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Historical Places in Mumbai

Reflecting as the pride of the cosmopolitan city, the significance of Gateway of India rates high in India history. This colossal structure dates its formation days back to 1924. To snap it down, you need to head towards Apollo Bunder tip.

From here itself, you can gaze at the vastly stretched Mumbai Harbour encircling the mighty Arabian Sea. This chief port of India, today greets a huge national as well as international tourist population.

Location: Gateway of India is built upon Apollo Bunder Waterfront and falls in Southern Mumbai.

Timings: There are no specific timings to mark your presence here at Gateway of India. It is open to the onlookers throughout the day. However, make sure that you plan your Mumbai visit post monsoons (especially in between November to March) as the weather here is pleasant.

Entry Charges: There are no charges for you to reach Gateway of India.

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If you want to witness the luxuriousness of the cosmopolitan city, step in at the Taj Mahal Palace. Opened in 1903, this elegant edifice symbolizes as the city’s first harbor landmark. Every single corner of this palace exhibits nostalgic elegance and a personal taste of its own historical significance equipped with all modern amenities.

Ballroom, itself is spacious to accommodate around 450+ guests at a time and can be reserved for both personal or professional events or celebrations. 9 iconic bars and restaurants raises its standard amongst the luxurious hotels nestling within the national frontiers.

Location: Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001

Timings: Check-ins: 02:00 pm onwards I Check-outs: Till 00:00 noon

Entry Charges: There are no entry charges here. However, if you are availing a room for your stay here, you need to spend around 30,000 INR per day.

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Elephanta Caves exhibits a scenic beauty wherein a narrow valley hangs in between two hillocks separating them from one another. There is a wide array of archaeological remains here for you to capture.

This mighty cave dates back to the mid-era of 5th and 6th centuries AD. Caves are all over covered by lush green and dense forests; so stepping in the forest and making your way to the caves is definitely a great task to deal with. To reach here, you need to ride a cruise from Gateway of India and cover distance of about 13km.

Location: Gharapuri, Maharashtra 400094

Timings: This place is open for tourist visit from morning at 09:00 am to evening at 05:30 pm.

Entry Charges: The entry fees vary for SAARC citizens (10 INR per head) and foreigners (250 INR per head). If your children accompanying you are below the age of 15 years, there is no entry fee for them. Village entry accounts for an additional 10 INR per head. While photography has no charges, videography might cost you around 25 INR.

Situated at a distance of around 500 yards from Mayanagari shoreline, Haji Ali Dargah accounts as one of the famous religious, Historical monuments in Mumbai. It houses the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari who was one of the reckoned Muslim saints.

This landmark stands high on huge rocks and what you see there today is the construction of early 19th century. Embracing its glamorous elegance with Mughal architectural style, this place is equally visited by all religions. Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays are crowded here. This white-colored minarets and domes remain sentinel to Mayangari’s shoreline since ages.

Location: Dargah Rd, Haji Ali, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Timings: The timings for Dargah Ziyarat are morning at 05:30 am to night at 10:00 pm.

Entry Charges: There are no entry charges to reach Haji Ali Dargah. However, if you are offering something to Pir Baba, you will have to spend tagged charges.

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South Mumbai’s famous clock tower, Rajabai Clock Tower stands erect in the close vicinity of the Mumbai High Court. The tower received its exquisite beauty through the imagination of Sir Gilbert Scott and is magically embellished with ancient figures and features.

Here, the artist introduced a blend of both Venetian and Gothic architectural styles. Stained glass windows and a big clock right on its forehead completes its allure.This clock is known to play a melodious tune at predefined time intervals and is quite visible from a distance. It remained as the tallest edifice of the town until the next colossal structure marked its prominence.

Location: Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil Marg, Mantralaya, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400032

Timings: The tower remains open for tourist visits from morning at 09:00 am to night at 10:45 pm.

Entry Charges: There are no entry fees to witness the beauty of this 208 feet astonishing structure.

