Explore in Mumbai: Why visit Mumbai?
Bombay (its other name), Bollywood, the Gateway to India… this should evoke a little more about Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra and the most populous city in India. Located on the west coast of the country, Mumbai is a mixture of wealth and poverty which is found in the markets in particular. Once you Explore in Mumbai have felt the very intense pulse of the city, you will set off to discover the monuments of Mumbai. These are numerous, starting with the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station. The Prince of Wales Museum or the Taj Mahal Hotel will amaze you. Opposite the bay, the island and the Elephanta caves are classified by UNESCO.
Explore in Mumbai Top Places of Interest in Mumbai
To help you organize your stay in Mumbai, we have listed the visits and places of interest to do in Mumbai.
Are you heading to Mumbai? Great, but what to do in Mumbai, capital of Maharashtra? Let’s discover together a list of must-do things to do in Mumbai!
A sprawling city and the fifth most populous city in the world, Mumbai – formerly Bombay – is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra, on the central west coast of India. With its estimated population of 21,296,517 (2023), Mumbai is the most populous city in India and is located at the heart of one of the largest urban areas in the world, bringing together 18.5 million people.
Cultural capital of Indian cinema – Bollywood -, Mumbai is also the commercial capital of the country, and produces 5% of Indian GDP, contributes 25% of industrial production, 40% of maritime trade and up to 70% of financial transactions. total of the Indian economy. The standard of living being higher than elsewhere in India, it is a popular city for Indian migrants and international tourists, which makes the city a permanent social, ethnic and cultural hub.
What to do in Mumbai? We might as well say it straight away: if you are agoraphobic, Mumbai is not for you. But visiting Mumbai offers many unmissable charms, of which here is a list, unfortunately modest and not exhaustive.
Summary
- The old town: Colaba
- The Gateway of India
- The Taj Mahal Palace
- The Clock Tower
- The Prince of Wales Museum of Western India
- Chor Bazaar
- Sassoon Docks Fish Market
- Banganga Tank
- Marine Drive
- Elephanta Island
- Elephanta Caves
- Sanjay Gandhi National Park
- Chowpatty Beach
- Bollywood Studio
- The Taj Mahal
How to get to Mumbai?
Where to stay in Mumbai?
The old town: Colaba
Colaba is the oldest district of Mumbai: located on the peninsula in the far south of the city, it is one of the busiest, notably because it houses the India Gate, this large basalt arch built between 1915 and 1924. Many buildings of Victorian colonial architecture are located there. This is the district where the British settled during the 17th century, and relative tranquility reigns in its streets.
A must-see in Mumbai, the old city benefits from guided tours: accompanied by a local or for a day privately, it’s up to you to choose your means of exploration!
The Gateway of India
What to do in Mumbai if you miss this emblematic monument of India? This famous basalt arch is located on the seafront, at the southeastern end of the city. It was built to commemorate the visit to Bombay of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. The architecture is reminiscent of the Gujarati style of the 16th century and it is one of the most visited and photographed monuments from Mumbai.
The Taj Mahal Palace
Not far from there, don’t miss another must-see when visiting Mumbai: the Taj Mahal Palace, a gigantic luxury hotel built in 1903. It undoubtedly appears on all the blogs dedicated to travel to Mumbai.
The Clock Tower
Visiting Mumbai without photographing the Clock Tower (Rajabai Clock Tower) would just be a shame: from the Oval Maidan park, you can see the monument, built to recall the tower of Big Ben, between 1869 and 1878. Mixture of neo-Gothic and Gothic styles , the tower rises to 85 meters high: it would almost feel like we were in England if the mercury didn’t reach 30°C and above every day!
The Prince of Wales Museum of Western India
The main museum in Bombay, it is a must-visit. Don’t know what to do in Mumbai? Take advantage of entering this museum, just to cool off thanks to the air conditioning! The museum is called “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya”, and was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. We will admire numerous paintings, sculptures and other historical objects, through a 4-hour visit to rediscover the history of the city.
Chor Bazaar
What to do in Bombay if you don’t mingle with the local “fauna”, teeming and full of life? The Bazaars of Mumbai are real labyrinths without organization of narrow shopping streets, located on Mutton St, the Chor bazaar is one of the most emblematic of Mumbai. It brilliantly combines art, history and local crafts.
