How Obama can soak in Mumbai's true flavour

If there’s one thing that current visiting US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are going to have to pass up — security and other constraints playing party-pooper to that, it’s getting to know the city through its various cultural tours. But if he has the time and the means, here are 5 special Mumbai tours that would lend fun to the adage of ‘walking the talk’…

Living Bollywood:
B-Town’s certainly the biggest driver for tourism in India and this tour allows for one to live the Tinseltown experience. Harish Kale, director of a Bollywood tourism company, says, “We take people to watch a live shoot, watch acting and dance classes and more facets of film-making. It’s an entire behind-the-scenes look at how our movies are made and tourists just love that!”

Shantaram tour:
With tourists and culture aficionados, this one’s top of the must-do list! For practically on any given day, you’ll see a packed house at Colaba’s Leopold Cafe, brimming with tourists clutching onto dog-eared copies of Shantaram and trying to live out ‘moments’ spent by its author Gregory-David Roberts in Mumbai. “It’s true. The number of tourists and locals coming by to ask for Roberts is amazing! They write little notes to him,” says Leo’s owner Farhang Jehani. The tour also goes to different spots mentioned in the book.

At the Dhobi Ghat:
It’s the city’s larger-than-life open-air laundry. Situated at Mahalaxmi, this is a hot-spot with tourists and if you’re driving past on a clear day, you’ll find them eagerly wanting to tour the dhobi ghat. Author and and historian SharAda Dwivedi says, “Amercians especially are most fascinated about this place, I once took former US President Bill Clinton for a visit here too.”

In a thieves market:
It’s not as perilous as it sounds — for the Thieves Market or colloquially known as Chor Bazaar has a fascinating history and is actually a fun avenue for artifacts, antiques and other flea bargains.

Culinary tour:
You simply have the whole world open to you food-wise with this one. There are high-ended places of course, but also interesting mid-level spots for local delights like bhel and pav bhaji. “For instance, down Kalbadevi Lane there’s lots of street food and Matunga’s famous for its South Indian fare,” adds Dwivedi.