Dedicated to the Lord of the Mumbai, Siddhivinayak Temple stands as one of the wealthiest Lord Ganesh temples of Mumbai. Once a while, the temple exhibited a stone carved black idol of Lord Ganesh, and today the construction accounts for a six-storeyed edifice with an orange-colored idol. Standing approximately at a walkable distance of 15 minutes from the Dadar’s Railway Station, this temple dates back to the 18th century.

The uniqueness of Siddhivinayak is that, the trunk of Lord Ganesh which usually bends towards left, here it is towards the right side. Also, you may find Riddhi-Siddhi to mark their presence on either side of Lord Ganesha.

Location: Prabhadevi, Mumbai

Timings: The doors of the temple are opened up for a visit following Kakad aarti which is scheduled in early morning at 05:30 am. Once the Shejaarti is accomplished at around 09:50 pm, the doors are closed for visitors.

Entry Charges: Entry to Siddhivinayak Temple is devoid of any expenditure.

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Situated deep within Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Kanheri Caves are a cluster of approximately 100 caves of Buddhist style. Researchers find this place worthy of visiting as it leads them in a flashback of the Buddhist era. For entering this exquisite historical place in Mumbai, you need to cover a distance of around 05km from the main entrance of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. You can either take a walk or drive your way either through a bus or a bicycle ride.

Do make it a point in your Mumbai itinerary that the caves are closed for tourist visits on Monday. Rest of the days, Kanheri is all yours! However, make sure that you do not spoil this heritage knowingly or unknowingly.

Location: Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali East, Mumbai.

Timings: The officials of Sanjay Gandhi National Park allow Kanheri Caves visit from early morning 07:30 am to evening at 05:30 pm.

Entry Charges: The entry fees for the caves is 05 INR per head. Also, if you are traveling there by bus, you need to spend around 60-70 INR for to and fro journey.

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Also known as Queen’s necklace, Marine Drive is a 3km concrete road stretching across the northern zone of coastline. The C-shape of this historical place functions as a natural bay of the metropolitan city and rests peacefully at the foothold of Malabar Hills. This region when observed through an airplane during the night gives a resemblance of a Queen’s necklace due to the presence of streetlights sparkling like pearls.

Marine Drive is hugely crowded on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi-the festival of Mayanagari. What you witness today was never a pre-planned structure as the site was reserved for accomplishing a Back-bay reclamation project.

Location: South Mumbai

Timings: Marine Drive is open 24/7 for beach strollers.

Entry Charges: It is absolutely free of charges.

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This Historical place in Mumbai is reckoned for the Parsi communities performing the last rites of their deceased family members by disposing their dead bodies to scavengers. It dates back to around 300 years and is situated deep within a forest that stretches approximately 54 acres. Locally tagged as doongerwadi, this tower homes to a raised circular structure accompanying three rows (outer for men, middle for women and the innermost for children).

Within an hour of the dead body disposal, it becomes a breeding ground mainly for the scavenging species such as vultures. Once scavenged, it is only the bones that stay behind. This place is scary for those who carry a soft heart.

Location: Malabar Hill, South Mumbai, Mumbai, 400033, Maharashtra

Timings: There are no restrictions on visits to this Tower of Silence. However, local states it reflects as a haunted place during nights.

Entry Charges: You do not need to pay any entry charges to step in here at Tower of Silence.

Well-known as one of the premier cultural institutions of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was founded in the year 1900. This edifice accounts to Grade 1 Heritages of Mayanagari and reflects Indo-Saracenic architectural style.

Presently, there are around 50000 artifacts here and a separate section dedicated for the Natural History. Plan your visit here for sculptures, prints, Indian Miniature Paintings, European Paintings, and decorative art forms, Indian textiles and costumes, and other exhibits.

Location: 159-161, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400023

Timings: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya opens at 10:15 am in the morning and closes by 06:00 pm.

