Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To find out other people's opinions about our services, please read the press coverage or view the discussion board.

Answers

DHARAVI SLUM TOURS- GENERAL

What will I see in Dharavi?
We focus on the small scale industries in Dharavi, such as recycling, the making of clay pots, embroidery, bakery, soap factory, leather tanning, papad (poppadom) making and many others, most of which take place in very small spaces.

We also pass by the residential areas, where you really get a feel of how the people are living and you see the sense of community that exists in the area. People from all over India and from all religions live in Dharavi, and you will see this diversity- for example there are Hindu temples, mosques and churches in the area.

It is quite an adventure to pass through the narrow alleys, and you will almost certainly lose your sense of direction!

Is Dharavi dangerous?
Although we cannot take responsibility should anything happen, we believe that the places that we visit are very safe. There are a lot of people in Dharavi (one million approximately in an area of 0.7 square miles) and there is a strong police presence in the area. Dharavi is generally full of hard-working, honest people, although for security purposes we ask you not to take valuables with you on the tour. Travelling through Dharavi is a real adventure, but in the small alleys you have to be careful of low hanging roofs, open drains, and occasionally exposed electric wires.

Is Dharavi unhygienic?
With the very high density of population and the limited infrastructure and sanitation facilities, there are areas which are quite dirty and smelly. We ask you to wear covered shoes.

What is the maximum number of people on the tours?
Five for the long tour. Six on the short tour

What clothing should be worn on the tour?
We recommend that you wear covered shoes as some areas can be dirty, especially during the monsoon months from June to mid September. We ask ladies to dress modestly.

Why can we not bring cameras on the slum tours?
We like to go into Dharavi and be as inconspicuous as possible. We do this by having small groups and by not allowing cameras. We do not want to cause any offence to the residents of Dharavi, or to anyone else on the tour. We understand that customers can often judge situations and decide whether it is appropriate to take a photo or not, but offence can be taken despite this, not necessarily by the subject of the phototograph.

If customers want, after the tour we can send them a webpage link with quality high resolution photos which can be downloaded.

Can I buy anything on the tour?
We don't sell or ask you to buy any products made by the residents of Dharavi on the tour. We don't want you to feel obliged to buy anything. If there is anything particular that you find interesting on the tour, then by all means you can speak to the guide and he can help you buy it.

Is it appropriate to bring small children on the tour?
There are health hazards highlighted above which children need to be very aware of. Otherwise we see no problem with bringing children of any age on the tour. Indians are very welcoming and receptive to young people.

I don't like going on organised tours. Is it possible to visit Dharavi on my own?
Yes it is possible to visit Dharavi on your own, and in our opinion it is safe to do so. However you will not know the best places to go, the area is like a maze and you will not gain the same insight as with one of our guides.

I hear that Dharavi is going to be redeveloped. Will I still be able to see the area?
Redevelopment is supposed to start in 2009, but there are still a lot of issues to be resolved and the developers have still not been announced. It should be possible to visit Dharavi even while the development (which is supposed to take 7 years) takes place.

I want to do a Dharavi tour and a market tour on the same day. Is this possible?
If you do a Dharavi tour in the morning, and then a market tour in the afternoon, then it is possible. However, both the Dharavi tour and the Market tour involve a lot of walking (about 2.5 hours each tour) and are a little similar in nature in that the attraction of both is observing the “hustle and bustle” of working life. We therefore advise customers not to do both tours on the same day.

DHARAVI SLUM TOURS- TYPES OF TOURS AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM

What is the difference between the short tour and the long tour?
On the long tour you travel in the comfort of an a/c car. We leave from Colaba (the main tourist area) and head to Dharavi, passing areas of interest en route such as a boys′ shelter, Kamathipura (red light area) and Dhobi Ghat (big open air laundry). The guide explains about these places and other issues facing the less privileged members of Indian society.

On the short tour, we provide no transport. You either have to meet the guide at the slum, or at Churchgate station (near Colaba) from where you would travel by train with him to Dharavi.

See Meeting Points and Map page for more exact details of where to meet.

On both tours we spend about 2.5 hours going around Dharavi on foot.

