Day 1: Pune to Mumbai – Heat, Hunger, Chaos & The Start of My Journey

 

🌄 The Beginning of My Trip

Day 1 started with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

I woke up early, packed my bags, and headed to Swargate bus stand in Pune to begin my journey to Mumbai. I had planned to take a Shivneri bus to Dadar, even though my train was from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus — it just felt like the most practical option.

By 1 PM, I was finally on my way.

🎟️ Long Queue & Booking Reality

Before the journey even began, there was already a struggle waiting for me.

At Swargate bus stand, I had to stand in line for almost 30 minutes. There were so many people heading to Mumbai — it was honestly packed.

The ticket cost me around ₹450–₹500, which felt a bit expensive, but I didn’t really have any other option.

And honestly, the most frustrating part?

Online booking wasn’t reliable at all.

I don’t know if it’s improved now, but at that time I could only see basic non-AC buses online. The better buses like Shivneri either didn’t show up or weren’t available.

So in the end, I had to rely on offline booking and stand in that long queue.

If you’re planning this route, just be prepared — online booking might not always work smoothly.

☀️ Heat, AC & Hunger Kicking In

The journey started, but the heat was unreal.

Thankfully, Shivneri buses have AC vents above every seat, so I turned both switches ON immediately 😭

It helped… but not for long.

Because I hadn’t eaten anything before leaving home — and hunger started hitting hard.

🍔 The Food Stop That Went Wrong

The bus stopped at a highway food court for a quick break.

Usually, these stops are just 10 minutes, so I didn’t want to waste time ordering something big. I quickly grabbed a burger from Eggsunday and rushed back.

But this time?

The bus didn’t leave in 10 minutes.

It waited for 20–30 minutes. 

And there I was — sitting with my small burger, already irritated and hungry.  

“Why does this always happen with me?”

That frustration hit differently 😭
But honestly… nothing could be done.

🚍 Reaching Mumbai & Taxi Struggle

After that delay, we finally resumed and reached Dadar in about an hour.

From there, I took a cab to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.

Cost? ₹350

No bargaining worked.
Not even Uber or Ola had cheaper options — everything was around the same.

So yeah… local taxi was the only choice.

🎒 Luggage Storage Hack at CSMT

I reached CSMT with around 5 hours left before my train.

So I decided to store my luggage.

Here’s a useful tip 👇

• ₹30 for 2 bags (5 hours)
• Bags must have proper locks
• Only then you’ll get a stamp/tag to store them

Honestly, this was one of the best decisions I made that day.

🍽️ Trying Famous Food in Mumbai

With some free time, I went out to explore.

First stop: Pancham Puriwala

I tried their famous Amras Puri.

But honestly… I didn’t really get the hype.

• They served 5 puris
• The amras felt more pulpy than fresh

Maybe it wasn’t mango season, or maybe my expectations were just too high.

Also, it felt expensive for the taste.

🏛️ A Peaceful Break in the City

Next, I visited the beautiful Asiatic Society of Mumbai.

I sat on the iconic white stairs, clicked some pictures, and just paused for a moment.

Later, I walked into the park right opposite, spent some quiet time there, and ended up talking on call while the evening slowly settled in.

That moment felt calm… something I really needed.

🌆 Evening Chaos, Missed Vada Pav & A Random Café Stop

After that, I headed back towards CSMT and planned to try Aram Vada Pav.

But the crowd there was insane.

One look… and I changed my plan.

“I’ll come back later.”

Instead, I walked into a small nearby café.

And ordered… Maggi + Lemonade 😭
Yes, I know. Weird combo.

But somehow, at that moment, it just felt right.

❄️ ₹10 AC Waiting Room Hack

Back at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, I collected my bags and realized I still had time.

So I found an AC waiting area:

• Entry: ₹10
• Small deposit (refundable)
  

I sat there, charged my phone, and even had some simple dal khichdi.

Finally… a moment to relax.

😅 That One Annoying Guy…

But of course, there was one thing.

A man who just wouldn’t stop talking.

Non-stop. Continuous.

Everyone around was clearly irritated… but no one said anything.

We all just silently dealt with it 😂

🚆 The Platform Confusion & Last-Minute Run

My train to Delhi was at 11:30 PM.

Everything seemed fine — until the last moment.

It was supposed to arrive at Platform 15.
But just 5 minutes before arrival, the platform changed to 18.

And I RAN.

With my bags, through the crowd, heart racing.

“I cannot miss this train.”

That moment was pure chaos.

🚆 Finally Onboard… A Moment of Calm

But I made it.

I finally boarded the train.

The TTE came, checked my ticket, and I settled into my seat with my blanket and bedsheet.

For the first time that day… everything felt calm.

🌙 Ending the Day

From long queues…
To hunger and frustration…
To exploring Mumbai…
To running across platforms…

Day 1 was messy, chaotic, and unpredictable.

But it was real.

And as I lay there, I realized…

My journey had truly begun.

I closed my eyes… and went to sleep.

💛 Today’s Memory

• Best Moment: Peaceful time at Asiatic Library
• Worst Moment: Food stop frustration
• Most Random Moment: Maggi + Lemonade 😭
• Lesson: Always eat before traveling & reach stations early
• Mood: Exhausted but excited

🎬 What’s Next?

Delhi was waiting for me…
and Day 2 was about to be completely different from what I expected.

 Don’t forget to read Day 2 — because the real journey begins now 🚆✨

👉 Read Day 2 here: