Junisha Dama

Growing up, I had few reasons to wander through Chembur. It was merely a blur of scenery on the drive to Lonavala. Following the Partition of India, Chembur became a sanctuary for many. It absorbed lakhs of Sindhi families, many of whom have made it their home and place of business. Before this, it was largely a dumping ground, and a patch of land the British Raj coaxed natives to move to, to decongest Bombay. At the time of Partition, refugee camps and abandoned military barracks became the foundation for families desperate to rebuild. And Chembur hasn’t looked empty ever since. While the neighbourhood doesn’t quite enjoy a Bandra-like status, Chembur too has old village homes where Mumbai's indigenous East Indian Catholic community thrives, and like Churchgate, this garden suburb’s sprawling Art Deco bungalows could keep you busy on a trail for hours. It also, actually, has an 18-hole golf course that doubles up as a beautiful green patch in the midst of a busy neighbourhood. More importantly, Chembur’s own people haven’t shied away from making it hip, whether through bakeries or listening rooms. Old haunts, chock full of vadas and mutton stews that never turn cold, too continue to thrive, despite these new openings. If these are reasons enough to get you to explore Chembur, here’s everything you can do.

Mumbai’s monsoon doesn’t mean staying indoors. If anything, July is packed with reasons to step out between spells of rain. Immersive art, big-name comedy, live music and one very serious, blind coffee tasting. This month brings everything from gallery-hopping across Colaba and Khotachiwadi to The Yellow Diary's string-quartet-backed concert at NMACC, with Jamie Lever and Aakash Mehta bringing the laughs in between. So pick a night – or several – and let the city's packed calendar do the rest. That's the Mumbai way, after all. Rain on this parade all you want.

Mumbai is still sweltering. Any day now, thunderstorms are going to sweep the town. But no puddle can ruin your time under a rainbow! June is here, and with it, pride.  It’s time to celebrate the queer community’s history and culture, and there’s no shortage of ways to show up. So take your pick, let your hair down, and celebrate with cheer and smart chatter alike… perhaps along with a glass or two.