Listed
below are the best tourist attractions and the most famous tourist places in
Mumbai.
British
Victorian and Gothic Architecture of South Mumbai
Location: South
Mumbai (Churchgate, Fort, Regal, DN Road, VT)
Attraction:
Beautiful Architecture
South Mumbai has beautiful buildings which are
based on British Victorian, Gothic and Indo-Saracenic (mix of Indian and
Mughal) styles of architecture. Many of these stunning buildings were built in
the late 19th and early 20th century.
The most stunning examples of this are the Victoria Terminus (VT) Railway
Station and BMC (Mumbai Municipality) building across it. VT station, which was
renamed Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), is one of two UNESCO World Heritage
Sites in Mumbai. D.N. Road from Flora Fountain in Fort to VT station is known
as Mumbai’s “Heritage Mile”, with classic old buildings lining the road. South
Mumbai also has the second largest collection of “Art Deco” buildings in the
world. Some of South Mumbai’s most impressive buildings include Gateway of
India, Bombay High Court, Mumbai University, Town Hall, St Thomas Cathedral,
RBI, Museum, Taj Hotel, area around Horniman Circle, Elphinstone College, David
Sassoon Library, NGMA and Western Railway HQ.
Please read this article for details on the walking tour of the key
attraction of South Mumbai.
Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach
Location: South Mumbai
Attraction: Scenic beauty
Marine Drive is a beautiful sea facing promenade on the
Arabian Sea. The main attraction of Marine Drive is the stunning view and the
pleasure of a walk in the cool sea breeze. The land from Nariman Point in the
South to the Governor’s bungalow in the north is shaped as a necklace, which is
why Mumbai’s Marine Drive is also called “Queen’s Necklace”. Marine Drive is
home to the second largest gathering of Art Deco Buildings. To the north of
Marine Drive is the golden sand beach of Chowpatty. In the center of Marine
Drive are a fish aquarium and 5 cricket grounds, where one can catch a game of
cricket.
Please read these articles
for more information on Marine Drive and information on Chowpatty Beach.
Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Borivali National Park)
Location: Borivali East in North Mumbai
Attraction: Nature, Lion Safari, Trekking, Boat Ride,
Religious Caves
Sanjay Gandhi National Park is the world’s largest National
Park within city limits; it is also among the most visited nature parks in the
world. Borivali National Park is one of Mumbai’s favorite picnic spots. Visitor
attractions within Borivali National Park include a lion and tiger safari,
boating, a 2.5 Km mini train ride inside the park, Kanheri Caves (which are
historical Buddhist caves), nature trails conducted by Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS) and WWF India, trekking and rock climbing. The 104 sq km
Borivali National Park is home to many species of mammals, birds, insects,
reptiles, trees and plants.
Please read this article
for more information on Borivali
National Park.
Elephanta Caves, Boat Rides from Gateway Of India
Location:Elephanta Island off the Eastern coast of Mumbai
Attraction: Historical Hindu and Buddhist Caves, Boat Ride
Elephanta Caves is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Elephanta
Caves are located on Elephanta Island, which is an 11 Km boat ride from Gateway
of India. Situated on a hill, Elephanta Caves comprise of 5 Caves with statues
of Hindu deities and 2 caves with Buddhist statues. The most impressive statue
at Elephanta is the 20 feet “Trimurti”, which is the three heads of Lord Shiva.
Elephanta Caves is a pleasant ferry boat ride from Gateway of India. Ferries
operated from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm and a return ticket cost Rs 120. Please note
that there are NO boats on Mondays and boat service is stopped during the
monsoon season, which is usually from the first week of June to mid September.
Please read this article
for more information on boat from Gateway of India to
Elephanta Caves.
Beaches and Sea Side Promenades of Mumbai
Location: Western and Southern Coast of Mumbai
Attraction: Scenic Beauty, Beaches, Sea-Side Promenades
Mumbai is an island city. Many of Mumbai’s beaches and sea
attractions are along its Southern and Western side. Famous beaches in and
around Mumbai are Girgaon Chowpatty Beach, Juhu Beach, Dadar Chowpatty, Versova
Beach, Gorai Beach, Manori Beach and Madh Island Beaches (which include Marve
Beach, Hamla Beach, Aksa Beach, Dana Pani Beach, Erangal Beach, Silver Beach).
