Be Safe in Mumbai

There are some safety and health precautions that need to be taken when visiting Mumbai, a city of over 20 million people. Petty crime is a daily occurrence, and tourists are usually the victims of pick-pockets and bag-snatchers.

Safety

Safety is of primary concern to travellers and the following tips should be followed if you want to have a trouble-free holiday in Asia: avoid unlit areas, especially parks at night; women travellers should dress conservatively and try not to travel alone; be alert and avoid suspicious areas or people.

Pick-pocketing and bag-snatching are common in Mumbai and travellers should be particularly alert to groups of young children, as they often work in gangs. Favourite places to target victims are the more crowded areas such as on trains and buses and at markets and bazaars. Tourists are advised to carry a minimum of cash with them and to leave passports and jewellery in their hotel safe.

Health

Indian health regulations require all travellers from Sub-Saharan Africa or other yellow fever areas to have proof of vaccination against yellow fever. Travellers may face deportation or a six-day detention in the yellow fever quarantine centre, even if they only transited at a yellow fever destination. Travellers are recommended to have Hepatitis A and B vaccinations.

It is recommended that travellers only drink bottled beverages. Juices can be safely enjoyed at the more reputable hotels, but should be avoided at stalls and smaller restaurants. Diarrhoea is quite common with first-time visitors and care should be taken to slowly accustom the stomach to the spicy food.

Mumbai has excellent medical facilities and there are several pharmacies in the city. Almost all staff at the pharmacies and hospitals, and all doctors, speak English.

Travel insurance

With more than 20 million people living in Mumbai, many of whom live in the slums and are poverty stricken, there is a high number of petty crimes committed each day including pick-pocketing and bag-snatching.

All visitors are recommended to travel with a comprehensive travel insurance policy that will provide them with compensation for loss of personal belongings, delayed flights and luggage, and medical services. Having travel insurance provides a sense of security for visitors, especially in a city such as Mumbai, which uses a foreign language and has a different set of social and cultural rules.