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Navi Mumbai

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Navi Mumbai (or New Bombay) [1] is a beautiful city in Thane district to the Northeast of Mumbai. It was founded in 1971 as a satellite township to take the pressure off Mumbai city. In that, it has been only partially successful. Though many residents moved into Navi Mumbai, businesses did not. As a result, most people continue to commute to Mumbai. This has been changing in the past few years, with many IT and ITES industries setting up shop here.

Navi Mumbai is separated from the island of Mumbai by the Arabian sea and from Thane city by the Thane creek.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

The city does not have an airport yet, though that will change in a few years when the new international airport to serve Mumbai will be built in Navi Mumbai. Work on City & Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra's airport project in Navi Mumbai has already started (as off June 2008), after some issues relating to land acquisition are sorted out and clearance of the Union Cabinet is obtained. The closest airport is in Mumbai. Once you get off, you can take a train, bus or cab to get here.

[edit] By train

There are two train lines running through the city. These suburban railway stations are quite neater than those in mainland Mumbai. Navi Mumbai's Railway Stations are one of the very few stations in India which boast of beautiful infrastructure. The trains really are the best transportation option for Navi Mumbai, considering the region's high traffic and pollution.

Mumbai's Harbour Line has been extended to serve Navi Mumbai. The most important station is Vashi, but there are many stations within the city, including Sanpada, Juinagar, Nerul, Seawoods-Darave, CBD-Belapur, Kharghar, and Khandeshwar.

There are two rail line that connects Thane railway station from Vashi and Nerul. Service on this line has improved a lot now because of more trains added.

There are 5 suburban trains daily between Belapur and Andheri(2 in the morning and 3 in the evening)

[edit] By car

Navi Mumbai is well connected with Mumbai. There are two entry points from Mumbai, via Chembur and via the Airoli exit on the Eastern Express Highway. The Airoli route will cost you Rs. 30 in toll. From Thane, you can enter the city via the Thane-Belapur road, and in fact the Airoli exit joins the Thane-Belapur road. This road has numerous entry points into the city, so you need to confirm which one to take.

The Thane-Belapur road also links up to the Mumbai-Pune expressway.

[edit] By bus

Mumbai's BEST and Thane's TMT bus services run a few buses into the city. BEST bus numbers in the 500 series are the ones to look for. NMMT or Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport bus services run buses inside Navi Mumbai. NMMT has extended A/C bus service to Bandra in Mumbai and is a very convenient way to travel to Mumbai as it has pressed latest Volvo buses in service. BEST has also started its A/C king Long buses from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai but the fares are higher and buses are not as comfortable as NMMT Volvo buses.

[edit] By taxi

Mumbai's taxis are allowed into Navi Mumbai. Hired cars are also a good way of getting into the city. If you are travelling from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai most taxis will expect the passengers to pay the toll on the bridges connecting the cities, in addition to the metered fare.

Here is an advice - Most taxi/rickshaw meters are doctored, at least in Navi Mumbai. So, better go by branded cab services - Mega Cab (022-42424242), Meru Cab (022-44224422), Gold Cab etc. You would get them at 30-60 minutes notice, they are sparkling clean, air-conditioned, punctual, honest, GPS-equipped-monitored and thus far secure at anytime. You get an SMS saying driver name, mobile number and car number 30 min before scheduled departure. 03-box cars only - Indigo Marina and Maruti Esteem only. Call center 24 hours, and not much difference in the day or night charges. Charge Rs.15 per km point-to-point, with just Rs.2 extra for first km in the night time. Infact, domestic airport has a dedicated areas in the common taxi stand for Mega and Meru cabs. e.g. You would shell out Rs.450-600 from airport to navi mumbai depending upon where you go, whereas other cabs may fleece you to the tune of 1000-1600 easily while giving poor service.

[edit] By auto-rickshaw

Mumbai's auto-rickshaws are not allowed into Navi Mumbai. However, you can catch one right up to the toll gate at Airoli, walk across and catch one on the Navi Mumbai side. Similarly you can catch one to Mankhurd and then change over to a taxi to get to Vashi.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By car

By car, you can go through the Vashi-Mankhurd Bridge built over tha sea, just by paying the over-valued toll tax. To welcome you in Navi Mumbai, there is a beautiful toll plaza at the end of the bridge to welcome you which acts as the entrance gate of Navi Mumbai.

Navi Mumbai's main arterial road - called the 'Palm Beach Road' will help link you to the various nodes of Navi Mumbai viz Vashi, Nerul, CBD Belapur, Khargar, Panvel. It also links Navi Mumbai to Mhape and Thane. Palm Beach Road is a beautiful 4-lane highway with smooth tar roads and several exits to the nodes of the city.

[edit] By bus

[edit] By auto-rickshaw

Auto-rickshaw is a popular mode of travel within the satellite city. You will see 'rickshaw stands' at several busy corners of residential and commercial areas. The minimum fare, as on January 2009, is Rs. 11/- and most rickshaw drivers abide by the meter reading. But in case of doubt, please request for a meter card to confirm if you are being charged the correct amount.

Advice - If you wish to travel to any of the nodes of the city (say from Vashi to Nerul), most rickshaw drivers will ask for half or full return fare upfront. It is NOT mandatory to pay them the return fare and is entirely the discretion of the passenger whether or not he/she wishes to pay the fare. The rule of the land: if you do not wish to pay the return fare (or what the driver asks), you should not board the vehicle. Boarding the vehicle indicates your consent to pay the stipulated fare. Lastly, always let the DRIVER specify the markup on the fare. DO NOT ASK HIM IF HE WANTS A MARKUP TO GO TO ANY OF THE NODES!

