Tourist Offices
Government of India Tourist Office, 123 M. Karve Rd, Churchgate (tel 293144), is open 8.30 am-5.30 pm Monday to Friday, 8.30 am-12.30 pm Saturday, closed Sunday. Sadly understaffed, but helpful. Good handout information, including when in stock an excellent monthly city-guide called Bombay Calling (also available from any bookstore). Book your MTDC city tour here (they run twice daily except Monday 9 am-1 pm, 2-6.30 pm; tickets Rs35) and get your city map. Government of India also have tourist counters (24-hour service) at both airports.
Government of Maharashtra Tourist Office, Madame Cama Rd (tel 2026713). Government of Goa Tourist Office, Bombay Central Station (tel 396288) is useful if you’re planning to do the Goa–Diu routes in this book. So is the Government of Gujarat Tourist Office, Dhanraj Mahal, Ch. Shivaji Rd, Apollo Bunder (tel 243886).
Airline Offices
The airport telephone number (apt) is usually only answered a few hours before and after a scheduled arriv
al/departure. Indian Airlines (tel 2023031, 2021441 apt 6144433, 6114433, 6112850, 142 and 143), Air India (tel 20224142, 2026464, apt 6329090, 6226767), and Singapore Airlines (tel 2023365, 2023316 apt 6327024, 6327861) are ail in the Air India building, Nariman Point. Cathay Pacific (tel 2029112/3 apt 6321965/6), Delta (tel 2024024, 2029020 apt 6324769, 6349890) and Air France (tel 2025021, 2024818 apt 6328070) are located in the Taj Hotel, Apollo Bunder. Aeroflot (tel 221743 apt 6320178) and Swiss Air (tel 222402, 222559 apt 6326084) are both on Veer Narimari Rd. Lufthansa (tel 2020887, 2023430 apt 6321485) is in Express Towers, Nariman Point, and British Airways (tel 220888 apt 6329061/4) is in Vulcan Insurance Building, Churchgate. Emirates (tel 2871648 apt 6365730/1) Mittal Chambers, Nariman Point.
Travel Agents
The better ones are SITA World Travel, 8 Atlanta Building, Nariman Point (tel 2233155); Mercury Travel, 70 V.B. Gandhi Marg (tel 2023663) with a desk at Oberoi Hotel; Cox & Kings, 270/2 Dr D. Naoroji Road, (tel 2043065); Thomas Cook, Cooks Building, Dadabhai Naoroji Road (tel 2048556). American Express is at Majithia Chamber, Dadabhai Naoroji Road (tel 2046349).
Cheap Flights
For cheap flights, visa assistance, student travel service etc., contact Space Travels, Nanabhay Mansion, 4th floor, Sir P.M. Rd (tel 2864773), open 10 am-5 pm Monday to Friday, 10.30 am-3 pm Saturday. Spaceway also has agencies at Panjim and Calangute, in Goa. Discounted tickets are also offered by touts outside the American Express building, and from budget hotels around Mereweather Rd.
Consulates
Among the many countries represented in Bombay (listed in telephone directory) are UK, 2nd floor, HongKong Bank Building, M.G. Rd (tel 274874); USA, Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Rd (tel 8223611); France, N. Gamadia Road, off Pedder Road (tel 4949808, 4948277); Netherlands, 16 M. Karve Rd (tel 296840); Japan, 1B Dhanukar Marg (tel 4933857, 4934610); Germany, 10th floor, Hoechst House, Nariman Point (tel 232422); and Australia, Maker Towers, B Block, 41 Cuffe Parade (tel 211071/2).