Entry Charges: The entry charges here varies from 40 INR per head to 500 INR per head.

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Marking its presence since 1952, Jehangir Art Gallery represents a prime center for an art exhibition. This gallery exhibits some of the most beautiful quality contemporary Indian arts. Bei it either a painter or sculptor or anyone amongst printmakers, ceramicists, weavers or photographers, if you have enough of talent, Jehangir Art Gallery calls you.

Presently, around 300 annual exhibits are being scheduled here at Jehangir Art Gallery. Bombay Art Society takes sufficient care for its management and maintenance. Also, the authorities here are keen on organizing lectures, workshops, and seminars for aspiring art enthusiasts.

Location: 161B, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001

Timings: The Jehangir Art Gallery opens sharp at 11:00 am in the morning and closes by 07:00 pm.

Entry Charges: You won't be charged for you to this historical place in Mumbai.

Built during the era of British colonization, Mumbai Worli Fort proudly gazes at Mahim Bay and lies to the south of Mahim and Bandra Forts. All these forts were British sources of coastal defense and the nearby village homes to one of the oldest fishing communities of the city. Built in the year 1675, this Worli Fort is situated atop Worli Peninsula is easy to access by walking. This entire region is inhabited by fishing communities or Kolis.

This fort gazes at the Pride of Mumbai- Bandra-Worli Sea Link. There’s a holy shrine of Lord Hanuman inside the fort beside a gym. As there is sand everywhere, the entire locality seems to be dust-laden and smells fishy.

Location: Worli village near world, fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400030

Timings: The doors of the fort are opened for the travelers from early morning at 05:00 am to evening at 07:00 pm.

Entry Charges: There are no charges to mount this Mumbai Worli Fort.

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Mahakali Caves or Kondivite Caves represents a total count of nineteen monuments carved out of rocks. These were built somewhere in between 01st to the 06th century, and you can find the presence of figures and stupas of Buddhist origin.

This Historical place in Mumbai are solid basalt caves and those whose heart beats for historical or archaeological findings, make it a point to reach here once in their lifetime. These caves are standing erects since the reign of the Ashokan Empire, and the walls exhibit Pali décor. One shortcoming of these caves is that it is prone to weathering. Yet, it represents one of the spectacular specimens of the rock-carved monastery.

Location: Mahakali Caves Rd, Sunder Nagar, Andheri East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400093

Timings: You can access the Mahakali Caves from 08:00 am in the morning to 05:00 pm in the evening on all seven days of the week.

Entry Charges: There is an entry fee of 20 INR per head to reach this archaeological heritage of Mumbai.

Hanging Gardens or Pheroze Shah Mehta Gardens resides atop the sophisticated land of Malabar Hills. It is considered to be one of the best historical monuments in Mumbai and within its close proximity resides yet another major attraction of Mayanagari- the Kamla Nehru Park. Built in the year 1881, tourists make it a point to visit these gardens for hedges cut out in the shapes of animals. Locals here engage themselves in yoga and meditations to keep themselves fit, healthy and energetic.

Photographers have a lot of things to do here are the place is merely astounding for early morning and late evening snaps. This garden is easy to access both from Walkeshwar and Ridge Roads via Marine Drive route. If you are planning your Mumbai Darshan via railways, Grant Road Railway Station stands close to this place.

Location: Malabar Hill, Mumbai 400075, India

Timings: The gates of Hanging Gardens are open from early morning at 05:00 am to late evening at 09:00 pm.

Entry Charges: You won't have to spend a single penny to make it to the top here.

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What you see today as the National Gallery of Modern Art was initially named as Sir C.J. Hall. This stands one amongst the historical monuments in Mumbai which was built by a British architect and was a premier center for hosting concerts, art activities and public meetings.

The present edifice is the result of 12 years long renovation work costing to around 3.5 crore investment. Yet, it stands distinct as it qualifies the international standards for lighting and temperature controls.

