10 Must-Visit Places in Mumbai (2024)
Mumbai, the largest city in India, is known for its vibrance, heritage, and liveliness. Whether you want to explore rock-cut caves or Victorian-Gothic architecture, Mumbai has it all. Popularly known as the City of Dreams, Mumbai is home to diversity starting from slums to millionaires, wide variety of foods, traffic jam and serenity, and so on. In this article, you will find 10 places to visit in Mumbai that will make your trip memorable forever.
1. Gateway of India: Better known as ‘Mumbai’s Taj Mahal’, the Gateway of India is one of those spots that attract tourists from across the country. Built in 1924, this tourist hotspot unravels the rejuvenating opportunity for you to look at the Arabian Sea. The monument here is designed to combine architectural wonders of Indian, Western, and Arabic structures. It was built by George Wittet for the purpose of commemorating the Mumbai visit of King George V and Queen Mary. This historical artefact is adorned with Hindu and Muslim motifs. The basalt arch of the Gateway here was used as an entry/exit point by the Britishers. You shouldn’t miss the view from the Gateway Complex here.
Location: Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
Timings: Open All Day
2. Colaba Causeway: Colaba Causeway is one of those eclectic spots that you can’t miss during your trip to Mumbai. Known for being a shopper’s paradise, this shopping street is home to a number of shops that sell clothes, earrings, accessories, home decor items, and so on. The adjacent food joints such as Cafe Leopold or Cafe Mondegar are known for offering lip smacking food along with booze. If you want to catch Mumbai at its liveliest, there is no better spot than Colaba Causeway. This shopping district connects Colaba with Old Woman’s Island.
Location: Colaba Causeway, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai
Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM (Monday to Sunday)
3. Haji Ali Dargah: Having the Arabian Sea in the backdrop, Haji Ali Dargah is dedicated to Haji Ali and is one of the most prominent places to visit in Mumbai. Located on a small islet near Worli, this religious shrine is visited by people from different religions across the country. Featuring Indo-Islamic architecture, this place adorns itself with a marble courtyard at the centre. The tomb here adorns itself with clothes of red and green color. You should definitely pay attention to the marble pillars in the main hall.
These pillars feature creative mirror work and showcase 99 names of Allah. What you can’t miss is the divine sight of the shrine at night.
Location: Dargah Rd, Haji Ali, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Timings: 5:30 AM to 10 PM (Open All Days)
4. Elephanta Caves: Located on the Elephanta island, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for featuring rock-cut architecture. Known as Gharapurichi Leni among the natives, these caves once used to be painted artworks which are nothing but ruins today. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, these caves adorn themselves with the different imageries of Shiva i.e. Trimurti, Gangadhar, and Ardhnareshwar. . You’ll also find two Buddhist caves here. What will truly amaze you is the picture of the skyline from the Elephanta Caves.
Location: Gharapuri, Maharashtra 400094
Timings: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (Closed on Mondays)
5. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: Popularly known as the CST, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a modern railway station that has been designed to feature the Victorian-Gothic architectural style. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in 1878 and functions as the headquarters of the Central Railways today. You’ll be amazed to know that this is the second most photographed monument in the country. Both the films Slumdog Millionaire and Ra One were shot here.
Location: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
Timings: Open All Day
6. National Gallery of Modern Art: National Gallery of Modern Art is undoubtedly one of the famous places to visit in Mumbai. Featuring a huge collection of sculptures and paintings since 1996, this museum attracts thousands of visitors every year. Being home to artworks of popular artists and painters including Pablo Picasso, this museum takes pride in having an artwork which is 160 years old. You should definitely visit the museum during one of the exhibitions which bring an intriguing opportunity for artists and art lovers.
Location: Sir Cowasji Jahangir Public Hall, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400032
Timings: 11.00 AM, 1. 30 PM and 3.30 PM (Guided walkthroughs happen every day)
7. Global Vipassana Pagoda: Despite being a city filled with urban chaos, Mumbai provides you the opportunity to spend some time in a serene atmosphere at the Global Vipassana Pagoda. Being one of the most peaceful places to visit in Mumbai, this dome-shaped meditation hall can accommodate 8000 devotees. The pagoda was constructed to express gratitude towards Sayagyi U Ba Khin who played a significant role in bringing Vipassana back to India. You should definitely go for the 10-minute Aanapana meditation session here.
Location: Global Pagoda Road, near Esselworld Gorai, Borivali West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400091
Timings: 9 AM to 7 PM (Everyday)
8. Marine Drive: Marine Drive is what you usually end up thinking of when you think of Mumbai. Being one of the iconic landmarks in the city, this 3.6 km long boulevard runs alongside the Arabian Sea. Whether you want to take a stroll or simply want to relish the sunset, Marine Drive is undoubtedly the best place to be at. It is also known as the Queen’s Necklace because of its glamor and glitter at night.
Location: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Chowpatty, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400007, India
Timings: Open All Day
9. Juhu Beach: Being the longest beach in the city, Juhu Beach is certainly one of the top places to visit in Mumbai. The area surrounding the Juhu Beach is home to a number of Bollywood celebrities. You’ll also find a number of street food stalls here that are worth trying. You should definitely head to the nearby ISKCON temple or take yourself to a theatre show at the Prithvi Cafe.
Location: Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400047
Timings: Open All Day
Now that you know more about the places to visit in Mumbai, you won’t miss the must-visit spots for sure. When you want to escape the daily grind of life, Mumbai gives a world full of opportunities to explore and discover. Make your Mumbai trip even more fun and memorable with budget-friendly and customized itineraries from thetoptours.com!
10. Siddhivinayaka Temple: The Siddhivinayak Temple is a famous Ganesh Temple situated in Prabhadevi. It was built in the year 1801.It is one of the most frequented temples in Mumbai. This temple was built in the year 1801. The Lord Ganesha’s idol here is believed to be self-manifested and grants wishes. The temple is also popular among many film stars of India. The Siddhivinayak Temple of Mumbai is one of the richest temples of India.
This temple is most crowded on Tuesdays as it is Lord Ganesha’s day, but this temple also draws lot of crowd on Sundays and Saturdays and on important festival days or bank holidays. One can avail a quick darshan by buy special darshan tickets offered by the temple.
Location: Prabhadevi, Mumbai.
Timings: 5:30 Am to 10 PM