Mumbai/erstwhile Bomba/ Bambayii/ Aamchi Mumbai/ the city that never sleeps, we all know something about Mumbai that makes it an irresistible place.
Truly said, Mumbai is a city that never stops, it is always moving. Also called city of dreams, Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city that generates tons of employment opportunities, thus making itself a frequently visited destination by the youth.
However, Mumbai’s tourism is also equally attractive. So, let’s explore this city which seems to offer everything for everyone!
Here is the List of Places to Visit In Mumbai:
Gateway of India
Landmark of the city, Gateway of India, was contracted in honour of King George V and Queen Mary’s visit to Mumbai. Built in the year 1924, the structure reflects grandeur of British architecture and is a beautiful tourist destination.
It is located in the waterfront space of Apollo Bunder and faces the Arabian Sea. It is a perfect place for history lovers and photographers. The gushing waves and the beautiful Taj hotel makes it a sight to behold.
The place is open on all days of the week from 7 in the morning to 5:30 in evening. Entry is free. While there sip a cup of coffee at the lavish Taj hotel for an amazing experience!
Address: Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai
Marine Drive
Marine Drive is a beautiful stretch along the Arabian sea, extending for 4 Kms towards the southernmost tip of Mumbai. It acquires a magnificent form at nightfall when lights resemble gems studded in a necklace and hence this promenade is popularly called Queen’s Necklace.
Huge chunks of population assemble here to walk along this beautiful stretch and to witness the glittery sight of sun settling in the beautiful waters of Arabian Sea. The stretch is lined with palm trees giving it a beautiful postcard like appearance.
Although crowded most of the times, marine drive seems to offer you the much needed break in this fast moving city and lets you introspect. Even if you are visiting the city for the first time, you will in this place familiar for it has been the shoot location of many bollywood films.
Almost every film whose storyline set in Mumbai, marine drive is a must shot. So, go ahead and relive your favourite movie here.
If you are walking from south to north, you will identify a sandy stretch with lots of food stalls, this is Girgaum Chowpatty. Do stop by to relish delicious pav bhaji and mouth watering panipuri.
Entry is free of cost and is open 24×7. Marine Lines is the nearest local train station.
Address: Mumbai
Haji Ali Dargah
Apart from a being a prominent religious place, it is also major tourist attraction. It is located 500 yards away from shoreline and is present in the middle of the Arabian sea, containing the tomb of Islamic Saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.
This place is also an architecture marvel, standing an epitome of the Indo-Islamic architecture. Besides the tomb is a Masjid. This beautiful structure entails minarets and domes that reminisces the Mughal era and is an important historical monument of Mumbai.
Dargah is a prominent pilgrimage site for Muslims, but it allows the entry of non-muslims as well. The number of devotees visiting Dargah on a daily basis is huge but increases even more on Thursdays, Fridays and other Islamic festivals.
The complex surrounding the Dargah is popular for its tasty treats. Haji Ali juice centre being the most popular.
It is a serene and calm place that offers a calm and spiritual experience. Its location resembling an island, treat yourself to a beautiful sunset while relishing biryanis and kebabs!
There is no entry fee to the place and it is open from early 5:30 in the morning to 10 at night. It is located at Dargah Road, Haji Ali. Nearest local train station is Mahalakshmi.
Address: Dargah Rd, Haji Ali, Mumbai
Phone: 022 2352 9082
Mumbai Film City
Mumbai is the centre of the multi-million industry of Bollywood. It houses a film city, which is the main venue of shoots. With a vast multitude of studios housing artificial gardens, lakes, villages, cities it is a dreamy tourist attraction.
Located in Goregaon, various tours are offered that take ye tourists around Bollywood motion pictures, dubbing acts and lights and sound shows. Entrance is free and the timings are from 10 in the morning to 11:15 at night.
Look out for ongoing shoots and you may spot your favourite star! If you are a Bollywood buff then this place is a heaven for you.
Address: Film City Rd, Film City Complex, Aarey Colony, Goregaon, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400065
Phone: 022 2840 1533
Siddhivinayak Temple
Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, this temple dates back yo 1801 and is prominent religious site in Mumbai attracting thousands of devotees every day. Bollywood celebrities, politicians, sportsperson, this place has a magnetism that attracts people from all walks of life to it and hence is a major tourist attraction in Mumbai.
The temple always full and you will have to wait in long queues before getting a glimpse of the beautiful Ganpati idol, however it is especially crowded on Wednesdays.
Given the huge chunks of population that lists the temple on a daily basis, the security regulations are strict and you have to hand over you handbags and laptops to the security department making an entry in the register. There is no entrance fee but the devotees can pay if they want to.
The temple is completely gold inside out and is believed to grant the wishes of its devotees. All the hassle is worth it to gain this spiritual experience. Try visiting the temple before the aarti timings to escape the long lines. Prabhadevi is the nearest local train station.
Address: SK Bole Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai
Phone: 022 2422 4438
Juhu Beach
Juhu is one of the largest most popular beaches of the country. It is frequented by thousands of visitors everyday, especially for the innumerable food stalls that serve awesome street food.
The place is highly crowded on weekends. Celebrity homes in Juhu also attracts tourists in huge numbers. Bask in beautiful sunsets while treating your taste buds to popular Mumbai dishes.
There are a lot of amusements that make your visit memorable. Do remember to keep an extra outfit for change later as the waters are welcoming and you won’t be able to resist taking a dip in the beautiful beach. Although digital payments are accepted, it is wise to keep cash and change.
If you an early bird, then visit the shore and jog along to burn all the extra calories you are about gain with the butter loaded pav bhaji. There is no entry fee to this fun land and it is open 24×7. Santacruz, Vile Parle and Andheri are the nearest local train stations.
Address: Mumbai
Colaba Causeway
Also called Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Colaba Causeay is one of the popular shopping points. Stretching to the tip ending at Gateway of India, this street market is a heaven for shopaholics.
Find you way through the trails and you will come across all sorts of pretty stuff: clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery. Don’t get disheartened if you are more of a brand lover, there are lots of boutiques and showrooms as well.
Most of the shops claim to offer fixed rates, but if you know how to bargain then you can strike deals at throwaway prices!
You may even find tiny stalls where you can get merchandise personalised. The street also houses popular cafés offering amazing Parsi, Europeans and Sindhi cuisines.
The market is loaded with stunning decorations and pretty lights and is an instant mood lifter. There is no entry fee. The place usually gains momentum run d10 in the morning and wraps up by 10 at night.
It is located at Bakery Ln, Army Area, Nofra, Navy Nagar, Colaba. Churchgate is the nearest local train station.
Address: Mumbai
Taraporevala Aquarium
This is one of the oldest aquaria in India and is a major tourist attraction of Mumbai. Housing over 400 different species of marine life, this place offers a unique experience with its long glass tunnel giving the viewers a 180 degree vision of the underwater happenings.
The aquarium also comprises of an amphitheatre with a capacity of 50 seats, enabling the visitors to get a close look of the marine creatures. Entrance charges are Rs. 60 for adults and Rs. 30 for children aged below 12 years.
Government employees are charged Rs. 30 per head. Additional charges are levied for photography and videography. It is open from 10 to 8. Nearest local train station is Marine Lines.
Address: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Marine Drive, near Charni Road, Railway Station, Mumbai
Phone: 022 2282 1239
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
Previously called the Prince of Wales Museum if Western India, this is one of the top cultural museums in the country. Constructed in 1905, it was opened to public in 1922 and has remained an important attraction ever since.
The museum displays a voluminous collection of artefacts and is compartmentalised into three broad segments for systematic organisation, namely, Art, Archaeology and Natural History.
The museum possessions date back to Harappan era and consists of terracotta items, bronze sculptures, miniature paintings from Indian and European origin. Ivories from Japan and China. There are statues of prominent historical and mythological figures.
It is not only the collection but also the architecture of the museum itself that is a marvel in itself. Carved in excellent Indo-Saracenic architecture, the museum is in itself a sight to behold. History buffs and photographers ares surely in for a treat.
The museum stays open on all days except national holidays. It is open from 10:15 in morning ill 6 in the evening. Entrance is chargeable. Rs. 60 for adults, Rs. 25 for college students, Rs. 12 for kids and Rs. 10 for students who are visiting through school.
Rs. 40 for Ex-Defence and Retired Government Officials and Rs. 300 for international visitors. Do carry your identity proof around to vail the applicable benefit.
Address: 159-161, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai
Bandra Bandstand
This place is so pretty that it makes the hustle-bustle of the city come to a pause. The view of waves gushing at the seashore soothes one and all, and the city skyline visible from here leaves the viewer spellbound.
This place is energetic throughout the day, witnessing all the fitness freaks and joggers in the morning while party animals at night. What adds to the popularity of the place is the diverse range of clubs and cafés lined along.
Bandra fort, situated nearby, offers a great sunset view. One may also feast eyes by spotting a bollywood star hanging around here! Bandra is a magnet for bollywood buffs as it is the residential point of King Khan. Thousands of tourists wait outside his home, Mannat, just to get a glimpse of the star!
Also called Bandra Promenade, this place has an amphitheatre, which is a frequent venue for concerts and other cultural events and musical celebrations. There is no entrance fee to the place and it is open 24×7. Bandra is the nearest local train station.
Address: Mumbai
Conclusion
We know you have already started packing but here are a few insider tips that will help you throughout you Mumbai sightseeing:
Mumbai is a crowded place that never rests, it seems that entire city is on ago all the time. Hence, traffic and crowd is inevitable. So it is recommended to take public transport instead of private vehicle which are likely to et you caught up in traffic for hours.
Get a railway pass made for local trains, as the queues at the ticket counters are long. Given the crowd, you will have to walk through the trails a lot. Keep yourself hydrated. Mumbai has juice stalls at every 200 m. Do try the aam-ras and coconut water!
Although Mumbai does not experience extreme temperatures, it is surely humid. Carry facial wipes and preferable an extra outfit.
It is advisable to avoid planning trips to Mumbai during monsoons, as the city experiences heavy rains and sometimes floods bringing this busy city to a pause. However, the weather is a bit erratic in Mumbai and so carrying an umbrella around is a wise choice. If you are a photographer, then keep the lenses ready at all times, for Mumbai has a sight to behold at every corner
Happy Journey!
