Mumbai Travel Guide: Colonial Landmarks, the Seafront and Street Food

The heritage landmarks cluster in South Mumbai, around the Fort, Kala Ghoda and Marine Drive, while the suburbs hold Juhu Beach, Bandra and Sanjay Gandhi National Park. For guided ways to see them, start with our Mumbai tours and experiences.

Gateway of India

The Gateway of India, a 26-metre arch of yellow basalt and concrete on the waterfront, was built to mark the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911 and unveiled in 1924; its architect was George Wittet. It is open throughout the day, and the ferries to the Elephanta Caves leave from here. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya museum is a short distance away.

Elephanta Caves

On Elephanta Island, about 11 km north-east of Apollo Bunder, rock-cut cave temples dedicated to Shiva hold the Mahesamurti, a colossal bust of his three forms. The Archaeological Survey of India dates the seven caves to about the 6th and 7th centuries AD, and they have been a World Heritage Site since 1987. The ferry from the Gateway takes about an hour each way; on the island there are steps to climb to the caves, and a toy train for those who prefer not to walk. The caves are closed on Mondays.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

Formerly Victoria Terminus, CSMT is a working railway station and a World Heritage Site since 2004. Designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens and built over ten years from 1878, it blends Victorian Gothic Revival with Indian palace architecture under a stone dome, turrets and pointed arches, the work of British architects and Indian craftsmen together. It is also one of Central Railway's main long-distance stations, so allow time to step back across the road for the full facade.

Fort, Kala Ghoda and the Oval Maidan

The Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai, a World Heritage Site since 2018, are 94 buildings around the Oval Maidan. On its east side, in the Fort precinct, stand 19th-century Gothic Revival public buildings such as the Bombay High Court (1878) and the University Library and Convention Hall; on its west, Art Deco buildings rose in the early 20th century on land reclaimed along Marine Drive. Kala Ghoda is another of South Mumbai's cultural districts, and the underground Aqua Line now reaches all three areas.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

Formerly the Prince of Wales Museum, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya holds ancient sculpture, rare manuscripts and decorative arts from across India. It is open every day of the week, closing only on 26 January, 1 May, 15 August and 2 October, and some galleries may be shut for work. That makes it the natural plan for a Monday, when the Elephanta Caves are closed.

Marine Drive and Girgaon Chowpatty

Marine Drive is a 3.6-km, C-shaped boulevard along the Arabian Sea, lined with palm trees and Art Deco buildings. Its streetlights curve round the bay at night like a string of pearls, which is why it is called the Queen's Necklace, and in the evening families gather to watch the sunset. Girgaon Chowpatty beach lies at its northern end; beach snacks such as bhel puri and pani puri are part of the evening there.

Haji Ali Dargah

The Haji Ali Dargah, a white marble Indo-Islamic shrine holding the tomb of Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, stands on an islet in the Arabian Sea, reached along a narrow causeway from the shore. The trust that runs it changes the visiting hours when very high tides are forecast, closing the shrine for some hours for safety, so check the tide before you set out.

Siddhivinayak and Mahalaxmi temples

Shree Siddhivinayak in Prabhadevi, dedicated to Ganesha, was first built in 1801; the present complex is the result of changes made in 1993, and the gold covering the idol's throne draws most visitors. The Mahalaxmi Temple on Bhulabhai Desai Road, dedicated to the goddess Mahalakshmi, was built in 1831 by Dhakji Dadaji, a Hindu merchant.

Bandra–Worli Sea Link and Juhu Beach

The Bandra–Worli Sea Link, an eight-lane bridge built in 2009, crosses the open sea to connect South Mumbai with the western suburbs and spare drivers the Mahim Causeway. In the suburbs, Mount Mary Church is both a place of worship and a viewpoint, and Juhu Beach, one of the longest in Mumbai, draws the city at sunset for its food stalls, where sev puri and bhel puri are the classics.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the Kanheri Caves

In Borivali, Sanjay Gandhi National Park is one of the largest green spaces inside any metropolitan city, home to leopards, pangolins and many species of birds. Within it, the Kanheri Caves are a Buddhist complex carved into basalt, used by monks from about the 1st century BCE to the 10th century CE, with pillared halls, stupas and water cisterns; expect steps. Most park activities stop on Mondays, but the park lists the Kanheri Caves as an exception.

• Eat the city's street food. Vada pav, a spiced potato patty in a bread roll, is the classic, with pav bhaji, a spiced vegetable mash with buttered bread, the Koli community's bombil fry (Bombay duck) and falooda to cool down. Our Mumbai street food tour moves between stalls with a local guide over a few hours, and pairs well with Marine Drive or the Gateway of India.
• Ride a local train. Tourist tickets give unlimited travel on the suburban network of both Western Railway and Central Railway for one, three or five days, in first or second class, with an AC version too; they are sold at every suburban station.
• Time a visit for Ganeshotsav. The ten-day festival falls in the lunar month of Bhadrapada, in August or September, and ends with the immersion of the idols. Our Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai experience takes you to famous and neighbourhood pandals, and to a viewing spot on immersion day with transport planned around the road closures.
• Look further afield. Our Maharashtra travel guide covers the rest of the state, from the Ajanta and Ellora caves to the hill town of Lonavala.

Maharashtra Tourism recommends October to February, and the IMD's averages for Santacruz explain why. June to September brings about 95 per cent of the year's 2,373 mm of rain, and July alone averages about 840 mm over 23 rainy days. The monsoon normally sets in around 11 June and withdraws around 8 October, so early October can still be wet; late October to February is the safer window.

The city is warm all year: average highs run from about 30°C in the monsoon to almost 34°C in May and November, and January nights average 17°C. March to May is hot and humid. In the monsoon the Elephanta ferry can be rough and the cave paths slippery. For rain-season planning across the country, see travelling in India during the monsoon.