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Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city in India and it feels a bit busier than the rest of Asian cities. Overwhelming yet it can be a lovely experience. Exploring its attractions can be quite difficult since there are hundreds of places to visit, so here is a list of must-visit attractions in Mumbai for you to visit on your next trip there!
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Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is one of the most popular landmarks in India, and it is an arch monument that was built in the 20th century to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary. It is located on the waterfront opposite the Taj Mahal Palace. The design of the Gateway of India is impressive, a combination of indigenous and Islamic origin, which is also called an Indo Saracenic architectural style. The gateway’s arch has a height of 26 metres and the entire monument faces the Mumbai Harbour.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the perfect example for the glorious history of India. It was designed by British architectural engineer Frederick William Stevens and the constructions were completed in 1887 with an elegant Italian Gothic style. Since it was completed in 1887, the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria’s rule, it was named as Victoria Terminus. Later, the station was renamed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in honour of the founder of Marathi Empire of India, Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji. Today it is thriving as a station with 18 platforms; seven platforms are for suburban trains and eleven platforms are for long-distance trains.
Taj Mahal Palace
The Taj Mahal Palace is a five-star hotel and therefore, if you are looking for accommodation on your trip this can be the perfect stop. However, you can also enjoy the view of it just from the outside. The Taj Mahal Palace is named after the world-famous attraction, Taj Mahal of Agra. But the architectural style is a little bit different as it is designed according to the Saracenic Revival style. Today, it is a part of the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and the hotel has 560 rooms and 44 suites to happily accommodate whoever visiting it.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is the main museum in Mumbai, and it was established to commemorate the visit of Prince of Wales, George V in the 20th century. This museum was also renamed after Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji, who is the founder of Maratha Empire of India. The design is also the same as many of the attractions in Mumbai; the Indo-Saracenic architectural style with a blend of other styles like the Mughal, Maratha and Jain. Today, it contains about 50,000 exhibits in three sections- Art, Archaeology and Natural History to depict the thousand-year history of India.
Mahalakshmi Temple
Mahalakshmi Temple is one of the most visited temples in Mumbai. It is located in the Bhulabhai Desai Road of Mahalakshmi area in Mumbai. This temple was built by a Hindu merchant named Dhakji Dadaji in the name of Mahalakshmi, the central goddess of Devi Mahatmyam. Once you get to the inside of the temple, you will be overwhelmed by feelings of peace. Hundreds of devotees will be seen worshipping the three goddess statues Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati and they will offer flower garlands, sweets to the goddesses.
Kanheri Caves
The Kanheri Caves are another evidence to the thousand-year-old history of Mumbai, India. They are located in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The Kanheri Caves date back to the 1st century BC and they were used as Buddhist monasteries. You can see many inscriptions around the caves. The Cave 02 is one of the highlights; in which you can see 2-3 pagodas and nicely carved Buddhist sculptures. The Cave 03, also known as the Great Chaithya is the main attraction; in which there is a large hall with 34 pillars surrounding a dagoba.
Haji Ali Dargah
The Haji Ali Dargah is a mosque constructed in the memory of Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. It is located on the coast of Worli on an island. He was a merchant gave up all his worldly possessions and settled in Mumbai to preach Islam teachings after his pilgrimage to Mecca. After his death, the tomb was built with Indo-Islamic architectural style. However, it is only possible to visit this place when there is low tide.
Global Vipassana Pagoda
The Global Vipassana Pagoda is one of the must-visit attractions if you are in Mumbai for a spiritual journey. The pagoda itself is a symbol of peace and harmony. The dome you see here is 29 meters high and it is the world’s largest stone dome. This dome’s inside is serving as the largest meditation hall in Mumbai and most probably in the world, with a seating capacity for 8000 individuals who practice Vipassana meditation.
Chor Bazaar
Chor Bazaar is one of the largest markets in India but there is an interesting story behind the formation of its name. Chor translates to the thief in Marathi. So, it translates into ‘thief market’ and people say that if you lose anything in Mumbai this is the go-to place to search for it. According to the commoners’ stories, it was named the Chor Bazaar after some belongings which were lost in Mumbai were found in this market! But today, it sells almost anything that is second hand and therefore, you should not worry about the presence of stolen goods in the market.
Elephanta Island
The popular Elephanta Caves are located 10 kilometres away from the city of Mumbai but the visit is worth it. This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site because Buddhist stupas and cave temples are dating back to the 2nd century BC. Most of these caves are dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. However, the name Elephanta was derived from the Portuguese word ‘Elefante’ which meant elephants, because they could see elephant statues in the caves when they first discovered it in the early 1990s.
