Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) is the main airport of Mumbai and one of the busiest in India, at Sahar in the northern suburbs of Andheri. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is named after the 17th-century Maratha king Shivaji, and international flights, including the direct services from Singapore, use Terminal 2, a large modern terminal that opened in 2014.

The airport grew from the old Santacruz airfield and was renamed after Shivaji in 1999, with Maharaj added in 2018. Terminal 2 is known for its peacock-inspired roof and for Jaya He, a museum-style art programme with thousands of Indian artworks and crafts along the walkways of the terminal. The flight from Singapore takes about five and a half hours. After immigration and customs, your driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you south to your hotel. Depending on traffic, the drive to Colaba can take an hour or more, much of it over the Bandra Worli Sea Link. At the end of the tour, you are dropped back here for your flight home.

What to see

• The Jaya He art wall, a long display of Indian art and crafts in Terminal 2
• The terminal roof, with columns shaped like a peacock's raised feathers
• Duty free, bookshops and Indian craft and tea shops after security
• Currency exchange and SIM card counters in the arrivals hall
• The Bandra Worli Sea Link on the drive into the city

What to wear

Wear loose, comfortable travel clothing that suits Mumbai's heat and humidity, with a light layer for the air-conditioned plane and terminal. Slip-on shoes speed up security. From June to September the monsoon is heavy, so keep an umbrella or rain jacket in your hand luggage. If you are going straight to temples, pack a scarf and clothes that cover shoulders and knees. Maharashtra's traditional dress, the nauvari saree and the pheta turban, is often seen at welcome ceremonies.

Local food to try

Terminal 2 has food courts and restaurants with Indian and international chains, including Mumbai snacks such as vada pav and pav bhaji, and South Indian dosa. Once in the city, try bhelpuri at Girgaum Chowpatty, kebab rolls in Colaba, Parsi berry pulao, and Koli seafood like bombil fry. Vegetarian and halal food are easy to find across Mumbai.

Good to know

• Best time to fly in: November to February, when the weather is dry and cooler
• Airport open 24 hours; arrive three hours before international departures
• No entry fee; only ticketed passengers may enter the terminal
• Allow at least an hour from landing to leaving the arrivals hall
• About 30 km from Colaba and South Mumbai; an hour or more by road
• Keep your passport and printed or e-visa ready for immigration

Nearby places

From Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Haji Ali Dargah and Dhobi Ghat are on the way into South Mumbai, and the Gateway of India and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus are about 30 km south.