The long tour seems very long. Why is this?
For the long tour, total time is approximately 4.5 hours. This includes transport to Dharavi and back from our office in Colaba, or to and from your hotel. For people staying in Colaba, if you were to catch the train/taxi to Dharavi from Colaba, the transport time would be approximately 50 mins to an hour each way, so the total time to do the short tour and the long tour is approximately the same.

How is the private long tour different to the normal long tour?
On the normal long tour, you need to meet outside our office in Colaba at the stipulated time.

On the private long tour, other visitors do not come on the tour with you. We come to your hotel to pick you up and we drop you back. The tour is more flexible as well to what you want to see.

Since we pass by areas of interest between Colaba and Dharavi, to get the most out of the private long tour, it is best to start from Colaba, Fort or Marine Drive. For tourists staying in other parts of Mumbai who wish to do the private long tour and hence be picked up from their hotel, we can advise on what will and will not be included in the tour depending on the location of your hotel.

I am travelling by myself. Can I do the short or long tour?
For the short tour, you can do the tour irrespective if there others on the tour or not.

For the long tour, we need at least two people. If we are not able to find another customer, you have the following options:

1. Pay double the price of the long tour and do it by yourself, meeting at our office
2. Do a private long tour and we will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel
3. Do a short tour in the afternoon

I want to do a slum and sightseeing tour in a group with other people. Is this possible?
We only do private slum and sightseeing tours.

DHARAVI SLUM TOURS- "POVERTY TOURISM" DEBATE

Why go to Dharavi? Isn′t showing the slums and poorer areas degrading?
The primary purpose of the tours is to dispel the myth that Dharavi is simply a place of squalor and (extreme) poverty. The reality is that Dharavi, despite its limitations, is different from that. Dharavi is the heart of small scale industries in Mumbai, and on the tour we show you a wide range of these activities- from making clay pots and leather bags to recycling plastic. The area′s annual turnover is approximately US$ 665 million. In this regard Dharavi is unique compared to other slums in India, and indeed the world. For example, in countries such as Brazil or South Africa, where slum tours are well established, there is not this kind of productivity.

In Dharavi one sees the dignity, fortitude and enterprise of the people, where they are able to work and live in very small areas, with a very high density of population, and yet able to host a plethora of small scale industries.

What do the residents of Dharavi think about these tours?
We are extremely sensitive and respectful about the dignity, privacy and feelings of the residents. We speak to the people of the places where we go, explain what we do and our relationship with other non-governmental organizations. In order to minimize this invasion on the residents' territory, we ask tourists not to take pictures and we only operate small group sizes . The response from the residents has been either overwhelmingly positive, or they are far too busy to worry about us.

Don't you think that using the phrase “Slum Tour” will put a few people off the idea of going? If you are focusing on the industry, why not say “Slum Industry Tour”?
Whether one believes that the term “slum” is pejorative or not, Dharavi is classed as a slum for legal purposes- for example the residents have rights under the “Slum Act”. We believe that using another word for slum would be misleading. One of the key objectives of the tour is to help dispel the negative image that some people have about slums, so to not use the word would be defeating this.

While the tour does focus on the industry of the area, it is a lot more than just looking at the many small businesses, and hence why we do not use the term “Slum Industry Tours”. It is about the people that work in these businesses, about the kids playing and coming up to say hello, and so much more.

MARKET TOURS

I want to do a Dharavi tour and a market tour on the same day. Is this possible?
If you do a Dharavi tour in the morning, and then a market tour in the afternoon, then it is possible. However, both the Dharavi tour and the Market tour involve a lot of walking (about 2.5 hours each tour) and are a little similar in nature in that the attraction of both is observing the “hustle and bustle” of working life. We therefore advise customers not to do both tours on the same day.

INDIAN VILLAGE TOURS

How long is the tour?
The tour lasts two days. You meet at 8am on the first day and catch a boat from the Gateway of India (in Colaba) to the mainland, and then you arrive back at 8.30pm the following day. You spend a night in one of the villages that we visit, in a separate house belonging to your host family.

If you are going straight to Goa afterwards, then you catch a train on the morning of the second day.

