Asian School on Lattice Field Theory 2011
Practical information
The school
The preparatory school starts at 9 AM on Saturday, March 12, 2011. The main school starts at 9 AM on Monday, March 14, 2011. Lectures will take place in lecture rooms AG 69 and AG 80 of the Tata Institute of Fundamental research (1 Homi Bhabha Road, Navy Nagar Mumbai 400 005).
You might want to consult a Google map of the neighbourhood. See also the layout map of TIFR.
Wireless internet access is available throughout the ground floor of the Institute.
Arrival and stay
Stay
If you need to check up where you are going to stay, then look up the most recent list of participants.
International Arrivals
There will be no airport pickup or drop. If you are going to stay at the Astoria Hotel, then contact the hotel before arrival to arrange an airport pickup. A Google map of the hotel is available.
If you are staying at the YWCA International Center, then you should take a pre-paid taxi from the airport. The prepaid taxi counter is located after the exit from the customs area and before the exit from the airport. At the counter specify "YWCA in Colaba". The taxi ride will take about 45-60 minutes and cost approximately INR 400 (credit card or foreign currency not accepted: see section on exchange). The school will reimburse the cost of the taxi on production of the receipt.
The street address of the YWCA International Center is 18 Madame Cama Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Their phone numbers are +91-22-2202 5053, +91-22-2203 9161 and +91-22-2203 0598. This is close to Regal Cinema and the museum and easy to locate on this Google map. Taxi drivers will know the Regal Cinema in Colaba, as well as Madame Cama Road.
Domestic Arrivals
TIFR is in a part of Mumbai called Navy Nagar (the street address is 1 Homi Bhabha Road, Navy Nagar, Mumbai). The school will reimburse the actual cost of the taxi on production of receipt (if you don't have a receipt then a standardized reimbursement rate will be applied). For more help on reaching TIFR see the help page for visitors.
Food
YWCA International Center serves breakfast and dinner. The cost is included in the room rent. Your room rent includes the cost of breakfast in the TIFR guest house. Dinner is available at low cost in two of the canteens in TIFR. Lunch and tea will be served during the school. In addition, Colaba and Fort have many restaurants, bars, etc.
Getting around
There will be a bus leaving YWCA International Center at 8:30 AM for TIFR. A vehicle will depart from Hotel Astoria at 8:30 AM to TIFR.
TIFR is next to the Navy Nagar bus terminus operated by BEST. Here's a wonderful tool for checking out routes. The TIFR bus route could pass close to your hotel.
Bus routes 3, 6 Ltd, 11 Ltd and 125 go from Mumbai CST to the Navy Nagar bus terminus. Bus number 125 comes to TIFR directly from Mumbai Central. From Churchgate you can get Bus number 137 to reach TIFR.
For planning further travel inside Mumbai using the public transport network, try out an useful automated tool.
Taxis are available throughout the city. The usual black and yellow taxis either have electronic meters which start at INR 16 (between 6 AM and midnight, and at INR 24 between midnight and 6 AM), or mechanical meters which start at INR 1. You always pay exactly the amount shown on the electronic meter. If you have a taxi with a mechanical meter then you multiply the fare shown by 16 between 6 AM and midnight or by 24 between midnight and 6 AM. Other taxis are more expensive, and charges depend on whether or not you ask for the air conditioning to be switched on.
Weather
In mid-March the temperature is expected to be in the 30s and somewhat humid. However, lecture rooms are air-conditioned and you may need warm clothes! Rain is very unlikely.
Currency and tipping
Exchange some money before trying to hire a pre-paid taxi.
Currency can be exchanged at the airport and at various places in south Bombay (ask your hotel reception for the most convenient locations). Retain your exchange receipt; you'll need it if you want to convert rupees back into another currency at the end of the stay. Currency exchange is not possible in TIFR. Credit cards are accepted at most larger restaurants and shops. There are many ATM locations in Colaba including one inside TIFR.
Tips are not expected for taxis. Tips are expected in restaurants, and 10% is considered to be generous.
The weekend
No lectures are planned on the weekend of March 19 and 20. The festival of Holi is on Sunday, March 20, 2011.
Copyright: Sourendu Gupta; Last modified on 4 Jul, 2024.