The Best Things to See and Do in Mumbai
Mumbai
doesn't have as many historical attractions as some places in India,
but its multitude of unique and interesting sights more than
compensates. You'll find everything from beaches to Bollywood. Don't
miss these top 10 Mumbai attractions for a memorable visit.
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The Gate way of India |
1. Gateway of India
Mumbai's
most recognized monument, the Gateway of India, was constructed to
commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to the city. It
was completed in 1920 and remains as a striking symbol of the British
Raj era. After this era ended in 1947, the last of the British troops
departed through the Gateway of India. The looming Gateway is designed
to be the first thing that visitors see when approaching Mumbai by boat.
It's also a popular place to start exploring Mumbai. These days the
atmosphere around the monument resembles a circus at times, with
numerous vendors peddling everything from balloons to Indian tea.
- Location: On the waterfront in Colaba, south Mumbai. Opposite the Taj Palace and Tower Hotel.
2. Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat
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Dhobi Ghat |
This
massive open air laundry provides an unforgettable glimpse into the
inside of the city. Dirty laundry from all over Mumbai is brought here
and painstakingly hand washed by the
dhobis (washer men) in the
seemingly endless rows of concrete troughs. The profession, handed down
from generation to generation, requires incredible strength and
determination. The thousands of
dhobis spend hours every day
standing up to their knees in water filled with chemicals, manually
scrubbing and beating the dirt out of each item of laundry. This earns
them 100 rupees ($2.40) per day each.
- Location:
Next to Mahalaxmi railway station (the 6th station on the Western Line
from Churchgate), central Mumbai. Walk out of the station and turn
left on the bridge.
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Hajiali View From the top |
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Hajiali |
3. Haji Ali
The
imposing Haji Ali is both a mosque and tomb. It was built in 1431 by
wealthy Muslim merchant and saint Haji Ali, who was inspired to change
the course of his life after going to Mecca. It also contains his body.
Situated in the middle of the ocean, Haji Ali is only accessible during
low tide from a narrow, 500 yard long walkway. On Thursdays and
Fridays tens of thousands of pilgrims flock there to receive blessings
from the dead saint. If find you need to pass some time until the tide
lowers enough, there's a shopping center on the opposite side of the
road.
- Location: Central Mumbai, just off the coast of Worli, not far from Mahalaxmi railway station.
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Eros_Cinema_House |
4. Bollywood
Mumbai
is the center of India's booming "Bollywood" film industry. The
architecturally resplendent Eros Cinema, adjacent to the Churchgate
railway station, is a great place to take in a Bollywood movie.
Alternatively, it's possible to go on a tour to the heart of the action
in Film City. Or if you'd rather be in a Bollywood movie than simply
see the set of one, that's possible too!
- Location: Film City is in Goregaon, in the western suburbs of Mumbai.
5. Kala Ghoda Art Precinct
Kala
Ghoda, meaning "Black Horse" in reference to a statue that was once
located there, is Mumbai's cultural center. This crescent-shaped stretch
is home to Mumbai's best art galleries and museums. It's also filled
with cultural spaces, including some wonderful pavement galleries.
Stroll around at leisure, but be sure to visit the acclaimed Jehangir
Art Gallery10. Every year in February, the Kala Ghoda Association hosts a
nine day Kala Ghoda Arts Festival11, which is interesting.
- Location: Between the Fort and Colaba, in south Mumbai.
6. Heritage Buildings
Mumbai
has some captivating heritage buildings where you can marvel over
staggering examples of intricate colonial architecture. Some of the best
are the Gothic looking Prince of Wales Museum15 in the Kala Ghoda art
precinct, Victoria Terminus railway station, the Bombay High Court16
(wander inside and be entertained by a trial) and the buildings of
Horniman Circle in the Fort area. The feature of Horniman Circle is its
huge gardens, which provide a welcome respite from the hustle and
bustle of the city. Also have a wander past the historic 18th century
homes in Khotachiwadi village17.