I am just one person. Can I do the tour?
Yes you can, but please note the charges. If we can find others to do the tour with you then the cost will be cheaper.

How much notice do I need to give to do the tour?
As with the other tours, it totally depends on how busy we are. The sooner that you can inform us, the better, although it may be possible to do the tour on a day's notice.

Can I take photos?
You can take photos in most places except for the tribal village (Adivasi).

WHAT DAYS WE RUN TOURS

What days do you run tours, and is it best to do avoid doing some tours on certain days?
DHARAVI SLUM TOURS
We run tours every day, including Sundays and public holidays. We don't however run tours on certain public holidays such as Holi (where coloured paint is thrown) and Bakri Eid (where animals are slaughtered). We will advise you where the tour is not possible.

On Sundays and public holidays, there is less business activity in Dharavi, and the schools are shut, so if you can do it on another day, this is best

That said, there is still plenty to see and one still gets a very good idea of the Dharavi slum- both the business and residential areas.

MARKET TOURS
We can run the tours every day, although Crawford Market is closed on Sunday and there is less activity.

SIGHTSEEING TOURS
These run every day, and it makes little difference what day you do one. On Monday, a few museums are closed, such as Prince of Wales and National Museum of Modern Art, but we don't tend to visit these places on our tour.

INDIAN VILLAGE TOURS
Any day is fine

MEETING POINTS

Where are the meeting points and times for the Dharavi slum tours?
SHORT TOUR/ LONG TOUR- see Meeting Points and Map page.

PRIVATE LONG TOUR- we come to your hotel/apartment at either 8.30am in the morning or 2pm in the afternoon.

SLUM AND SIGHTSEEING TOUR- we normally come to your hotel/apartment at 8.30am but we can start later if you wish.

I am staying in Colaba. Where should I meet for the short tour?
The easiest place to meet the guide is at Churchgate station- this is a 15-20 minute walk from Colaba.

I am staying near the airport/Juhu/Bandra. Where should I meet for the short tour?
The easiest place to meet the guide is at Mahim station. This is 35 minutes/35 minutes/20 minutes by taxi from the airport/Juhu/Bandra in the afternoon (50 minutes/50 minutes/30 minutes in morning) and will cost approximately Rs 150/Rs 150/Rs 40 (by non-a/c taxi).

I am staying near the airport/Juhu/Bandra. Should I do the short tour or the long tour?
If you wish to do the shared long tour (with other people), you need to be at our office at 8.30am. It will take about 80 minutes/80 minutes/60 minutes to reach by taxi so it would be an early start! If you still wish to go, then you might consider making your own way back to your hotel/residence after the Dharavi part of the tour.

If you wish to do a private long tour, then we would pick you up from your hotel/residence, but only the Dharavi part of the trip would be covered (ie. you would not see the red-light area and open-air laundry. There would also be an additional charge of Rs 200- Rs 500 to cover the extra distance that our car would have to come.

If you wish to do a private long tour and also see the other parts of the tour such as the red-light area and the open-air laundry, then contact us and we will try to arrange something

Where is Dharavi?
Dharavi is situated between Mahim and Sion- two areas at the northern tip of South Mumbai, just before the suburbs commence (Bandra and Kurla). It is sandwiched between the Western and Central Railway lines. It is about 10km south of the International Airport and 18km north of Colaba, the main tourist area. See our map for a better idea.

I am meeting you at Dharavi. How long does it take to get there?
FROM COLABA:
By train: it is a 15-20 minute walk to Churchgate station and then it takes approximately 45 minutes to buy the ticket and catch a "slow train" to Dharavi (Mahim Junction).
By taxi: By taxi it takes about 50 minutes to an hour (cost approximately Rs 200)

FROM AIRPORT AREA:
By train: too complicated!!
By taxi (NB* by auto-rickshaw not possible): it takes about 35 minutes in the afternoon, and 50 minutes in the morning (cost approximately Rs 100).