There are plans to declare the North-East of Mumbai, which consists of Madh
Island, Manori, Gorai, Culvem and Uttam Beaches, as a tourism zone. Here in
addition to the beaches, tourist can also visit the famous Global Vipassana
Pagoda and Essel World Amusement Park. Sadly for a city surrounded by the sea,
there are few water sport opportunities in Mumbai. Visitors can enjoys boat
rides at Gateway of India, Chowpatty, Versova and Gorai.
Please read this article
for more info on Mumbai’s Beaches and
Sea Related Attractions.
Festival Celebration in Mumbai
Location: All over Mumbai
Attraction: Unique Public Celebrations, Religious
Significance
Many festivals are celebrated on the streets of Mumbai and they
have a community feel to them. Nowhere in the world is the 11 day Ganesh
Chaturthi festival celebrated with more aplomb than in Mumbai; these
festivities are unique to Mumbai and are a big tourist attraction. Other
festivals that are celebrated with gusto are “Janmashtami”, where groups of
youngsters form pyramids to break a yogurt pot strung high up; “Bandra Mount
Mary Fair”, which is a 9 day celebration of the birth of Mother Mary;
“Navratri”, where people dance Garba and play Dandiya Ras for 9 days; Parsi
festivals of “Nouroz” (Parsi New Year) and “Petiti” (day of introspection);
“Diwali”, when after the Laxmi Puja residents come to open spaces to burst fire
crackers.
Please read these articles
for more information on Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations
in Mumbai, Navratri Festival in Mumbai and Mount Mary Bandra Fair.
Hanging Garden and Kamla Nehru Park
Location: Malabar Hill
Attraction: Scenic Beauty
Located in Mumbai’s posh locality of Malabar Hill, these 2
gardens are like any other garden; but their main appeal is that they are
located on top of a hill that has a beautiful view of Marine Drive and
Chowpatty Beach in the East and Priyadarshani Park and the Arabian Sea in the
West. Hanging Garden is constructed on a water reservoir, which supplies
water to South Mumbai. There are steps, along a forested area, that lead from
these gardens to Babulnath Temple in Gargaum (Chowpatty). Just north of Kamla
Nehru Park and Hanging Garden is a forest that belongs to the Parsi Panchayat.
There are three deep wells here where the Parsee community leave their dead.
Mumbai’s Global Vipassana Pagoda
Location: Gorai
Attraction: Amazing Architecture, Teachings of Buddha,
Meditation Center
Mumbai’s Global Vipassana Pagoda was built to honour Buddha,
spread his teachings, and promote social peace, harmony and tolerance. Relics
of the Buddha are enshrined at the pagoda. Global Vipassana Pagoda is the
biggest pillar-less stone dome in the world. Reaching a height of 325 feet
(equivalent of a 30 storey building), 2.5 million tons of stone was used in the
construction of this imposing structure. At the centre of the Pagoda is a large
meditation hall, which is 280 meter in diameter, and which can accommodate
8,000 people. The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a replica of the world famous
“Shwedagon Pagoda” in Yangon (Myanmar). Vipassana meditation classes are held
free of charge at the Pagoda. Entry is free for all; foreigners need to have
identification (passport, driver’s license, etc) on them. Pagoda timings are
from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, daily.
Haji Ali Mosque and Dargah in Mumbai
Location: Haji Ali in South Mumbai
Attraction: Scenic Beauty, Beautiful Architecture, Religious
Significance
Haji Ali is one of Mumbai’s most famous Mosque and “Dargah”
(tomb). The reason it is a major tourist destination is because it is an
impressive structure, which is located 450 meters in the sea. Haji Ali can be
reached by a pathway, which leads to the mosque. This pathway in the sea adds
to the charm of Haji Ali Dargah. When the sea high tide level is very high, Haji
Ali Mosque is cut-off from the mainland. Haji Ali Mosque and Dargah are built
in the Mughal style of architecture. It is a white structure with domes and
minarets. Inside Haji Ali is the tomb (“Dargah”) of the Muslim saint Sayyed Pir
Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. The Haji Ali Dargah was built in 1431.
