The Top 10 Major Tourist Attractions in Mumbai

     Mumbai is the most populous city of India with a population of about 12.7 million according to the 2011 census of India. It is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharastra. Formerly, Mumbai was known as Bombay. Mumbai is home to Bollywood, the largest cinema industry in the world. The city is also known as the City of Dreams, City of Seven Islands, Hollywood of India and Gateway to India etc. Moreover, Mumbai has different UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city of Mumbai is home to the largest number of millionaires and billionaires in India. Also, it is the home to almost all Bollywood celebrities including the big superstars and megastars. It has numerous tourist attractions, the top 10 of them are given below-

1. Gateway of India

     The Gateway of India is an extravagant monument built by the British back in 1924 to commemorate the arrival of the King George 5th and Queen Mary. I was built at Apollo Bunder, near the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. It's an awesome structure and it provides an excellent view of the Arabian Sea. It is the most visited tourist attraction in Mumbai.

 Some important information about the Gateway of India:

     Location - The Gateway of India is located at Colaba, Mumbai opposite the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

     How to reach there - The Gateway of India can be reached by car, taxi, bus, ferries and by air also. The popular mode of taxi in Mumbai are Uber and Ola, also there are numerous private taxi's on the streets of Mumbai that you can hire to get to the Gateway of India. You can reach the Gateway of India by several buses that from different parts of of Mumbai. No 1 bus goes directly to Colaba bus station from Bandra Reclamation bus station. In short, you can reach the Gateway of India bus from anywhere in Mumbai by buses, whether in a single bus or by changing multiple buses. Also, you can reach the Gateway of India by Air, both from all corners of the country and from all across the world. The nearby airport to the Gateway of India is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and is located at a distance of about 30 kilometres from the Gateway of India. It is also accessible by trains - the nearby train stations are Churchgate and CST. Both of train stations are located at a distance of around 2 to 2.5 kilometres from the Gateway of India and is connected by Bus different bus services. The Gateway of India is also be reached by Ferries from different coastal areas.

     Opening hours - It remains open for 24 hours a day for tourists.

     Tickets - No need to buy tickets. Entry is free for all.

     Parking - No parking space inside. Though you can find a roadside parking space or private parking lot at a distance.

     Hotels nearby - The famous landmark hotel of Mumbai ' Taj Mahal Palace Hotel' is located just opposite to the Gateway of India. There are other 5 star hotels located nearby such as The Oberoi, Trident Hotel etc. Also, there are numerous cheaper or budget hotels nearby the Gateway of India.

     Nearby Tourist Attractions - The most famous tourist attraction near the Gateway of India is the Marine Drive. Cruising to the Elephanta Caves starts from here in Apollo Bunder near the Gateway of India.

2. Juhu Beach

     Juhu beach is the largest and the most famous beach in Mumbai. Juhu is home to India's first civil aviation airport, 'Juhu Aerodrome' and was built back in 1928. From the Juhu beach you can feel the true warmth and beauty of the Arabian Sea. There are numerous restaurants in the beach from where you can taste a different variety of dishes. Juhu beach is situated in Juhu, which is home to many superstars of Bollywood industry.

 Some important information about Juhu Beach:

     How to reach Juhu Beach -  Juhu beach is well connected via road & train with all corners of Mumbai. It can also be reached by air and by cruises too from different parts of India and from around the world. It is around a 15 minutes journey from the Santacruz Train Station by Bus or by auto's/ taxi's.

     Timings - It's a public beach and it can be visited at any time of the day.

     Entry Fees - No entry charge. Entry is free for everybody.

     Parking Space - There's no particular dedicated parking space in Juhu Beach. But you may find some roadside parking space.

     Hotels nearby - JW Marriott, Novotel, Ramada Plaza, Hotel Carl Residency and Sun-and-Sand Hotel etc. And all these hotels are located within a few kilometers from the Juhu Beach.

