Mumbai Airport: A Full Art Museum Spans the Entire International Terminal

Getting there, at a glance

Amenities, at a glance

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (IATA: BOM) is India’s second-busiest airport and a major hub for IndiGo, India’s largest airline, with more than 50 million passengers a year. It sits about 25 km north of central Mumbai.

Overview

BOM operates two terminals and is home to a genuinely remarkable piece of public art: Terminal 2’s “Jaya He” installation, a museum-quality display of thousands of pieces of Indian art and craft spanning the entire international terminal building. As India’s financial capital’s main airport, BOM also anchors an extensive domestic and international network. The Mumbai International Airport operator reported 54.8 million passengers for 2024, the airport’s highest-ever total and a 6.3% increase on 2023.

Terminals

• Terminal 1: Handles domestic flights.
• Terminal 2: Handles international flights and is home to the “Jaya He” art installation, connected to Terminal 1 by shuttle.

Airlines

IndiGo, India’s largest airline by passengers carried, operates a major hub at BOM, with an extensive domestic network across India alongside a growing international route map. Air India and a wide range of international carriers also serve Mumbai directly, reflecting the city’s status as India’s financial and commercial capital.

Getting There

• Metro Line 1: 40–50 INR, connecting to central Mumbai in about 40 minutes.
• Prepaid taxi: 400–600 INR via the official prepaid counter, about 45–60 minutes — highly dependent on Mumbai’s notoriously heavy traffic.
• Uber / Ola: Generally comparable in price to a taxi, about 45–60 minutes.

Prices above are approximate and subject to change — always check current fares with the prepaid taxi counter or your rideshare app.

Security and Passport Control Wait Times

• Domestic flights: Security only. Typically 20–30 minutes during off-peak hours, up to 35–50 minutes during busy periods.
• International flights: Security plus passport control. Typically 25–40 minutes during off-peak hours, up to 45–65 minutes during peak international departure banks.
• BOM handles an extremely high volume of both domestic and international traffic — budget real extra time during peak periods.

Parking

Both terminals have extensive short- and long-stay parking, with clear signage.

Wifi

Free wifi is available in the terminal with a time-limited free session.

Best Times to Arrive

• Domestic flights: Arrive 2 hours before departure.
• International flights: Arrive 3 hours before departure, especially during peak international departure periods.
• Given Mumbai’s traffic, allow significant extra time for the airport transfer itself, not just terminal processing.

Where to Eat

BOM has an excellent selection of Indian regional cuisine alongside international chains, spread across both terminals. At the nearby Novotel, Food Exchange runs an all-day dining buffet, and 190 AMSL — named for the airport’s altitude above sea level — is a rooftop bar with skyline views.

Airport Hotel

The Novotel Mumbai International Airport sits about 1.5 km from the international terminal — close, though not directly connected, so factor in a short transfer. Beyond Food Exchange and 190 AMSL, it has the Gourmet Bar for a more relaxed take on comfort dining.

Lounges

• The IndiGo Lounge is available for eligible passengers, elite status holders, or paid access.
• Several Priority Pass-affiliated lounges are also available.

Duty-Free Shopping

BOM’s duty-free area includes Indian textiles and spices alongside the usual international fashion, cosmetics, and electronics brands.

Airport Map

This is a simplified layout for orientation — for precise gate-by-gate navigation, use the official Mumbai Airport resources.

Useful Links

• Official airport website (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) — terminal information, services, live flight status.
• Mumbai Metro — fares and schedules.

Layover Tips

• With 6 hours or more and a visa situation that allows entry, central Mumbai is reachable via Metro or taxi, though Mumbai’s traffic makes timing unpredictable — build in real buffer.
• If staying airside, take the time to actually walk through the “Jaya He” installation in Terminal 2 — it’s a genuine museum-quality experience, easy to rush past on a tight connection but worth slowing down for.
• Given Mumbai’s traffic volatility, if leaving the airport for a city visit during a long layover, build in significantly more return-trip buffer than you’d expect in most other major cities.