Location: National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, Sir Cowasji Jehangir Public Hall, M.G. Road, Mumbai - 400 032

Timings: The doors of this National Gallery of Modern Art are open for visitors from morning at 11:00 am to evening at 06:00 pm.

Entry Charges: Entry fees here are bifurcated as 10 INR per head for Indians and 150 INR per head for foreigners.

Once a while, Mahim creek represented a major trading route and here lies the birth story of this beautiful location. Mahim Fort was built with an intention to safeguard the Mahim Creek and serves as an undetachable portion of St. George’s Castle. In the year 1969, the then governor of Mumbai was the brain behind this fort creation as a basal source to strengthen the British settlements and safeguard their defenses.

Later, the fort was again rebuilt in the year 1772 when the Portuguese made an attempt to attack the British soldiers here. In those days, there were around 100 soldiers from the British Army residing here for the protection of their territory homing about 30 cannons.

Location: Al Hussain Cooperative Housing Society, The Mahim Makarand CHS, Mahim West, Mahim, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400016

Timings: Mahim Fort is open for all 24-hours per day.

Entry Charges: There are no entry charges for anyone planning to reach here.

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Global Pagoda or Global Vipassana Pagoda is one of the best historical monuments in Mumbai that sparkles when the morning sunshine falls over it. This landmark was built as a tribute to Gautam Buddha’s philosophies and represents a center of true peace and tranquillity. Structurally, it is considered to be a replica of Myanmar’s Golden Pagoda built with the purpose of spreading Vipassana’s believes.

It stands high with securing a position in the top global stone structures. Once you reach here, never miss on to have a glimpse of the 4000kg Dhamma wheel. It may interest you to know that this is one of its kind Historical places in Mumbai homing to Gautam Buddha’s original bone relics.

Location: Global Pagoda Road, Near Esselworld, Gorai, Borivali West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400091

Timings: If you are planning to reach here, you need to adjust your trip in between morning at 09:00 am to evening at 07:00 pm.

Entry Charges: There are no charges for visiting this shrine and also the course being imparted here is absolutely free of cost. All you need to invest in is your time.

Basilica of the Lady of the Mount or Mount Mary Church, dedicated to Mother Mary (Virgin) reflects a church of Roman Catholic era. It calmly resides atop a huge hill, Sunderban Bandra from where it gazes at the sparkling waters of Arabian Sea.

Devotees visit the Basilica as a source to heal people’s sufferings unimaginably. Every first week of September is celebrated as a grand feast here, wherein people of different religions travel far-off for the famous Bandra Fair. Planning your Mount Mary Visit during its grand fest will surely be a mesmerizing one for you as there are plenty of things to eat, and carry along for your home décor.

Location: Mount Mary, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400005

Timings: There are no restrictions on timings. However, if you are willing to attend masses being organized here, you need to step in the church according to timings of mass language which you find convenient. On weekdays, there are five mass sessions, Saturdays have four while Sundays have six of them.

Entry Charges: There are no entry charges for you to visit this historical monument in Mumbai.

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Built around 16th to the 17th century, this Historical place in Mumbai is dedicated to the Goddess of Wealth or Lakshmi. However, you can even seek the blessings of the other two deities- Kali and Saraswati. Throughout the year, this temple greets thousands of devotees with the greatest count in Navratri.

Simple yet elegant edifice charms its overall appearance and soothes every single devotee reaching here to seek blessings of the deities. Bangles, necklaces, and rings are the pieces of jewelry adorned by Goddess here, and several shops are selling the same. The present construction is said to be the visualization brilliance of Ramji Shiva who witnessed Goddess Lakshmi arriving in her dreams and guiding him for the temple construction.

Location: Bhula Desai Road, Breach Candy, Mumbai

Timings: The doors of the Mahalakshmi Temple remains open from early morning at 06:00 am to night at 10:00 pm.

Entry Charges: No entry charges are being charged here.

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