     Tourist attractions nearby :- Major tourist attractions near the Juhu beach are - Versova beach and Bandra Bandstand etc.

3. Elephanta Caves

     Elephanta Caves are a group of Cave Temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. They are located on the Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, which literally means "the city of caves" in Mumbai harbour. The Elephanta Caves have been declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 Some important information about Elephanta Caves:

     Location - Elephanta Caves is located at the Elephanta Island, Maharashtra and is at a distance of about 20 kilometers from Colaba, Mumbai.

     How to reach there - If you are in Mumbai and want to reach the Elephanta Caves, then first of all you will have reach the Gateway of India. And from the Gateway of India you will get numerous ferries that sails between the Gateway of India and the Elephanta Island everyday. The Elephanta Caves is located at a distance of about 11 kilometers from Apollo Bunder ( near Gateway of India) and can be reached within 1hr by Ferries.

     Timings - The timings of the Elephanta Caves depends on the timings of the ferries connecting the Elephanta Island. The first ferry leaves the Gateway of India at 9AM & as it takes an hour to reach the Elephanta Island hence you would reach the Elephanta Caves at 10 AM in the morning. From the Gateway of India, the last ferry for Elephanta Island leaves at 2PM. And in every 30 minutes, a ferry leaves for Elephanta Island from the Gateway of India. From the Elephanta Island, the last ferry leaves for Gateway of India at 5:30PM. So literally, the timing to visit the Elephanta Caves is in between 10AM to 5:30PM.

     Entry Fees - They don't charge any fees for the entry inside the Elephanta Caves. But you will have to buy your ferries ticket from the Gateway of India and it will cost you around 120 rupees which will cover the return trip also. And this is like your entry fees for the entry to the Elephanta Caves.

     Hotels/ Accomodations nearby - Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Trident Hotel and Oberoi Hotel etc.

     Best time to visit - There is normally a very high tide on the Arabian Sea during the Monsoon season in Mumbai and Monsoon starts here in June and ends in September. So, the best time/ months to visit the Elephanta Caves is generally from October to April.

     Nearby Tourist Attractions - Major Tourist attractions near the Elephanta Caves are - Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Colaba Causeway and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus etc.

4. Marine Drive

     The Marine Drive is a 3.6 km long boulevard situated in Mumbai City. It's a six lane road and it's original name is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose road. The Marine Drive is famous because it provides the spectacular view of both the lofty buildings of Mumbai city and the natural beauty of the Arabian Sea. It's an ideal place for photo fanatics and nature lovers. Also it serves as the relaxation spot for the Mumbaikars from their daily lifestyle. The vast length of the Marine Drive helps Mumbaikars to do jogging or running and different other exercises daily. Moreover, the most interesting things you can enjoy in the Marine Drive is that you can have a spectacular view of the Sunrise and the Sun setting in the Arabian Sea. It is also famous for vel Puri. It's a tourist hotspot and it's also one of the most visited tourist attractions in Mumbai City.

 Some important information about Marine Drive:

      Location - Marine Drive is located on the side of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, opposite the Marine Lines station in Mumbai.

      How to reach Marine Drive - Marine Drive can be reached by car, taxi, bus & train from different parts of Mumbai. The nearest train station to Marine Drive is Marine Lines which is situated on the Western Line. The other two nearest train stations are Churchgate and CST ( Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus). Both of these stations stations are located within a few kilometers from the Marine Drive and can be reached by walking or by hiring a local taxi.

      Timings - The Marine Drive is open for 24/7 a day. 

      Parking Space - There is no specially alloted parking spaces in Marine Drive. Albeit, you can park your car by the side of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, wherever parking is allowed.

      Best time to visit - Throughout the year.

      Nearby hotels - The most famous and prestigious hotels located nearby Marine Drive are - The Oberoi, Trident and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel etc.