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Azad Maidan (formerly known as Bombay Gymkhana Maidan) is a triangular-shaped maidan (sports ground) in Mumbai, India.It is a regular venue for inter-school cricket matches. The name Azad means "free" in Hindi. The ground is known for its cricket pitches, for protest meetings, and for political rallies. The Bombay Gymkhana clubhouse was built in 1875, at the southern end of the maidan. |
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The Wilson College, set up in 1832 in Mumbai, is one of India’s oldest
colleges, with its foundation preceding that of the University of Mumbai
by 25 years. It was awarded an A rating by the National Assessment and
Accreditation Council in 2005. |
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Crawford Market |
- Location: In and around south Mumbai.
7. Caves and National Park
In
contrast to its millions of inhabitants and sprawling development,
Mumbai surprisingly also has a national park located within its limits.
It's worth a visit just to see the many ancient Buddhist caves, which
have been hand carved into volcanic rock there. More caves, dedicated to
the Hindu Lord Shiva, can also be found on Elephanta Island.
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Sanjay Gandhi National Park entrance |
- Location:
Sanjay Gandhi National Park, in the suburb of Borivali, is 40
kilometers (25 miles) north of Mumbai city center. Elephanta Island is
10 kilometers (6 miles) east of Mumbai.
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kanheri caves |
8. Mumbai Dabbawalas
Dabbawala,
meaning a person who carries a container, is the term given to the
thousands of men responsible for transporting and delivering around
200,000 lunch boxes of freshly cooked food to the city's office workers
every day. This unique concept was started to meet the needs of British
rulers. However, it's now continued on to service Indian businessmen
who can't get home for lunch. Witness this incredible system in
operation at Churchgate station from around 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.,
as the
dabbawalas unload the lunch boxes from the trains and
prepare to head to their customer's offices, or you can even join the
dabbawalas for a day.25
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Dabbawalas taking their dabha's to their owrners |
- Location: Railway stations around Mumbai, particularly at Churchgate terminus.
9. Markets and Bazaars
From
the multitude of colorful pavement vendors that line Colaba Causeway,
to the fascinating Chor Bazaar Thieves Market29, Mumbai is full of
interesting places to go street shopping. Stock up on attractive
souvenirs at Colaba Causeway, delight in cheap shoes and clothes at
Linking Road30, scour the narrow alleyways of Chor Bazaar for antiques,
and sample the fresh food while marveling at the architecture of
Crawford Market31.
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The Colaba Causeway is a commercial street, and a major causeway or land
link between Colaba and the Old Woman's Island in the city of Mumbai,
India |
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Colaba Causeway |
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Colaba Causeway |
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Colaba Causeway Street shopping |
- Location: Colaba
Causeway, Linking Road in Bandra, Crawford Market near Churchgate, and
Chor Bazaar on Mutton street (opposite Shafi Masjid).
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Ladies Buying slippers,chapals,etc at linking road bandra |
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Linking Road |
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Horns ,clocks and many more linking road bandra |
T
he street stalls tend to be grouped together according to the type of
goods they sell. You'll come accross Indian traditional clothes first,
followed by shoes, then bags and belts. Further along Linking Road is
the territory of the brand name stores.
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Shopkeeper convincing his costumer to buy his products.. |
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Vegetable Vendors at Crawford Market |
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wholesale Chocolate Vendors at Crawford Market |
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Artificial Flowers being sold at Crawford Market |
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Crawford Market over view |
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whole sale fruit vendors at Crawford Market |
Chor Bazaar, located near Bhendi Bazaar in South Mumbai, is one of the largest flea markets in India
The word
Chor means
thief in Hindi-Urdu. It was originally called
Shor Bazaar, meaning
noisy market, but became
chor because of the British pronunciation the word.
Eventually stolen goods started finding their way into the market,
resulting in it living up to its new name. It is now famous for antique
and vintage items
10. Juhu and Marine Drive Chowpatty Beaches
At
the end of a tiring day of sightseeing, relax with the locals on the
beaches of Juhu and Marine Drive, and watch the sunset. If you're
feeling adventurous, you'll also be able to feast on tasty snacks
offered by the multitude of food stalls and mobile food vendors.
Favourites include roasted corn on the cob, bhel puri, pani puri and pav
bhaji.
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Jet Skiing at Chowpatty,Marine drive |
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Chowpatty |
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Juhu beach |
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Marine Drive |
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Add caption |
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Marine Drive at night |
- Location: Exclusive Juhu is around
30 kilometres (18 miles) north of the city centre, while Marine Drive
Chowpatty is in central Mumbai, a short drive from the Gateway of India.