FROM JUHU
By train: you need to go to Vile Parle or Santa Cruz Station and catch a "slow train" to Mahim Junction. Total time approx 30 mins
By taxi (NB* by auto-rickshaw not possible): it takes about 35 minutes in the afternoon, and 50 minutes in the morning (cost approximately Rs 100)

When I get to the meeting point, how will I know who is the Tour guide?
He will be wearing a blue or cream polo shirt with the company logo on. In case of any problem, please call our 24 hour number- +91 9820822253

I want to do a market tour. Where is the best place to meet you?
There are two meeting points for this tour. If staying in Colaba, Marine Drive or Kala Ghoda, you are probably best meeting at our office. If staying elsewhere you are probably best meeting at Crawford Market.

BOOKING/PAYMENT OF TOURS

Can I just turn up for a tour or do I have to book in advance?
You need to book all tours IN ADVANCE. Please contact us

How and when should I pay for the tours?
For the tours, you can generally pay on the day. For all the Dharavi tours (short, long, slum and sightseeing) we ask that you pay the full amount to our representative in our Community Centre after the Dharavi tour. For private tours, particularly in instances where we have to come far to pick you up, or from the airport, we might ask you to pay a deposit in advance.

Your prices are listed in US dollars. Can I pay in dollars or in any other currency?
The prices are listed in US dollars as guidance- our prices are in Rupees only. If you wish to pay in foreign currency, we will calculate the amount based on the exchange rate that day with the Rupee.

Why do you have a no tips policy?
We want the tour to be as comfortable for you as possible. We do ask you to fill out a questionnaire to maintain standards- we take pride in the positive feedback both from these and from comments made on our discussion forum and in the press.

MISC

How do you maintain the quality of the tours?
The tour guides go through extensive training before going on the tours, and information is reviewed and shared so that it is as accurate as possible. We value greatly what our customers think- we ask them for feedback through speaking to them, through questionnaires which are filled out after each tour, and through our discussion forum.

Do you do the tours in other languages apart from English?
Unfortunately our guides do not speak any languages other than English.

WHAT HAPPENS TO TOUR INCOME ON SLUM TOURS

What are Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)?
An NGO is a private non-profit organization, independent from government, which pursues activities to relieve suffering, to promote the interests of the poor, to protect the environment, to provide basic social services, or to undertake community development.

Why are you donating 80% of your profits after tax from the slum tours to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)?
We do not believe that we should be showing places affecting the poorer members of society and profit from it. Nonetheless everybody working in the company receives a modest salary and all expenses relating to the tours are paid.

You claim to be giving 80% of profits after tax from the slum tours to NGOs. How do you function as a company?
We have aspirations as a company to over time offer more and more tour and travel agent services. Although the Dharavi tours (or some similar tour) will be always be at the heart of the company, it will not generate such a high percentage of the company's turnover as it does now.

Why not donate 100% to charity?
We are using the remaining 20% of profits to pay off loans and to invest on the tours.

If you donate 80% of profits, why do you not operate under an NGO, or start up an NGO to run these tour activities?
We are running other tourist related activities and are planning to expand and do a lot more in the future, hence we cannot operate as a NGO. One of the main benefits of an NGO is not paying tax on one′s activities: however an NGO running commercial activities such as these tours would not automatically be exempt from Income tax.

How do you calculate the profits for the tour?
See NGOs section.

What happens if the company makes a loss from tour activities?
No donation will be given. The following year, this loss will be offset against any profits before donating 80% of the profits.

For every year up to the year ending 31 March 2008, we did not make a profit, although for the year ending 31 March we have made a profit. For details of reasons why, click on link for explanation of the Accounts

In earlier years while we were making a loss, we were still investing money into our community centre.

What about profits from other activities that the company does- are those donated to charity?
No.

Why are the proceeds given to NGOs donated AFTER paying tax? Are donations to NGOs not fully tax deductible?
Under section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 50 per cent of donations to NGOs are tax deductible. Yet these deductions are available only for sums up to 10 per cent of your taxable income. We make full use of this small tax break.

How do we know that 80% of profits from the tours go to NGOs?
The accounts are audited (year end 31 March) by a registered auditor, and an auditors′ report is put online mentioning whether the 80% criteria has been met. See NGOs section for this statement.