1: Kala Ghoda Art Precinct –
ADDRESS : 161B, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Kala Ghoda, meaning “Black Horse” in reference to a statue that was once located there, is Mumbai’s cultural centre. 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 Gallery. Every year in February, the Kala Ghoda Association hosts a nine-day Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, which is interesting.
Location: Between the Fort and Colaba, in south Mumbai.
2: Markets and Bazaars :
ADDRESS – Bakery Ln, Army Area, Nofra, Navy Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400005, India
From colourful pavement vendors that line Colaba Causeway, to the fascinating Chor Bazaar Thieves Market, 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 Road, scour the narrow alleyways of Chor Bazaar for antiques and sample the fresh food and spices while marvelling at the architecture of Crawford Market.
Location: Colaba Causeway, Linking Road in Bandra, Crawford Market near Churchgate, and Chor Bazaar on Mutton street (opposite Shafi Masjid).
3: Juhu and Marine Drive Chowpatty Beaches:
ADDRESS : Juhu Beach, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400047
At the end of a tiring day of sightseeing or hectic work days, 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. Favorites include roasted corn on the cob, bhel puri, pani puri and pav bhaji.
Location: Juhu is around 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Malad & Goregaon, while Marine Drive Chowpatty is in south Mumbai, a short drive from the Gateway of India.
4: Elephanta Caves & Kanheri Caves:
ADDRESS : Gharapuri, Maharashtra 400094, India
Webites: https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/treasures/cave/elephanta-cave
Although they’re nowhere near as impressive as Maharashtra’s famous Ajanta and Ellora caves, the ancient rock-cut caves on Elephanta Island are worth visiting if you’re spending a few days in Mumbai. There are two groups — one Buddhist and one Hindu. The massive main cave, devoted to Lord Shiva, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It has some impressive sculptures and artwork. Get there by taking a ferry from the Gateway of India. If you want to venture further afield, there are more Buddhist caves inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park on the northern outskirts of the city.
Location: Elephanta Island is 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of Mumbai. Kanheri Buddhist Caves at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, in the suburb of Borivali, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Mumbai city center.
5: Bollywood:
ADDRESS: 23, Manohardas Street, Opp CSTM Gpo Side, Borabazar Precinct, Ballard Estate, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Website : http://bollywoodtours.in/
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.
6: Siddhi Vinayak Temple- Mumbai
Address: SK Bole Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400028
Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Located at Prabhadevi, is dedicated to the Lord Ganesha. The temple is known by names like ‘Navasala Pavanara Ganapati’ or ‘Navasacha Ganapati’ among Mumbaikars. Though it was declared sacred on 19th November 1801, it was visited by a large number of devotees only after 1952. People waiting in long queues were seen for the first time in the year 1965 and now devotees have to wait for their turn for hours & Hours.
Inside the temple is an idol of Hindu God ‘Ganesha’ that is carved out of a single black stone. It is 2 feet 6 inches high and 2 feet wide, with the trunk on the right. The upper left and right hands of the idol hold an axe and a lotus, respectively. Lower left and right hands hold a bowl full of ‘Modak’ and a rosary (japmala), respectively. Idols of Riddhi and Siddhi Goddesses are placed on either side of the main idol.
Tourists can reach the temple by taking any means of road transport. The nearest station to the temple is the Dadar station from where the station is hardly 10 minutes’ walk away.
7: Mount Mary Church – Basilica Of Our Lady of The Mount
Address : Mt Mary Rd, near Shanti Avedna Sadan, Mount Mary, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050
Mount Mary Church, a Roman Catholic church, is a popular religious destination in Mumbai dedicated to the ‘Virgin Mary’.
There is a common belief that this church, built-in 1640, has healing powers. It is said that the wishes of the devotees get fulfilled by praying sincerely at this church. Also known as ‘The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount’, this church is sited at a stunning location on top of a hill known as ‘Sunderban Bandra’, which overlooks the mighty Arabian Sea.
A lot of devotees visit this church during the ‘Bandra Fair’ or the ‘Feast of Mount Mary’ which is a week-long celebration held every September. This is the best time to visit the church with the whole family.
One can shop for religious artifacts, different shaped candles, wax figures of Virgin Mary and Goan sweets from the various stalls outside the church. Built by the British in their own style of architecture, the interior work of the church is very attractive.
8: Haji Ali Darga :
Haji Ali Dargah was constructed in 1431, in the memory of a Muslim merchant, Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. Located on an island close to the seashore of Worli, this shrine is visited by over 40,000 people on all days, particularly Thursdays and Fridays. Being located in the middle of the sea, the dargah remains closed at the time of high tide.
The structure of this dargah symbolizes the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. There is a narrow pathway from the Worli bay that connects the shrine with the city. It is just a 500-yard walk for the devotees from the bay to the shrine.
Tourists can reach the place by taking taxis, auto rickshaws or buses to the Worli bay and then walking up to the dargah. The nearest railway station is Worli station; hence, people can also board on trains to reach the site. From the station, any means of public transport can be used to reach the bay, from where the dargah is just 500 yards’ walk away.
9: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus – CST
Address: Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Road, Dhobi Talao, Mumbai
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, is the most important train station in the city and in the railway network spread across Mumbai. Headquarters of the Central railways, this station links Mumbai to most of the parts of the country, primarily Southern India, Eastern India and parts of North India. This station has been accredited as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
Characteristic of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus was designed by Fredrick William Stevens in 1888. Unlike traditional Indian architecture, this terminus has a stone dome, various turrets, pointed arches, and an unusual ground plan. Students of Bombay School of Art have created beautiful interiors for the station of wooden carvings, tiles, brass railings, and ornamental iron.
10: Gateway of India
Address: Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
Gateway of India is a national heritage building in India that is located at the waterfront in the Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai, facing the Arabian Sea. It was built as a tribute for Queen Mary and King George V, who were on an official visit to Mumbai in 1911. Opened for the public on 4 December 1924 by the Viceroy, the Earl of Reading, Gateway of India is considered to be the most famous monument in Mumbai.
Travelers can reach the Gateway of India by hiring taxis, autos, or by boarding buses from elsewhere in the city; be its city center, downtown or the suburbs.
