Do you know that there are many historical places in Mumbai? What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear Mumbai? It's definitely not history. But apart from Bollywood, Vada Pav and the local Trains there are many things in Mumbai that are worth visiting.
There are many historical places in Mumbai that have their place in history. Be it the ancient caves or a World War hospital.
Mumbai the city of dreams is home to more than 40 Billionaires and many famous personalities. But Mumbai has also left an important mark in history with many British architectures still preserved and maintained.
Mumbai is the biggest metropolitan city in India. But still, it manages to preserve its rich history and give you a glimpse of the future. With thousands of tourists visiting Mumbai every year, we tried to narrow down to the top 15 historical places in Mumbai that have historical significance. This list will help you to plan your itinerary here in Mumbai.
Here are 15 of the most famous historical places in Mumbai city with pictures, that are really worth a visit.
Gateway of India
I would say this is the unofficially the first place to visit for tourists. People often start there visit in Mumbai from this historic place and later move towards other places. This historical landmark has become the symbol of the city.
Built nearly 100 years back to commemorate the landing of King George V in India. Gateway of India is one of the most important British architecture in Mumbai.
Elephanta Caves
image credit : the culture trip
The Elephanta caves are one of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site near Mumbai. Its a collection of cave temples, these caves date back to 5 to the 7th century.
These caves have beautiful carving of the Trimurti and Lord Shiva. Some caves also consist of Buddhists statues. These caves were used as an active place of worship until the Portuguese arrived here back in the 1800s.
The Elephanta caves are around 10Km east to the Gateway of India. You need to take a ferry from Gateway of India to reach here. It is one of the most historic places that are situated near Mumbai.
Raja Bhai Clock Tower
image credit: DNA
The Raja Bhai Clock tower is part of The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai, which was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 2018. The Raja Bhai Clock Tower was modelled similar to the Big Ben in London.
The Iconic tower stands tall off the Mumbai University campus. The place is closed for public viewing since many used it to attempt suicide.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus is one of the busiest railway stations in the entire country. Earlier known as Victoria Terminus, CSMT is a historic railway station and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This 129-year-old structure is still operational as the Cities major railway station and is located in South Mumbai. Its one of the best Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture.
Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
image credit: luxarylaunches
The Taj Mahal Palace is a 5-star luxury, heritage hotel located near The gateway of India, facing the Arabian Sea. During World War I the hotel was converted into a military hospital with 600 beds.
It was the first building in the country to get intellectual property rights protection for its architectural design.
The hotel not only has a historic past but some horrifying past as well. The hotel got attacked during 26/11 attacks in Mumabi. The Taj Mahal Palace is more than 100 years old and holds an important place in Mumbai history
Kanheri Caves
image credit: holidify
The Kanheri caves are massive rock-cut monument cut out of massive basalt rocks in the dense forest of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. These Historic caves consist of Buddhists sculptures, inscriptions, and Paintings dating back to 1st Century CE.
These historic caves are located on the western outskirts of Mumbai. The cave complex consists of a hundred and nine caves. These caves were the university centers during the Mauryan and Kushan empires.
The caves have historic importance in the rise of Buddhist teaching in western India.
Mount Mary Church
image credit: cleartrip
The Mount Mary Church is a 300-year-old Church its original name is Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount. It is a Roman Catholic Basilica situated at Bandra.
Every Year on first Sunday after 8th September the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated, the birthday of Virgin Mary. The feast is followed by a week-long local fair also known as Bhandra fair and is visited by thousands of people. Do visit the fair once in your lifetime.
Both Hindu and Koli Christians visit this shrine often giving it a kind of syncretic nature.
Siddhivinayak Temple
image credit: Mumbai Live
The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is a 200-year-old Hindu Temple located at Dadar. It is one of the historic temples in Mumbai. It is also the richest temple located in Mumbai and comes in top 10 richest in India.
It started off as a small temple and eventually became a grand temple in the latter half of the twentieth century. The temple has a common site of many big politicians and Bollywood stars.
Fun fact: Apple CEO Tim Cook began his 2016 India trip with morning prayers at this very same temple.
Haji Ali Dargah
Haji Ali is a Mosque or Dargah(Tomb) of a Sufi saint and a wealthy merchant Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari from Uzbekistan.
The Dargah is located in Southern part of Mumbai, off the coast of Worli. You can reach the Dargha along the pathway which goes through the sea. The dargaH was constructed back in 1431.
The shrine is visited by an enormous number of pilgrims. Irrespective of faith and religion, people visit the dargah to get the blessings of the legendary saint.
Asiatic Library
The iconic Roman and Greek architecture based structure is a 200-year-old town hall, learned society in the field of Asian Studies.
The historic structure town hall has been featured in many Bollywood movies and has been portrayed as Courtroom entry in many movies. You will see many tourists and youths clicking photo at this historical place in South Bombay.
The library of the Society has over a hundred thousand books out of which 15,000 are classified as rare and valuable. It also has priceless artifacts and over 3,000 ancient manuscripts in Persian, Sanskrit, and Prakrit, most of which are on paper but some are on palm leaf.
Global Vipassana Pagoda
Global Vipassana Pagoda
Global Vipassana is not an ancient structure, the construction of the structure was completed in the year 2008. The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a Meditation Dome Hall with a capacity of around 8,000 Vipassana meditators (largest such meditation hall in the world)
The pagoda is located in Gorai in Mumbai very near to Essel work amusement park.
The center of the Global Vipassana Pagoda contains the world's largest stone dome built without any supporting pillars.
Mahalaxmi temple
image credit: templepurohit.com
The Mahalaxmi temple is a 100+-year-old temple of the Hindu deity Devi Mahalaxmi. The temple has quite a historic significance for the place.
The Mahalaxmi temple contains images of the Tridevi goddesses Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati. All three images are adorned with nose rings, gold bangles, and pearl necklaces. Do visit the temple is you are around Mahalaxmi.
Dhobi Ghat
image credit : http://bombayjules.blogspot.com
Called the world's largest outdoor laundry, Dhobi Ghat is a very popular attraction among foreign tourists. If you visit the place you will often see many foreign tourists clicking a picture of the place.
The best time to visit Dhobi Ghat is early morning and early afternoon. While the dhobis are in action in the morning washing load, the early afternoons are an ideal time to see the clothes dry.
Marine Drive
One of the most happening place in Mumbai at any time of the day. You will find a lot of people here even during the night. Marine Drive is situated on reclaimed land facing west-south-west.
Marine Drive is also known as the Queen's Necklace because, if viewed at night from an elevated point anywhere along the drive, the street lights resemble a string of pearls in a necklace.
Bandra Worli Sea Link.
image credit: The Indian Express
The Bandra Worli Sea link is India's first Sea Link project which has the cable Stayed bridge.
The construction of the bridge was started in 1999 and the foundation stone was laid by Late Bal Thackery. It is an important structures which helps to reduce the traffic congestion in Mumbai.
Many tourists do enjoy the joy of the bridge and marvel the construction of the bridge braving the harsh Arabian Sea.
With such awesome historical places in Mumbai, you need to visit Mumbai once in your lifetime and have Mumbai in your bucket list. The above list is your handy visitors guide to Mumbai. If you cover these places it means you have covered the entire city.
Mumbai the city of dreams will never disappoint you.
Keep exploring!