Excursion Mumbai’s dabbawala superheroes tour at Bombay

Experience a day in the life of Mumbai’s ‘superheroes’, the Dabbawalas, during this immersive, half-day sightseeing excursion with lunch.

Mumbai, Dabbawalas’ Headquarters & Introduction

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 45-minute drive to the Dabbawala Headquarters. Upon arrival, meet the Dabbawalas, members of the Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association. Every day, 5,000 of them deliver fresh, home-cooked food from 200,000 suburban kitchens to offices in the downtown area. Each lunch is prepared by a loving wife or mother, and packed into a set of stackable tiffins (aluminium boxes). The meals are stacked on decorated handcarts, then carried to their hungry recipients dangling from the shoulder-poles and bicycle handlebars of the Dabbawalas. Tins are rarely, if ever, lost, and always find their way home again to be washed up for the next day’s lunch.

Local Home Visit, Meal Pick-Up, Sorting & Drop-Off, Dadar Station, Train-Ride, Oberoi Hotel, Lunch

Following your introduction to the Dabbawalas, shadow one of these superheroes today. Begin with a visit to a local home to pick up a tiffin from a local home, then help sort tiffins back at the Dabbawala Headquarters. From here, walk to Dadar Station, board a local train, and ride with fellow Dabbawalas to the to the nearest station. Upon arrival, walk to the tiffin drop-off location and across to the tiffin-sorting area. Pick up your tiffins, then drop them off at the delivery location to the smiles and gratitude of their recipients. Afterward, re-board your coach with your guide and proceed for a delicious tiffin lunch at The Oberoi Hotel. Your tour concludes with a short drive back to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Mumbai City, the headquaets of the Dabbawalas, Dadar Station, train ride, tiffin box supply, the Oberoi Hotel & lunch

Note

Please note: This tour involves an extensive amount of walking for approximately 1.1 miles (about 1.7 kilometres), with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and board/de-board the train, six steps at The Oberoi Hotel, and 15 steps at Dadar Station; a lift is available at Dadar Station and The Oberoi Hotel. This tour is available for active guests in good physical condition, and is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear lightweight, comfortable, cotton clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes, and bring sun protection, insect repellent, bottled water, and local currency or credit cards for purchases from the ship. Guests must be at least 18 years old to participate on this tour. Infrastructure in India may be basic, and local conditions may be challenging; coaches, guides, hotels, restaurants, equipment, and services are the best-available in the area, but may not be up to the standards of those found on other excursions. Therefore, we urge flexibility and understanding as we visit unique, less-touristic destinations. Guests will travel with the Dabbawalas in the baggage compartment of the local train, which is very basic, air-cooled, and with limited seating. Guests will have to stand during the train journey for a duration of approximately 15 minutes. Hygiene standards at the station, and in the train, are not the same as in western countries, and pesky hawkers and beggars may be present at the stations. Expect high temperatures and humid conditions. Operation of this tour is subject to weather conditions. The tour sequence may vary. Space on this tour is very limited; we suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment.