Things to do in Mumbai
- Elephanta (Gharapuri in Hindi/Marathi): Island accessible by ferry from the Gateway of India. Many ancient temples, with the finest surviving examples of Indian classical sculpture. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. The large Sadashiva is the main highlight. It’s worth carrying a copy of Elephanta: The Cave of Shiva by Carmel Berkson (1983, Princeton University Press) for interpretation.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST): Not just a train station. It’s an architecturally significant building in Indo-Gothic style and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the interiors, including stained glass windows, wrought iron railings, and hand-painted tiles.
- Ballard Estate: Edwardian quarter is peaceful on Sunday mornings and evenings. Perfect for a walk. Stroll past colonial buildings, and stop for lunch at the iconic Café Britannia, a nostalgic Irani café run by a Parsi family.
- Gateway of India: Mumbai’s most recognisable landmark.
- Worli Fort and Koli Village: This old fishing village is home to Mumbai’s original Koli inhabitants and sits beside a Portuguese-era fort.
- Fort Heritage Walk: Walk past Flora Fountain, Horniman Circle, the Asiatic Library, and the Bombay High Court.
- Mani Bhavan: Gandhiji’s base in Mumbai from 1917 to 1934. This townhouse was the nerve centre of the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements. Now maintained by the National Gandhi Memorial Trust.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS): Mumbai’s main museum, formerly the Prince of Wales Museum. Superb collections of ancient Indian art, sculpture, and decorative objects. The inscriptions are a thrill.
- Bhau Daji Lad Museum: Housed in a beautifully restored building. Showcases Mumbai’s social history, crafts, and design. The interiors are stunning.
- Jehangir Art Gallery: A lively exhibition space near Kala Ghoda. Often hosts contemporary Indian artists and student exhibitions.
- National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA): Next to the CSMVS, NGMA features exhibitions of modern and contemporary art from India and abroad.
- Chemould Prescott Road and Project 88: Two of Mumbai’s most respected galleries. Chemould champions cutting-edge Indian artists, while Project 88 leans more experimental and conceptual.
- NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts): India’s premier venue for music, theatre, and dance. Watch a concert or a play. Buildings are beautiful, and events are listed on their website and BookMyShow.
- Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Kanheri Caves: A forest inside the city limits. Explore ancient Buddhist temples after a forest walk. Guided walks are available.
- Haji Ali: Important 15th-century Muslim shrine only accessible during low tide.
- Cooperage Bandstand: A quiet corner near TIFR for reading or resting.
- Oval Maidan: Grassy expanse for cricket, picnics, and views of Mumbai University and the Bombay High Court’s neo-Gothic towers.
- Marine Drive: The best evening or early morning walk in the city.
- Chowpatty Beach (Girgaum Beach): Great for people-watching, bhel-puri, and sea breeze.
- Bandra Promenades: Carter Road and Bandstand evening walks for sea views, street food, and a glimpse of Mumbai’s modern café culture. Bandstand also has the ruins of Bandra Fort.
- Vasai Fort. Really beautiful. It’s a bit far, but easily accessible by train. Built by the Portuguese before 1600. The buildings are still in quite good condition. Chimaji Appa won the fort for the Marathas from the Portuguese in 1740, and the place was witness to the dishonourable treaty of 1802 between Baji Rao II and the British for help in the Maratha civil war. There are many big churches. There are some sixteenth-century graves too. Learn about Saint Gonsalo Garcia (1556–1597), the only Indian canonised by the Christians as a saint. He left Vasai for Japan to convert the Japanese but was killed by the Shogun.
- If you are interested in history, a now neglected place is Lokmanya Tilak’s memorial near Chowpatty. This is where Tilak was cremated in 1920. There is a small park around the place too.
- Walk in Kala Ghoda. Charming area with art galleries, boutiques, and cafés. San Cha Tea Boutique is the best tea shop in the world. Zen Café is nice. Knead is good for brunch or dinner.
- Mumbai is a major hub for Indian classical music, both Hindustani and Carnatic. There are concerts almost every week. Check BookMyShow, Mumbai Mirror, or The Indian Express for listings. Venues include NCPA, Shanmukhananda Hall, Prithvi Theatre, Dadar-Matunga Cultural Centre, and Ravindra Natya Mandir.
- If you like going to malls, the only mall in Mumbai worth a visit is Jio World Drive in BKC.
- Khaki Tours (https://khakitours.com/) have good guided tours of the city.
- Banganga Tank (Walkeshwar, Malabar Hill): A sacred sweet-water tank just steps from the sea. Surrounded by over 200 temples. (edited)
- Babulnath Temple: Shiva temple overlooking Chowpatty Beach. Atmospheric at dusk.
- Mumbadevi Temple: Dedicated to the city’s guardian goddess, Mumbadevi. This temple gives Mumbai its name.
- Mahalakshmi Temple: Important temple to Lakshmi, Kali, and Saraswati. Right by the sea.
- Old Temples and lanes of Girgaum and Zaveri Bazaar: Explore narrow lanes filled with shrines and shops. There are hundreds of temples and monasteries here. Sample fafda-jalebi by the roadside in the morning. Many excellent Jain temples too. Some Jain temples worth visiting: Shree Simandhar Bhagwan Digambar Jain Mandir, Shree Godiji Parshwanath Jain Derasar, Parshwanath Digambar Jain Mandir, and Chandraprabha Jain Mandir. Also don’t miss the Bhuleshwar Vegetable Market, and Kharakuwa Parab. Learn about Rajchandraji, an important Jain thinker who lived here. He was a big influence on Gandhiji.
Food
- Good places for Gujarati Thali are Thackers (near Chowpatty) or Samrat (near Churchgate).
- Knead
- Folk
- Hurrem's Baklava & Confectionery
- Gaylord
- Spesso
- Mag St.
- Copper Chimney
- Flamboyante
- Bombay Brasserie
