For another evening, choose from Bombay’s good selection of music, dance and drama shows. Start by visiting the Government of India Tourist Office for the current culture events, listed in the This Fortnight for You handout. For classical dance recitals (including Bharainatyam , Kathakali, and Odissi styles), pop along to Taj Mahal Hotel’s Tanj ore restaurant (6.15 pm performances 
most nights). For drama (Marathi, Gujarati and Hindi styles), there’s the Sahitya Sangh Mandir, Patkar Hall and Tata Theatre at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) at Nariman Point. The last two places also hold occasional music recitals. Performances start at 6.30 or 7 pm.
Regular exhibitions of art are held at Jehangir Art Gallery, adjoining Prince of Wales Museum and at the Taj Gallery in the Taj Mahal Hotel. The Nehru Planetarium, 8 km (5 miles) north of city centre, above the Race Course, has daily star-gazing shows in English at 3 pm and 6 pm (closed Mondays). Going to the cinema in Bombay is a must—it’s not only the film capital of India, it also produces more movies than any other city in the world, Hollywood included. There are literally hundreds of cinema houses here (although the video has resulted n some having to close), most air-conditioned and very comfortable. To tune in to Bombay movie-madness, buy any of the ‘juicy screen gossip’ mags peddled on the streets (Star and Style is a good one), then buy a newspaper to see what’s on. Just head down the street opposite VT station, where three good cinemas—Excelsior, Empire and Sterling—show current epics (English, Hindi and Marathi) at 3, 6 and 9 pm daily, with a few extra matinees thrown in. Outside, there’s a couple of good ice-cream parlours and fast-food places—handy for inter-film refreshments! Later, ask the 271 tourist office to arrange a visit to one of the film studios, where you can have a chat with the stars and watch them playing three different parts in three different movies at the same time. Meet them again later in ‘Studio 29’ discotheque (the place to be seen) in Bombay International Hotel, junction of D. Vacha Rd and Marine Drive or RGs at the Nataraj Hotel on Marine Drive. Temporary membership at both places for foreigners is generally possible.
Bombay is rather exclusive when it comes to sports. For the best facilities, you’ll either have to pay out for an expensive hotel (the Taj and the President for tennis, golf and swimming; the Oberoi for the best swimming-pool) or hover round in hope of an introduction to the two best social clubs—the Bombay Gymkhana, Mahatma Gandhi Road (tel 204505) and the Willingdon Sports Club, K. Khadye Marg (tel 395754).
Swimming in the sea round Bombay is not really on, the water is badly polluted. If you want a swim, go up to Breach Candy Club on Bhulabhai Desai Rd, 5 km north of Hanging Gardens. This has a large, fun swimming-pool in the shape of India before Partition—’Ceylon’ is the kiddies’ pool. Breach Candy has several other good recreation facilities too, but only lets foreign guests in on production of their passport. Any good hotel should be able to arrange a game of golf at Presidency Golf Club (tel 5553670), about an hour’s drive out of town, and worth it. The Taj and Oberoi hotels can arrange sailing, horse-riding, court games and buggy-rides round town— but only for their guests. Fishing is easier: apply to the Secretary of Maharastra State Angling Association (tel 575645) for temporary membership. Good katla, rahu, mirgil, bekti and gorami fishing at Powai Lake, 22 km (54 miles) by rail to Andheri and then 5 km (35 miles) further by road. A day’s angling will cost you around Rs500 , inclusive of boat-hire, tackle and bait.
Horse Racing at the Mahalaxmi Race Course, opposite Haji Ali Mosque, takes place every Sunday and public holiday between November and March. The big meetings are in February and March and the cream of Bombay society turns out to be seen.
