Top 5 Mumbai Attractions

City: Mumbai
State: Maharashtra
Country: India

Widely considered to be the commercial and entertainment hub of India, Mumbai is home to India’s film-making industry, Bollywood, as well as a booming arts scene. Originally known as Bombay, Mumbai is a dichotomy of the ultra-rich and wealthy, and some of the poorest denizens of Indian society.

Here are the Top 5 Tourist Attractions to visit in Mumbai, all of which hold important cultural or historical significance. All these are permanent locations which can be visited and viewed at any time throughout the year.

1. Gateway Of India

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Designed to be the first thing visitors to Mumbai see when they arrive by boat, the looming basalt Gateway Of India arch was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. It is significant for being the former landing site of Colonial British governors upon their arrival. As the most iconic attraction in Mumbai, the Gateway Of India is the starting point for many tourists visiting the city.

2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

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The biggest and most iconic museum in Mumbai, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya houses approximately 50,000 exhibits from all over India, categorized into 3 sections of Art, Archaeology and Natural History. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was formerly known as the Prince Of Wales Museum Of Western India, and was built with a mixture of Islamic, Hindu and British architecture styles.

3. Sanjay Gandhi National Park

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The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is unique for being a 104-sq-km protected area within the city limits of Mumbai. Besides the incredible biodiversity of over 1000 species of plants, 251 species of birds, 40 species of mammals, 38 species of reptiles, and a large variety of insects and fish, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park also houses the Kanheri Caves, a protected archaeological site and tourist attraction in its own right.

4. Elephanta Caves

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The Elephanta Caves is a series of rock-cut cave temples near the Mumbai harbour, and are believed to have been carved sometime between the 5th and 8th centuries. Within these impressive stone temples are multiple sculptures, courtyards, halls, pillars and shrines depicting religious figures from either Hinduism or Buddhism. The Elephanta Caves are hewn from solid basalt rock, and were originally painted, though much of it has now faded. It is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5. Girgaum Chowpatty Beach

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Girgaum Chowpatty Beach is best visited in the evenings to catch the sunset over the city skyline. As one of the most famous public beaches in Mumbai, Girgaum Chowpatty Beach or Girgaum Chaupati Beach is well patrolled by lifeguards and relatively litter-free, though the water isn’t the cleanest. Various street food vendors can be found along the beach, selling different types of ethnic snacks. The area is bounded by small parks which provide some greenery, as well as the beautiful Marine Drive Promenade.