Mumbai’s Prince of Wales Museum
Location: Fort, South Mumbai
Attraction: Historical Artifacts, Beautiful Architecture
This is the largest museum in Mumbai, housing over 50,000
historical artifacts from regimes such as the Indus Valley Civilization, Maurya
Dynasty, Mughals, Pahari, Maratha, Guptas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakuta, etc. The
three primary sections in the museum are Art, Archeology and Natural History.
The museum building is an impressive domed structure built in the
Indo-Saracenic style of architecture which is found in many British era
buildings in South Mumbai. Mumbai s Prince of Wales Museum has been renamed
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS). Other popular museums
in Mumbai include Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum at Mumbai Zoo, Mani Bhavan and RBI
Monetary Museum at Fort.
Please read this article
for more information on Mumbai’s Museums.
Mani Bhavan – Mahatma Gandhi Museum
Location: Gamdevi in South Mumbai
Attraction: Museum on Mahatma Gandhi, Historical Significance
Mani Bhavan was Mahatma
Gandhi’s Mumbai based residence and headquarters from 1917 to 1934. Mani Bhavan
has been converted into a Museum and Library in honor of Mahatma Gandhi and the
Indian Independence movement. Its official name is Mani
Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya. Visitors come to Mani Bhavan because of
its historical significance and also to feel the presence of a great man. In
November 2010, US president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama visited Mani
Bhavan.
Mumbai Art District and Art Galleries
Attraction: Indian Art
The area around K Dubash Marg (Kala Ghoda), Museum/Regal and
Colaba Causeway is the art district of Mumbai. The most famous art galleries in
this area are Jehangir Art Gallery, National Gallery of Mordern Art (NGMA),
Prince of Wales Museum, Max Mueller, Institute of Contemporary Indian Art,
Delhi Art Gallery, Gallery 7, Lakeeren Contemporary Art Gallery, Chatterjee
& Lal, Volte, Sakshi Art Gallery, Pundole Art Gallery, Gallery Maskara,
Mumbai Art Room and more. Every year the 9 day Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is held
starting from the first Saturday of February. The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival has
over 400 events related to the arts, such as theatre, music, dance, literature,
movies, etc. Entry to all these events is free and this is the largest free
cultural festival in the world.
Please read this article
for more information on the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival and art galleries in Mumbai.
Famous Temples in Mumbai
Attraction: Religious Significance
From the viewpoint of faith, the most important Hindu temples
in Mumbai are the Mumba Devi Temple near Crawford Market (Mumbai is named after
Goddess “Mumba Devi”), SIddhi Vinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, Mahalaxmi Temple
near Peddar Road and Haji Ali, Babulnath Temple at Girgaum Chowpatty, Banganga,
which is a holy pond at Walkeshwar, Sitaladevi Temple at Mahim,
Kanyakaparameshwari Temple at Matunga, Kannikaparemashwari Mandir at Matunga.
From an aesthetic point of view, the most beautiful temples are the Babu
Amichand Panalal Adishwarji Jain Temple at Malabar Hill, ISKCON temples at
Girgaum and Juhu.
Please read this article
for more information on famous Hindu
Temples in Mumbai.
Famous Churches in Mumbai
Attraction: Beautiful Architecture, Religious Significance
Mumbai has some exquisite churches, most of which were built
during the British era. Architecturally the best churches in Mumbai are St.
Thomas’s Cathedral at Fort, Cathedral of Holy Name at Colaba (near Regal), RC
Church near Navy Nagar, Gloria Church at Byculla, and Mount Mary Basilica at
Hill Road in Bandra West. Many churches in Mumbai are frequented by people of
all faiths; for instance Father Agnel Church in Bandra gets many Gujrati
devotees and St. Michael’s Church at Mahim gets many Maharastrian worshippers.
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