     Tourist attractions nearby - The most famous and highly frequented tourist attractions near the Marine Drive are - The Gateway of India, CST ( Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) and Colaba Causeway etc.

5. Colaba Causeway

     Colaba Causeway is a major shopping & dining street in Mumbai which is officially known as Shahid Bhagat Singh Road. At the present time, it is often referred to as the 'Culture Square' and it is surrounded by the famous landmark such as The Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai. The Colaba Causeway is basically famous for different art galleries, restaurants, cafeteria and different roadside eateries etc.

 Some important information about Colaba Causeway:

     Location - The famous Colaba Causeway is located at Colaba, Mumbai near the iconic Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai.

     How to reach there - You can reach the Colaba Causeway by car, taxi, bus and train from all across the Greater Metropolitan City of Mumbai.

     Timings - All the stores in Colaba Causeway remains open in between 10AM to 10PM and so is the best time to visit there.

     Parking Space - There's no alloted parking space in the Colaba Causeway area. However, you can park your car by the side of a road or at a private parking lot at a distance from the Colaba Causeway. Hence, it is always suggested to avoid private cars while visiting the Colaba Causeway and use public transportation to reach the Causeway. Hiring private taxi's or cab-aggregator's like Ola, Uber and Meru etc. are always better suggested for a hassle free, comfortable journey.

     Hotels nearby - The most famous star hotels located near the Colaba Causeway are - The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, The Oberoi and the Trident Hotel etc.

     Nearby tourist spots - The Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum and Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus etc.

6. Bandra-Worli Sea Link

     The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is a cable stayed bridge which links Bandra with Worli. It's a 8 lane bridge which is 5.6 kms long in length. The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is officially known as the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link. The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is located in between Bandra and Worli, crosses the Mahim Bay and serves as a connecting link between thes two parts of the city.You can go for a ride over the bridge which will provide you an spectacular view of both the skyline of Mumbai and the Arabian Sea. Although, you have to keep in mind that no pedestrian is allowed to visit the bridge. And also no buses or trucks are allowed to ply through the bridge. So, if you have a private car or hire a taxi or cab then you can have a ride through the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and can enjoy the beauty of the bridge and the surrounding skylines and the Arabian Sea. The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is one of the must see destinations or attractions in the glamorous city of Mumbai.

 Some important information about Bandra-Worli Sea Link:

     Location - The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is located in between Bandra (West) and Worli and passes over the Mahim Bay.

     How to reach Bandra-Worli Sea Link - You can reach the Bandra-Worli Sea Link by car, taxi, bus and trains ( Mumbai local) from across the Greater Mumbai city. Note: Two wheelers, bus & trucks are not allowed to ply through the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. So, if you're interested to take a ride through the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to enjoy the aesthetic beauty of the bridge then please hire a cab or a taxi or visit here by your private car.

     Timings - The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is open for  24/7 a day.

     Best locations to have a beautiful view of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link - You can have a spectacular view of the mesmerizing Bandra-Worli Sea Link from Worli Sea Face, Bandra Bandstand and from the Dadar Beach.

     Hotels nearby - The most famous and prestigious hotels located near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link are - Taj Land's End, Hotel Metro Palace, Hotel Kohinoor Park and ITC Grand Central etc. and are located within a few kilometers from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

     Nearby tourist attractions - Some of the most famous tourist attractions located near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link are - Bandra Bandstand, Worli Sea Face and Dadar Beach etc.

7. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

     The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is the oldest and the principal railway station in Mumbai. It was formerly known as the Victoria Terminus, it's a historic railway station and was recently declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also serving as the headquarter of the central railway.

 Some important information about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus:

     Location - The iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is located at Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

     How to reach Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus - You can reach the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus by car, taxi, bus and by Mumbai local trains from all parts of Mumbai.

     Timings - The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is open for 24/7 a day.

