Mumbai guide

At a glance

The Jio World Convention Centre sits in Bandra Kurla Complex, a business district in the north of the city, so most of the famous sights are a long cab ride away. This page collects the practical and the tasty, gathered from public Mumbai information sites. Opening hours, prices and crowds may differ in November. Mumbai TBC

What Mumbai is known for

• Bollywood, the Hindi film industry, which is based here.
• Finance. It is India's financial capital, home to the stock exchange and the Reserve Bank of India.
• The Gateway of India, built in 1924, and the sweep of Marine Drive along the sea.
• Street food, with vada pav the signature snack.
• The dabbawalas, the lunchbox delivery network that moves home-cooked meals to offices.
• The local trains, the crowded suburban network that moves much of the city.
• Colonial architecture. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is a UNESCO site, and the Fort and Colaba districts are good for a self-guided walk.

Devcon overlaps Diwali, so expect festival lights, sweets and busy streets. The Diwali guide has the dates, the fireworks rules and the weather.

Eating near BKC

The quickest options between shifts. Bandra and Andheri are the nearest food areas outside the complex. Search Google Maps for restaurants near the venue or vegetarian places near the venue.

For plant-based eating, local food guides name Sequeli, Earth Cafei and Yoga Housei as vegan options.

Eating across the city

Worth a trip on a day off. Grouped by area. As above, these are places found locally and not recommendations, and every name links to Google Maps.

South Mumbai

Central Mumbai

Seafood

Mahesh Lunch Home in the Andheri area serves Mangalorean seafood, and Gajalee serves Malvani seafood. For the traditional version, Mahim Koliwada is the old fishing area where the day's catch sets the menu: bombil, prawns, surmai and pomfret.

Dishes to try

• Vada pav, the spiced potato fritter in a bun. Vegetarian.
• Misal pav, a spicy sprouted-bean curry with bread. Vegetarian.
• Pav bhaji, mashed vegetable curry with buttered bread. Vegetarian.
• Sabudana vada, batata vada and kanda poha, the snack-stall staples. Vegetarian.
• Bombay sandwich, layered with chutney, cucumber and beetroot. Vegetarian.
• Modaks, coconut and jaggery sweets, common in festival season.
• Chai, from quick cutting chai to the Irani version. Local food writers call the city's relationship with chai almost sacred.

At street stalls, regulars do not even place an order. Point, smile and join the line.

Getting around

• Metro Line 3 stops at Bandra Kurla Complex. The venue's own estimate is a 7 to 10 minute walk.
• Ride-share cabs and taxis cover the rest. BEST buses S102 and S180 have been listed as serving the venue. Mumbai TBC
• Local train stations at Bandra, Kurla and Santacruz are nearby.
• Travel time is unpredictable. A short trip can take 10 minutes early or 45 later, so allow slack on the way to a shift.
• Early mornings suit outdoor sights, and the sunset on Marine Drive draws a crowd.

Other events at this venue have run shuttles between the venue, the metro station and nearby hotels. Whether Devcon runs one is not announced. Mumbai TBC

For peak hours, Metro timings, and shift planning, see the traffic and transport guide.

Time off

An hour or two

• Bandra Bandstand, a seaside promenade for unwinding after a shift.
• Carter Road in the evening, for food and people-watching.
• Bandra Worli Sea Link, best seen at dusk as the lights come on.

A few hours in the south

• Gateway of India, built in 1924. Go early for fewer crowds.
• Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, opposite, from 1903. Walk-ins can look around the lobby, shops and cafes.
• Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach at sunset. Crowded, noisy and beautiful, but swimming is not recommended.
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the history museum, which takes 1.5 to 2 hours.
• Oval Maidan and Flora Fountain, for the cricket grounds and heritage buildings.

A free half day or more

• Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO site of 5th to 6th century carvings, reached by ferry from the Gateway. Allow 4 to 5 hours.
• Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the Kanheri Caves inside it, for forest trails and old Buddhist caves.
• Prithvi Theatre, for intimate performances and a cafe.
• Day trips of one or two days: Lonavala, Alibaug, Matheran and Igatpuri.

Day-to-day tips

• Wear comfortable clothes and carry a light layer. Convention air conditioning can run cold.
• Cards and UPI payments are widely accepted. UPI needs an Indian-compatible setup, so keep a card as backup.
• Carry photo ID. Events at the venue have asked for government ID at badge pickup.
• Venue meals follow the volunteer FAQ. For emergency numbers and what to carry, see the practical essentials.
• The venue is step-free and wheelchair accessible according to published venue information, but powered wheelchairs may not always be available.

Still to confirm

These items stay marked until the Devcon team confirms them.

• Whether Devcon runs a shuttle, and where it stops.
• Opening hours and prices for the places above in November.
• Weather and crowd levels during Diwali week. Typical conditions are in the Diwali guide.
• Quiet space, prayer room and nursing room locations at the venue.