Infectious diseases are common throughout the Indian subcontinent. Make sure to get vaccinated against tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella.
Find out when the monsoon is due to strike the city. It is normally from around mid-June until September. Monsoon can be a fun experience but malaria and dengue fever often hit during the monsoon season. If traveling during this period, make sure to bring ample malaria tablets.
The Hindu cultural festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is held in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada which falls between August and September. It is an amazing festival worth seeing.
Mumbai is the heart of the Indian film industry, commonly known as Bollywood. Local television and satellite networks are also concentrated on this city.
Some wealthy and well-educated Indians prefer speaking English even when they are talking with their fellow Indians. The Indians are very class-conscious. The gap between the rich and the poor is huge.
Learn the local way of greeting and salutation called Namaste. When you meet a local person, shake hands, bow and say Namaste which means "I bow to you."
Learn a few simple words of the local language. Hindi and Marathi are widely spoken in Mumbai. Depending on the locality, you'll meet many people who don't understand English at all---especially when dealing with local shop keepers, using public transportation or eating on the street.
Many train compartments are divided into male and female cars. Also the gender division of labor is very obvious.
Mumbai's oldest and Asia's biggest red-light district is the district called Kamathipura. So many people live in poverty here that the area is known as one of the biggest slums in Asia. Academy Award-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire was filmed in Kamathipura.
Indians do not use toilet paper. Using the Indian toilets for the first time could be a challenge. But it is surprisingly easy to get used to it.