Sassoon Docks Fish Market
Located in the Colaba district, this vast market offers a pleasure to the eyes and happiness to the taste buds. As you enter this fish market, you will be liberated by the beautiful scents of fresh fish, freshly taken out of the water at the auction: tuna, mackerel, prawns, lobsters, crabs, octopus, sharks, salmon, and what’s more, for cheap !
If you wish to continue your culinary exploration, know that there are also gastronomic tours of Mumbai through which you discover the city differently, between the scents and flavors of typical dishes.
Banganga Tank
Mumbai is a hectic city, teeming with people, polluted and dirty: you can find calm by escaping to Banganga Tank, in the Malabar Hill district. Banganga Tank is a sacred pool built in the 14th century, where Hindus come to bathe. On the heights of the city, also take advantage of the Walkeshwar temple to find serenity.
Marine Drive
When coming to visit Bombay, you should not miss a stroll on Marine Drive, a 3.6 kilometer long boulevard running along the coast, around a natural bay overlooking the immensity of the Arabian Sea. An emblematic boulevard in Bombay, Marine Drive is one of the best known in India, like the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Nicknamed the “Queen’s Necklace”, the boulevard is a favorite promenade for Indians, particularly because of the sunset it offers passers-by.
Elephanta Island
Visiting Elephanta Island is one of the unmissable trips to Mumbai: located 10 kilometers off the coast, the island is famous for being home to numerous cave temples, sinking underground. Rajbandar, Shentbandar and Morabandar are the three most important villages on the island: to enjoy a little peace and also observe the beauty of the site, it is recommended to dedicate a day to visiting Elephanta Island.
Elephanta Caves
On the same island, there are the homonymous caves, very visited because they are included on the UNESCO world heritage list. The “city of caves” is an archaeological complex dedicated to the cult of Shiva, which is believed to have been built in the 5th century. However, its remains have revealed traces of human occupation dating back to the 2nd century BCE. Do not hesitate to opt for a Cave Tour which will allow you to discover them in due form.
Sanjay Gandhi National Park
This national park is an essential activity if you want to be surrounded by nature, far from the incessant hustle and bustle of the city. Located in the north of Mumbai, Sanjay Gandhi Park is spread over 86.96 km², open to the public since 1983. It is also home to an archaeological site of interest, the Kanheri Caves, dating from the 1st century BCE : they can be visited during a 5-hour excursion from Mumbai.
Chowpatty beach
Is the beach in the heart of the Mumbai metropolis possible? And yes, taking the road south and downtown, north of Marine Drive, direction Chowpatty Beach. Go there at dusk, when the sun sets towards the horizon: this is the time when families come out to relax. Do not swim even if it is very tempting, because the water is too polluted to come out without illness, even if some locals do it.
Bollywood Studio
What if you went behind the scenes of Indian cinema? Bollywood Studio is one of the Pantheons of Indian 7th art that can be visited. For a day, the studio opens its doors to you to discover the underside of cinema: from the sets to the dressing rooms, including the films and series that have marked this place, you will discover the whole history, right down to the actors there! On Saturday and Sunday, Bollywood Studio adds to this excursion the Mega Show, a superb themed show.
How to get to Mumbai?
The main point of entry into India, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport provides numerous regular flights from all over the world, Asia and America. With or without stopover, allow approximately 11 hours of flight. To find a cheap flight, head to the us website or send a message/email!
By bus on site, you will find countless private and public bus companies to go to or from Mumbai. Public buses depart from Mumbai Central Bus Station: meet on Dr Anadrao Nair Rd.
To go to South India, the starting point will probably be at Paltan Rd, near the Crawford Market.
By train, two lines are frequently used: Central Railways (east and south) and Western Railways (north connections).
Where to stay in Mumbai?
Knowing where to stay in Mumbai can be dizzying given the immense size of the city. The best areas to stay in Mumbai are Colaba and Fort if you want to see all the tourist monuments and cultural sites. Staying in Malabar Hill to enjoy relative calm is also an option if you are looking for a base far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
On site, many hotels are available, you can opt for a room with a local or rent an entire independent accommodation. Price-wise, prices remain affordable but are higher in the city center. To find a cheap hotel, you can left a message, this is our part we will do bet.
Explore in Mumbai By Delighted Journey