     Parking Space - There is no alloted parking space in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Though, you can park your car at a private parking lot or in a roadside area at a distance. I would like to suggest you to the CST ( Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) by Mumbai local Trains or by Bus. Because, it's a quite hassle free and comfortable mood of transportation in Mumbai.

     Best time to visit - Throughout the year.

     Hotels nearby - Hotel City Palace, Hotel Landmark Annex and Taj Mahal Palace Hotel etc.

     Nearby tourist attractions - The most famous tourist attractions located near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus are - The Gateway of India, Colaba Causeway and Marine Drive etc.

8. Haji Ali Dargah

     Haji Ali Dargah is one of the most famous Sufi shrines of India. It's a mosque and Dargah or tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. It is situated on an islet off the coast of Worli in the southern part of Mumbai. It's one of most famous places among the Muslim peoples as well as other travelers visiting the city. It's a place of scenic beauty and you can have a spectacular view of the dazzling skylines of the city of Mumbai from the Haji Ali Dargah. The Dargah is always flocked by tourists from across the country & from around the world also. So, if you're in Mumbai and want to enjoy the mesmerizing view of the Mumbai skylines and the Arabian Sea, then Haji Ali Dargah is the best option for you to visit in. Also, it serves as a religious tourist attraction too. It is so famous & popular that it attracts around 15,000 tourists a day.

 Some important information about Haji Ali Dargah:

     Location - Haji Ali Dargah is a Sufi Shrine and a famous tourist attraction & is located on an Island off the coast of Worli, Mumbai.

     How to reach Haji Ali Dargah - You can reach the Haji Ali Dargah by car, taxi, bus and train. The nearest bus stop to Haji Ali Dargah is Vatsalabhai Desai Chowk and the nearest train stations to Haji Ali Dargah are Mumbai Central and Mahalakshmi train station. From Vatsalabhai Desai Chowk, the Haji Ali Dargah is located at a distance of a few hundred meters and can be reached by walking. Though, both the nearest train stations to Haji Ali Dargah is located at a distance of a few kilometers, & so from these you will need to take a bus or hire a taxi or a cab to reach Haji Ali Dargah.

     Timings - The Haji Ali Dargah remains open from 6AM to 10PM everyday.

     Entry Fees - They don't charge any fee for the entry into the Dargah i.e, entry is free for all.

     Parking Space - There's no dedicated parking slots for the pilgrims or the tourists visiting the Haji Ali Dargah. But you can park your car somewhere nearby on the roadside or at a private parking space at a distance.

     Best time to visit - The best time/ months to visit the Haji Ali Dargah is in between October to May every year. Because, it is rainy season from June to September in the city of Mumbai. And during the Monsoon season in Mumbai, there's generally a high tides in the Sea. The Monsoon season starts in June and ends in September in Mumbai. So, it's better to visit the Haji Ali Dargah from October to May every year.

     Hotels nearby - The most famous and popular hotels located near Haji Ali Dargah are the Four Seasons Hotel, The Shalimar Hotel and Treebo Trend Roseboo Hotel etc. and all these hotels are located within a few hundred meters from the Haji Ali Dargah.

     Nearby tourist attractions - The most famous and most frequented tourist attractions located nearby Haji Ali Dargah are - Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Bandra Bandstand, The Gateway of India, Colaba Causeway and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus etc.

9. Bandstand, Bandra

     Bandstand is located at Bandra (West) bordering the Arabian Sea. Bandstand is also known as Bandstand Promenade and is 1.2 kilometers long public walking track. Bandstand is a very affluent society and is home to the biggest stars of Bollywood. Perhaps this is the reason behind Bandstand being so popular among the peoples living across the country. And most interestingly, Bandstand, Bandra is more popular than any other places in Mumbai among the peoples living outside of Mumbai. Bandstand is one of costliest places in India & if I am not wrong, it is the costliest area in our country.

