Atal Setu expressway crash barriers Mumbai

Mumbai: Getting to Navi Mumbai via Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu); ForRest Hostel review

By Mithun Divakaran
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Sep 17, 2025
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India, Mumbai, Travel

Date: January 17, 2025

After window-shopping at Phoenix Palladium mall followed by some skyscraper-gazing yesterday, I had to check out of Pals Hotel and head to Navi Mumbai.

Breakfast at Pals Hotel Mumbai — Breakfast was better today — egg burji, buns, and some corn flakes. Enough to fill me up.

I checked out and booked an Uber to take me across the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link a.k.a Atal Setu.

Driving to Atal Setu Mumbai — I took an Uber to Ulwe because I figured that’s the best route to ensure the driver takes the Atal Setu

Atal Setu underpass Mumbai — Because to get to where my hotel was in Navi Mumbai, the driver didn’t *have* to take the expressway

I purposely chose to go to Ulwe just to take a ride on the brand new expressway.

At 21.8 km, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) is the longest sea bridge in India, and the world’s 12th longest sea bridge. It’s the fastest route connecting Mumbai with Navi Mumbai (Navi = new). The ₹17,843 crore ($2.1 billion) was 80% funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The lead contractors were Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Japan’s construction major IHI Corporation.

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Mumbai: Phoenix Palladium mall and skyscraper-gazing around Worli

By Mithun Divakaran
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Aug 14, 2025
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India, Mumbai, Travel

Date: January 16, 2025

After a tiring first day in Mumbai, where I saw Gateway of India and Elephanta Caves just a few hours after landing in Mumbai, I had a good night’s sleep and felt well-rested. I was staying at Pals Hotel in Parel.

Pals Hotel breakfast buffet Thepla Mumbai — I went downstairs to have breakfast. It’s a very basic buffet, so don’t expect too much at this hotel.

There was some poha, thepla (both Gujarati dishes), corn flakes, and tea. It was enough to get rid of hunger, that’s all.

Gutkha stain Pals Hotel Mumbai — The disgusting sight of gutkha spit stains. It’s everywhere in Mumbai — inside or out! Yes, this was by the stairs in the hotel 🤮

I went back to my room and did my work for a couple of hours. I didn’t really have anything planned to go see today so after I finished my work, I decided to head to Phoenix Palladium Mall — Mumbai’s most famous mall.

Pals Hotel Parel Mumbai — This is what Pals Hotel looks like from the outside

Mumbai Parel high rise buildings — I hailed an Uber as it only cost ₹169.91 to get there.

Just as with food, I’m shocked to see Uber cost a lot less in Mumbai than Bengaluru! I didn’t know how to get to Phoenix Palladium using public transport and the car ride only took some 20 minutes.

Old housing Mumbai Lower Parel — There are a lot of buildings like this all over Mumbai. Shops below, housing above.

Belleza store Mumbai — Some buildings make way for newer establishments

Mumbai roadside food vendor Parel — Street food is so common in Mumbai — can’t blame the locals. It’s so cheap and good.

Palladium is not Mumbai’s biggest, that would be Phoenix Marketcity in Kurla, but Palladium is the premier mall in what is considered ‘downtown Mumbai’.

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Elephanta caves Hindu temple hill carved India

Mumbai: Boat ride to Elephanta Caves, a highly recommended tour

By Mithun Divakaran
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Jul 06, 2025
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India, Mumbai, Travel

Date: January 15, 2025

After arriving in Mumbai before sunrise and not being able to check-in online, I decided to visit Gateway of India just as the sun was coming up. I was contemplating whether or not to go back to Pals Hotel to try and check-in but if my room was not ready, I would have to step out again.

So I decided to just finish my sightseeing for the day by going for the Elephanta Caves tour early in the morning itself. The tickets for the tour are sold inside a small complex housing different tour agencies near the Gateway of India itself.

Elephanta caves tour ticket Mumbai — I bought a return ticket for ₹260 ($3/€2.6)

The first ferry sets off from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island (also called Gharapuri) 9AM onwards, and the last ferry leaves Elephanta Island at 5.30pm to return to Gateway of India. Elephanta Caves is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly.

Gateway of India backside Mumbai India — After purchasing the ticket, you wait near the back side of Gateway of India

Tourists inside Elephanta island boat Mumbai — One by one, boats come to the dock and leave only once enough tourists fill up each the boat

Elephanta Caves tourists boat Mumbai — It took about 30mins for the boat I was assigned to fill up, so the boat did not set off sharp 9AM

Taj Palace hotel Mumbai from Arabian sea — We finally set off, and my boat was the first tour of the day

Mumbai tourist boats India — These are the types of boats used to ferry tourists

One of the popular activities on the Elephant Caves tour begins while on the ferry journey itself.

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