Enjoying the sights and unique tastes of Mumbai

Cricket is like a religion in Mumbai,” said Ganesh, our informative and enthusiastic city tour guide. “But for me, I prefer soccer,” he added, with gusto.

- BY DANIEL BAILEY

He was dead right, because although I had managed to find possibly the only person in India who wasn't a fan of all things leather and willow, evidence of the country's love for their number one sport is pretty much everywhere you turn.

But as my wife and I touched down at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for a two-night pre-cruise stay, it was activities for the heart and soul, rather than bat and bowl, that were at the forefront of our minds.

Our base for this 48-hour sojourn was the luxury Sofitel Mumbai BKC, strategically located in the pulse of the city's affluent commercial district, with the five-star treatment beginning before we even set foot in the hotel as we made full use of its stress-free airport transfer service, avoiding the daunting prospect of using our own navigation skills in the middle of Mumbai's morning rush hour.