbai before you arrive so that you have an idea of what to expect. The Mumbai expatriate guide will help you to settle in once you arrive and will also provide invaluable advice before you go. Regardless of how many questions you have, they will be answered inside this guide. Topics covered include shopping and service directories, legal advice, transport, health and beauty, places of worship, childcare and education and finance and banking.

4) Having fun in Mumbai

The Expat Info Desk guide to living in Mumbai contains comprehensive listings on all varieties of entertainment available in this fascinating city from arts, cultural attractions and historical venues through to cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs. We also give valuable insights into how you can meet like-minded people and develop your own social network.

5) Staying safe and healthy in Mumbai

Don’t let your move to Mumbai turn into a nightmare, make sure you are thoroughly informed on everything you need to know about health and safety. Our comprehensive guide to moving overseas is packed full of information about areas and practices to avoid, how to access medical care and health provisions and help when you need it.

6) Blending in

The Expat Info Desk guide to living in Mumbai contains detailed information about the personal challenges that you can expect to face when you move to a city that is as culturally rich and different and Mumbai. The author provides thorough insights into cultures, traditions and beliefs as well as offering practical advice on how you can deal with differences and gradually adjust in order to bridge the cultural divide.

7) Reality bites

Each Expat Info Desk city guide is written by an expatriate who has lived and worked in the city and is therefore able to tell you about what living there is really like. Each expat city guide is packed full of practical and up-to-date information that can help you to settle in and feel at home.

Your only expat guide to living in Mumbai; Feel at home abroad – Fast!

Price of this guide:£19.00 / €22.00 / $29.00

Don't forget you'll receive a 20% discount on our prices if you complete our questionnaire during the purchase process.

About the guide author

Shannon Frandsen Shannon Frandsen has lived on three different continents and knows well the struggles and pleasures of life abroad.

Her travel adventures kicked off when winning an essay contest took her on a pilgrimage in Spain. A few months later, with a passion for traveling confirmed, she returned to her home country to work as a travel consultant in Boston. But talking about seeing the world wasn't enough.

She packed up her life (which fit into one suitcase), flew to Japan, and waited to see what would happen. A series of strange and wonderful events brought her to Scotland and then to Holland, where she met the man of her dreams. One wedding and one baby later, Shannon and her new family made a sudden move to India, just to keep things interesting.

Shannon now lives in Mumbai with her husband and their two-year old Danish-American daughter. She makes regular contributions to newsletters and websites about expat life in Mumbai.

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