Meeting the Dabbawallas

In the morning you will drive to the Churchgate Railway Terminal to see the work of the ‘Dabbawallas’, an authentic Indian lunchbox delivery and return service, described by Prince Charles as the symbol of this enigmatic and intriguing city.Every morning around 2,500 men (known as the dabbawallas), call on the suburban housewives who pack freshly cooked lunches into small circular aluminum or stainless-steel containers - known as ‘dabbas’.Typically, the dabbawallas collect between 30 to 40 boxes and cycle to the nearest station where the lunchboxes will be handed over to other fellow dabbawallas who will deliver them to customers in the city. Over 100,000 lunches containing sabze (vegetable curry), chapattis (Indian bread), dal (lentils) and pickle, all color-coded to avoid confusion, make their way daily across town and back again. The service costs a few rupees a week is a good example of the reliable and efficient work that goes on in India. The dabbawallahs pride themselves for their quality service and never let a lunch go missing!