Visit Holy Name Cathedral: The Most Important Religious Destination for Roman Catholics in Mumbai (2024)
The Holy Name Cathedral is in Colaba, Mumbai. It is one of the most important religious structures for Catholics, as it is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay and is also the seat of the Archbishop of Bombay. The Holy Name Cathedral is a tall building, with domes that have a spectacular decoration.
Holy Name Cathedral History
The Holy Name Cathedral is of specific importance for Roman Catholics residing in Mumbai. It is also the office of the Archbishop. So, they need to visit it now and then for their religious activities, including getting their marriage registration certificate and other such legal-religious issues. The foundation stone of the Cathedral was laid in the early 1900s, and it opened in 1905.
Holy Name Cathedral Experience
The Holy Name Cathedral in Colaba is an imposing figure from the outside. The walls are of the typical stone that we see in the Gothic buildings all over Mumbai. Like the other Churches, The Holy Name Cathedral is a tall building, with domes that have a spectacular decoration. The colorful fresco, bright yellow, blue, and other colors tell us about the life and times of Jesus Christ. The architecture and the look and feel are Gothic as well. You will also see some stained-glass decorations on the windowpanes. One of the stained-glass decorations also depicts the birth of baby Jesus.
The statues of the religious figures that you see around you are a breathtaking sight as well. You rarely get to see statues with such intricate details.
Another structure of the Holy Name Cathedral is the Holy Door of Mercy, which is the main door of the Church. There is only one another Holy Door of Mercy, and that is in Rome.
You will also see photos of the important incidents relating to Catholic life in Mumbai adorning the walls, an integral part of Mumbai’s history.
You will also see paintings of various saints and even some incidents from the Bible all around the Holy Name Cathedral. Furthermore, you will also see plaques and memorials in dedication to several people. You also see a large statue of the Pope.
One of the first aspects that hit you when you visit any religious place in Mumbai is the natural ventilation and the typically breezy ambiance.
The Holy Name Cathedral in Colaba, Mumbai is one of the few to have enclosures for the statues that are on the pulpit. You can spend around an hour here, taking in all the sights, including the statues and the sculptures. If you intend to attend the mass, you might take around two hours here.
While visiting The Holy Name Cathedral or any other place of religious importance, make it a point to dress conservatively, that is for both men as well as women.
Also, some Churches might not allow photography. These rules change from time to time, so make sure that you check out before you intend to take photographs. All Churches have caretakers, who live in the Church or nearby.
Places to Visit Near Holy Name Cathedral
The Church is in Colaba, so you have several places to visit if you feel like spending a quaint evening somewhere. Colaba is a simple taxi ride to Churchgate, the Southern-most part of Mumbai. You can spend a couple of hours at the Gateway of India, which is a landmark of Mumbai. You get a great view of the jetties leaving for Alibaug and other places.
Both Churchgate and Colaba are great locations to take in the spirit of the city. Colaba Causeway is an iconic location where you can take a simple walk and explore the street. You will see a lot of commercial activity, that is a staple of the city, so go ahead and indulge in the street food, the available cheap products, so on and so forth.
The Causeway has some places that are a reminder of the architecture of yore and buildings of repute. For example, you can step into the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum, and some other places. 
If you have the time, you can even visit nearby places like Bandra Fort and the Bandstand. Bandra is about half an hour’s drive from Churchgate. At Bandra, you can spend a quiet evening at the Bandra Fort or have another experience of the city life at Hill Road, which is one of the most famous flea markets in Mumbai.
Hill Road has some interesting eating outlets as well. On the weekends, the place becomes very crowded with people from all over wanting to get a slice of the Bandra experience. Therefore, many of the restaurants have now started offering takeaways.
If you are in Mumbai for the weekend, you can travel further north and visit the beaches of Mumbai. The stretch of beaches starts from Chowpatty and then goes on to Juhu Beach in Juhu, in Andheri. This beach is possibly the most famous in Mumbai, with people from all walks of life coming here some time or the other. Further north, you have the three beaches in Mumbai, Aksha, Danapani, and Marve Beach. If you have the time, you can also visit the Madh Island, that is a jetty ride away from Marve.
