Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is a city packed with history and heritage on the west coast of India. The city is often dubbed the financial capital of India, owing to its business settlements and port. The iconic Hindi film industry, better known as Bollywood, is at the centre of Mumbai's popular culture. 

This year, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will host six games of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, including a home game and a semi-final. With the greatest cricket event on the horizon, let’s look at 10 of the best places to explore in Mumbai. 

Top Places to Explore in Mumbai 

Gateway of India 

The Gateway of India is probably one of the most iconic landmarks in India. From paintings to notes to stamps, the Gateway of India is truly representative of India and its hospitality. 

Getting to the Gateway of India is fairly easy. Either take a bus or taxi from anywhere in Mumbai and head over to Colaba, South Mumbai. On the far end of the edge of the Arabian Sea, the iconic monument stands tall. 

Explore the surrounding areas on the rocky coast. There are numerous vendors selling delectable street food like vada pav, pav bhaji, and bhel puri. Visitors can also take boat rides to the nearby Elephanta Caves.

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Marine Drive 

Marine Drive connects the Gateway of India with downtown Mumbai with a 3.6 km long stretch along the boulevard on the south coast of Mumbai. 

At night, the road lights up, which, when seen from above, looks like a string of pearls across the Mumbai coast. 

The road also leads to the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the crown jewel of the Taj Hotels and an iconic Indo-Saracenic architectural heritage of the city. 

Juhu Beach 

Juhu Beach is situated on the brink of west Mumbai, more commonly known as the upscale side of Mumbai. Here visitors will come across the famous Andheri West area, known to be frequented by Bollywood celebrities. 

Getting to Juhu Beach would require either a taxi or bus ride, depending on the location. The place usually sees the highest crowd in the evening during sunset. Juhu Beach is said to have the best sunset view in all of Mumbai. 

One can relax on the beach on comfortable recliners with paid massage services. There are also tons of street food options which will leave visitors in splits to choose from. Just a head up though, Juhu Beach isn’t really for those looking for the calm and serenity of a beach. It’s a rather crowded place with lots of noise. 

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Shree Siddhivinayak Temple 

Shree Siddhivinayak Temple is one of the oldest and most popular temples in Mumbai. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is often dubbed Ganapati Mandir. 

It is located in the upscale Prabhadevi area, between Dadar in the north and Worli in the south. The best way to get to the temple would be to take a taxi, as the long traffic congestion might be too hectic on a public bus.

Depending on the occasion, there are live Darshan ceremonies of the Ganapati in the temple. Besides, there are extravagant Puja ceremonies every day. Entry to the temple is free, but the association accepts donations from visitors. 

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Haji Ali Dargah 

Haji Ali Dargah is one of the oldest Muslim shrines not just in the city but also in southern and western India. The Dargah was built in memory of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari who was a notable mystic and businessman hailing from Uzbekistan in the 13th century. The Dargah was constructed on an islet off the coast of Worli, south of Mumbai, in 1431. 

Over the last six centuries, the Dargah has attracted people from all over the world. Currently, the Dargah Sharif welcomes 80,000 visitors every week. The Dargah remains a testament to Indo-Islamic architecture and its ingrained heritage in the sub-continent. 

Visitors would either need a taxi or auto-rickshaw to get to the islet, as it is on the southern corner of Worli. The tomb, the Qawwals, and the incense all create a sense of mysticism and holiness in the place. 

Chhota Kashmir Park 

As its name suggests, Chhota Kashmir is Mumbai’s ode to the "paradise on earth" in the northern part of India. It aims to recreate the scenic beauty and experiences of Kashmir in the humid Goregaon. 

Chhota Kashmir got its name due to the similar looks to the forestation of Kashmir. Back in the 1950s, whenever Bollywood moviemakers could not film in Kashmir for any reason, they used to visit Chhota Kashmir to shoot their scenes as it is right across the Film City. 

The park is open seven days a week, from 10 am to 6 pm. The entry fee to the park is 20 INR or approximately 27 BDT (1 INR = 1.32 BDT). Visitors can also rent a boat on Kashmir Lake for 20 INR for 30 minutes. Though, unlike the Shikaras of Dal Lake, tourists will have to settle for paddle boats. 

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Sanjay Gandhi National Park 

Mumbai has historically been a happening city with an influx of population from all over the country due to the port businesses. As a result, the city became an urban hub that simply kept growing rapidly. Among the concrete jungle of the city, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park situated in Borivali is a breath of fresh air for many. 

The Lush greenery, wildlife, and Kanheri Caves (ancient Buddhist caves) are a sight to behold. There are beautiful roundabouts and walkways in the park. These facilities are perfect to take a stroll or cycle around. The mini zoo in the park houses leopards and rare Chital deer as attractions. 

However, the best attraction has to be the Kanheri Caves, as they provide a glimpse into the thousand-year-old history and influence of Buddhism in the region. 

Entry to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park will cost about 200 INR or 265 BDT for foreigners. An additional 15 INR or 20 BDT (1 INR = 1.32 BDT) will be charged for entering the Kanheri Caves.

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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus 

Whenever there is a B roll of Mumbai, there are two staple things that are featured: the Gateway of India and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, colloquially known as CSMT. The terminus is one of the busiest rail stations in Mumbai and a UNESCO-designated world heritage site. 

The station was completed in 1887 and was initially named Victoria Terminus. In 1996, the name was changed to honour the 17th-century warrior king of the Maratha empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji. As well as being one of the oldest and busiest terminus in the country, CSMT is also the headquarters of the Indian Central Railway.

There is a museum inside the CSMT depicting the heritage of the site and the Indian railway. The cost of the ticket is 50 INR or 67 BDT (1 INR = 1.32 BDT) per person. 

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Colaba Causeway 

Situated in the central area of Mumbai, Colaba feels like a city within a city with its thriving culture and lifestyle. To add to the charm of the area, there is the Colaba Causeway, a shopping street that is often considered a haven for local shopaholics. 

There’s hardly anything that one cannot find in Colaba Causeway. From clothes to shoes to jewellery, the street has everything. 

There are upscale brands as well as thrift stores for every kind of shopper. Getting to Colaba Causeway is also easy. Head over to the central Colaba bus stop via a bus or taxi. From there, the causeway is about a 10 minute walk. 

Do not forget to try the famous misal pav, pani puri, and Bombay sandwich in this area. 

Wankhede Stadium 

And last but not least, there is the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Situated near the Church Gate neighborhood on Marine Drive, the Wankhede Stadium is one of the most iconic stadiums intertwined with some of the greatest moments in Indian cricket history. The most notable being the ICC Cricket World Cup Final of 2011 where India beat Sri Lanka to lift the trophy for the second time after 28 years. 

This year, the ground is being revamped to host six games of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. India and Bangladesh will each have one of their separate group matches at the venue, as well as the first semifinal of the tournament. 

Final Words 

So far, we have discussed the top tourist attractions in Mumbai. Not to mention, Mumbai with all its glory is a treasure trove for visitors. The city beautifully blends contemporary lifestyle with deep-rooted traditions. It is also true for the architecture of the city, which sees modern design elements in Bandra or Andheri West as well as Indo-Islamic and Saracenic influences in lower Mumbai. In essence, Mumbai is an ode to its culture, heritage, business, and trade hubs and is the heart of Bollywood.

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