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Mumbai - Tourist
Attractions
For those in Mumbai, here is a long list of
sites to be visited. Historical sites,
contemporary wonders, archaeological sites,
religious sites and natural wonders, Mumbai city
has all this and much more to offer to its
tourists.
Gateway of India
 The Gateway of India is the main
attraction of Mumbai city. It was built to
commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen
Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. Situated at
the Apollo Bunder, the gateway holds greater
historical significance as the last of the
British troops that left India by sea, marched
through its portals. The monument is complete
with four turrets and intricate latticework
carved into the yellow basalt stone. You can
also go for a short cruise through Mumbai's
natural harbour in one of the little motor
launches that are stationed here.
Mani Bhawan
Mani Bhawan is one of the important places to
visit in Mumbai. Presently functioning as a
Gandhi memorial, it used to be the Mumbai
residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It is from this
famous house No. 19, called Mani Bhawan, that
Gandhiji was arrested in 1932. This two storied
building houses a reference library with over
2000 books, a photo feature on the Mahatma's
life, some memorabilia, an old Gandhiji's
charkha and a film and recording archive. A
minimum entry fee is required to get into the
Mani Bhawan.
Prince of Wales Museum
The Prince of Wales museum is another major
attraction of Mumbai. Built in the year 1914, it
is surrounded by a beautiful landscape forming
an ideal getaway for the people of Mumbai. The
museum houses art, sculpture, rare coins, and
old firearms and a priceless collection of
miniature paintings. The Prince of Wales museum
is regarded as one of the best museums in the
country.
Marine Drive
 A stroll down the Marine Drive is the best way
to discover Mumbai. This winding stretch of road
with tall buildings on one side and sea on the
other extends from Nariman Point to Malabar
Hills. Due to its curved shape and many street
lights, it was once called the Queen's Necklace.
A popular sea front, Marine Drive is also the
main thoroughfare linking for the Malabar Hills
to the southernmost points of Colaba, Cuffe
Parade, Nariman Point, and the Fort.
Juhu Beach
Nicknamed as the uptown bourgeois paradise, Juhu
Beach is a place that attracts a large number of
visitors throughout the year. Characterised by
walkers, screaming children and courting
couples, the beach covers an area of about 5
kilometres. Juhu beach is attractively studded
with many five star hotels offering the
customers a splendid view of the coast. The
beach remains noticeably crowded on weekends.
Moreover, the beach activities like camel rides,
pony rides, acrobats, performing monkeys and
entertainers will keep you enthralled all the
time. Keep away from hawkers.
Hanging Gardens
The Hanging Gardens makes another must see site
in Mumbai. The park was built during the early
1880s over Mumbai's main reservoir at the top of
the Malabar Hills. The reason of its location
being to cover the water from the potentially
contaminating activity of the nearby Towers of
Silence. Located just opposite the Kamala Nehru
Park, this terraced garden, also known as
Ferozeshah Mehta Garden, is famous among the
locals as well as tourists. The garden provides
lovely sunset views over the Arabian Sea.
Kamla Nehru Park
 Kamla Nehru park, located at the top of Malabar
Hills is another site to visit in Mumbai.
Overlooking the Marine Drive, the park houses
"Old Woman's Shoe", wonderfully cut hazes and
roomy walkaways. Moreover, the park also
provides you a spectacular view of the city and
the sunset. The Kamla Nehru park also makes a
favourite gateway for the locals here.
Chowpatty
Another sandy gateway of Mumbai is the Chowpatty
beach in the suburbs of the city. Chowpatty is
perhaps the most famous beach of Mumbai,
characterised by the usual hustle and bustle of
stallwalahs, people snoozing under the shade of
its stunted trees, screaming kids, Ferris
wheels, pony rides, wayside astrologers, monkey
shows, and even the odd self-styled gymnast
demonstrating their skill for a fee. Moreover,
the bhelpuri shops and sometimes the film shoot
or a street play also adds to the festive
atmosphere of the beach. A beach of action,
Chowpatty makes a must visit in Mumbai.
Aarey Milk Colony
One of the most modern milk colonies in the
world is Aarey Milk colony of Mumbai. Located at
a distance of 32 kilometers from main Mumbai
city, it falls on the main Ghodbunder Road.
Aarey makes a must visit in Mumbai not only for
its sophisticated dairy and the many well fed
cows but also for its surrounding natural
beauty. A visit to the observation pavilion here
on a hill near the colony's entrance also gives
you an enchanting view of the surrounding areas.
But the main feature of the colony is the 4000
acres of parkland with fine gardens. You can
also try the fresh milk and snacks in the
colony's canteen here.
Tower of Silence
 A peculiar site to visit in Mumbai is the Tower
of Silence. Mumbai has a large number of Parsis
population. The Parsis have the custom of
leaving their dead in the open. These particular
places are called "Towers of Silence", where the
vultures come to eat the dead. For the Parsis,
this is regarded as the final act of charity.
Mumbai's Towers of Silence, have virtually
disappeared today. Only a handful remain that
attract a considerable number of tourists every
year.
Jain Temple
Jain temple of Mumbai also makes the interesting
place to visit in the city. Located on the
Malabar Hill, the Jain temple houses frescoes
depicting various events in the lives of the 24
Jain Tirthankaras. It also has a black marble
shrine decorated with celestial personifications
of the planets painted onto the ceiling. A large
number of devotees as well as tourists come here
every day.
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