          Bandstand is one of the most romantic places in Mumbai. It's a very beautiful place with several scenic beauties. You can have a spectacular view of the Sun setting in the Arabian sea. Because of all these very facts, peoples often flocked to this area especially the couples. Hence, this place is often referred to as lovers point. Bandstand is home to many Bollywood stars including the Megastars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. And both of these stars home namely Shah Rukh Khan's 'Mannat' and Salman Khan's 'Galaxy Apartment' are a key attraction to the tourists visiting this area. Among these two, Shah Rukh Khan's heritage Mansion ' Mannat' is always flocked by his fans from all across the world. Whenever you come across Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat you would notice around 50-100 peoples are standing outside his home and clicking selfies infront of the Gate of Mannat Land's End. It's like a paradise for the King of Romance (SRK) fans worldwide. Similarly, Bandstand is a paradise for the lovers and is a great place click selfies. And because of the immense popularity this place enjoys, Bandstand is visited by millions of tourists every year from around the world.

 Some important information about Bandstand:

      Location - Bandstand is located at Bandra (West) at a distance of 10 km from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and is at a distance of about 3 km from Bandra Terminus.

      How to reach Bandstand - Bandstand can be reached by bike, auto, car, taxi, bus, train & by air also. The nearest train station is the Bandra Terminus and the nearest airport is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

      Timings - Bandstand, Bandra is open for 24/7 a day.

      Parking Space - There is no allotted parking space in Bandstand. Though, you may find a parking lot on the roadside or else you can get your car parked at a private parking lot at a distance.

      Best time to visit - October to May

      Hotels nearby - Taj Land's End, Hotel Metro Palace, Hotel Rangsharda and Lucky Hotel etc.

      Nearby tourist attractions - The most famous & popular tourist attractions nearby Bandstand are - Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Worli Sea-Face and Dadar Beach etc.

# If you are interested to have a look on the beautiful sceneries of Bandstand, Bandra & want to explore things to enjoy there, then please watch the following video. In this high quality video you will be able discover the aesthetic beauties of Bandstand. Please note: If you are viewing this post from a mobile device then please visit the web version of this post to watch the video, thank you.

10. Film City

     Film city is situated at Goregaon East, Mumbai. The Film City is also known as 'Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagri.' The film city is spreaded across 520 acres of land and has about 20 full fledged film studios. It comprises of an integrated shooting facilities, lakes, theaters, prison and a man made waterfall also. It was built in 1977 by the government of Maharastra to give some better facilities and concessions to the Bollywood industry. Since then it has been serving as the main shooting destination for most of the Bollywood movies. Also, some of the most famous talk shows like Big Boss and the Comedy Night's with Kapil are shot at Film City in Goregaon every year.

         It is now one of the major tourist attractions in Mumbai. The complete tour of the Film City takes about 2-3 hours. And while on tour through the film city you may experience the live shooting of films, can have a glimpse of different film and TV serial sets and will overlook different Film Studios. Apart from this there are several beautiful and interesting things to have a look into inside the Film City e.g, Lake, Khandala Bridge, Church, Helipad, Reserve Garden etc. And lastly, the most important thing to do while on your tour inside the Film City is that you will get the opportunity to capture all these memorable things in your camera that you encounter on your journey into the Film City, Mumbai.

 Some important information about the Film City, Mumbai:

     Location - The Film City is located at Goregaon (East), Mumbai, Maharashtra.

     How to reach the Film City - You can reach the Film City by car, taxi, bus and by local trains. The nearest train stations to the Film City are - Goregaon, Jogeshwari and Andheri etc.

     Timings - The Film City remains open for the visitors from 10AM to 5PM.

     Entry Fees - From 599 to 1699 per person

     Best time to visit - October to March.

     Hotels nearby - Imperial Grand Palace Hotel, Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, The Westin Mumbai Garden City Hotel, The Fern - an Ecotel Hotel Mumbai and Radisson Mumbai Goregaon etc.

     Nearby tourist attractions - Aksa Beach, Versova Beach and Kanheri Caves etc.

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