---
type: Place
title: Mumbai
description: India's densest metropolis, where towers and slums stand side by side — and where Harry got a 40-rupee street shave he rates the best of his life.
tags: [mumbai, india, city, street-barber]
coordinates: {lat: 19.0550, lng: 72.8692}
timestamp: 2026-08-04T12:00:00Z
---

# Mumbai

A vast coastal city in [India](/countries/india.md) and Harry's introduction
to the country. What defines it for him is the proximity of extremes:
skyscrapers with slums directly against them — a word he flags as unkind but
uses because it's the label on the map. He describes the city as unlike
anywhere he's ever been.

## What Harry did

Walked the city, then went back to a barber he'd seen working on the pavement
earlier in the day for a street shave instead of a salon one. The barber works
from a small pitch decorated with Hindu statues and a Hindu calendar, and
speaks essentially no English — Harry's question about how many shaves he does
a day doesn't land. The shave runs to a wash, cream, a straight razor with a
fresh blade, a second full pass, the neck and the back of the neck, and a face
massage to finish.

## Practical facts

- A street shave cost 40 rupees — Harry puts that at just under 50 cents.
- He paid 500 rupees (around six or seven dollars) as a deliberate overpayment,
  which he notes is roughly the price of a shave in England.
- Street barbers set up directly on the pavement; Harry assumes there's no
  charge for the pitch.
- Expect no shared language. The whole transaction worked on gestures.
- The finishing face massage stings.

## Harry's tips

- Take the street option over the salon — his verdict was that you shouldn't
  judge a book by its cover, and this was the best shave he's ever had.
- Check the blade. Harry confirmed a new one was being used before starting.
- If the price is honestly low, reward it. He paid more than ten times the
  asking price and still spent less than he would at home.

## Source

- [India’s Best Street Barber 🇮🇳](/videos/US6iHJ6cPjE.md) —
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US6iHJ6cPjE