Travel within any of the Nodes is always by meter and without a markup. So please do not accept any other price quoted by the driver.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Kharghar Hills, (Belapur). On the way to Kharghar, take a left on uphill as u leave the boundaries of CBD. A very cool place on hilltop. People prefer to come here for morning and evening walk. Youngsters come here to have fun and just chillout. It is closed most of the times in Rainy season because of the landslide. A must to visit this place in evening hours if you are around.  edit
  • Sarovar Vihar Garden, (attached to the creek at 15 minutes distance by rickshaw near Vashi Station). Like a second marine drive, provides a beautiful view of the sea, a drive from Vashi via the Palm Beach Road ends at Belapur  edit
  • Waterfalls, Sector-8 (On the way from Mumbai to Panvel). Monsoon tourist attraction for people from far and wide  edit
  • Rajiv Gandhi Maidan. Lot's of temples for doing Pooja and meditiation, and a good trek  edit
  • Rain Tree Marg, (Belapur). Has beautiful views of Navi Mumbai  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Valley Park, Sector-9. A hot-spot for joggers of all ages  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

The shopping market throughout Sector-17 is a good place to buy a variety of things at reasonable rates.

  • CenterOne, (near Vashi Station). This mall houses all kinds of outlets for apparel, clothes, shoes, Indian Art and handicrafts, food what have you.  edit
  • Raghuleela. Absolutely opposite Vashi station, a regular spot for many on-the-go shoppers  edit
  • Inorbit Mall, (opposite Vashi station). Wide variety of brands under a single shed, wonderful place to hangout with family while shopping.  edit
  • Sector 16+17, Vashi. About a small drive from Vashi Station, these sectors on the way you get into Vashi are one of the most happening spots of Navi Mumbai. Sector 16 as a general shopping zone, while sector 17 cropping as mini electronics marketplace.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

The food caters to all kinds of palates which includes Pan Indian (South, North, Central and Western Indian), of course Pizza Hut and McDonalds, Chinese and other oriental and lots more. Some Indian food you could try includes Dosas, Idlis, Bhel, Sev Puri, Samosas, Ragda patties, Pulavs, Rajma Chawal and more. Indian food is really what food should be. There are more varieties of Indian food than probably any other cuisine in the world. After all that hot stuff you can try out the Indian slush called the ice gola in Kalakhatta flavor, which beats Pepsi and Coke hollow. You'll get those two in manned fountains at the food counters.

  • Flavours, Sanpada (opp. Sanpada railway station). Intercontinental cuisine. You can actually sit at the counter and enjoy your drinks (Don't forget the Bartender's Special)  edit
  • Hot Cross Cafe, Nerul, Palm Beach/Kharghar (opp. Hiranandani Towers, near Utsav Chowk). A very relaxing coffee shop where they serve a variety of hukka (sheesha) at a very minimal rate. One of the best places in Navi Mumbai for hukka and mouth watering and fresh pastries.  edit
  • Jaslok, (at Hiranandani/Kharghar). All sorts of snacks and sweets. Pani Puri, Vada Pav and Rasmalai, Jamun are the delicious items  edit
  • Nanumal Bhojmal (Bhagatchand Tarachand), Nerul-Sanpada Palm Beach Road. Damn good restaurant for Gujarati and Punjabi food  edit
  • Sri Krishna, Sector-11, CBD Belapur (Near K Stars Hotel), ☎ 022-6511162. Nice and good vegetarian food. Best Watermelon Juice! Home Delivery aviailable.  edit
  • Viscious circle, Sector 6, Vashi. Mouth watering kebabs and non veg dishes, good ambience, drinks and a large projector screen.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Coral Lounge, Sector 17, Vashi (Above hotel Navratna). please help out with more info  edit
  • Dusk, (at The Park in C.B.D. Belapur), ☎ +91 (0) 22 2758 9000. please help out with more info  edit
  • Flames, CBD Belapur. please help out with more info  edit
  • Indulge, C.B.D. Belapur. please help out with more info  edit
  • Ice'n'Spice, Nerul. please help out with more info  edit
  • Rain Forest, Belapur. please help out with more info  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Navratna, Sector 17, Vashi. The oldest hotel in Navi Mumbai.  edit
  • Days Inn, L-1, Sector 19, Palm Beach Marg, Vashi. US$35 std rate..  edit
  • Hotel Heritage Dakshin, Sai Chambers, Sec 11, CBD Belapur, ☎ 91 22 2757 1812. Rp 1,200–2,000.  edit
  • Hotel Vishwa Sai, 1st Floor, Hemraj Bldg. Sector 11 (Opp. C.B.D. Belapur Rly. Station (E)), ☎ Tel: +9122 27574508. checkout: noon. Has Aircondition  edit

  • Pooja Heritage (Nerul), Near DY Patil college (Near DY Patil college). checkin: 1200; checkout: 1200. nice hotel at lowest budget Rp. 1200.  edit

[edit] Get out

  • In Rainy season go to Pandavpada Waterfalls in Kharghar.
  • Trek Karnala Fort, 13 km From Panvel

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

Mumbai (Bombay) is a short train ride away from Navi Mumbai, and many people travel to Mumbai for the day.

The beautiful hill stations of Lonavla and Khandala are less than an hour's drive from Navi Mumbai.

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