Are you a Mumbaikar who is feeling the weekend blues? Are you far away from home, who has come to Mumbai to fulfil his/her destination in the city of dreams and you really don’t know what to do during weekends? Then worry not, it’s actually unbelievable that you are sitting idle in a city which never sleeps. A city which is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of a 1.25 billion plus country. The city which also houses the Bollywood and Marathi Film Industry. The city which is an irony in itself, Mumbai is the wealthiest city of India and houses the most millionaires & billionaires of the country but one of the largest slums of the world i.e. Dharavi also resides in Mumbai and according to 2011 census 62% of Mumbaikars lives in slums. But we don’t need to get into all of this, we just need some handpicked places to visit and get rid of those weekend blues. So here are top weekend destinations in Mumbai to visit for fun lovers.
- Gateway of India
Photo by Ashwin Kumar, CC BY-SA 2.0
Many would say that the Gateway of India is the unofficial symbol of the city. Built in 20th century, the basalt structure is located on the waterfront in the Bunder area of South Mumbai and overlooks the Arabian Sea. The architecture is of Indo-Saracenic style and the structure is the first thing that visitors see upon arriving by boat. In olden days the Gateway was used to welcome British Officials and other prominent people.
- Shree Siddhivinayak Temple
Photo by Rakesh, CC BY-SA 2.0
A Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh and is one of the holiest places of Mumbai. Located in Prabhadevi, it was built in 1801 and is today one of the richest temples in Mumbai. Every day it is thronged by more than 20,000 devotees who come to offer their prayers to the Ashtavinayak. Lord Ganesh holds the central demiurge inside the Maratha culture and so the temple is also frequented by Bollywood stars, celebrity and other prominent personalities.
- Elephanta Caves
Photo by Ashwin Kumar, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located in Elephanta Island which is at a distance of 10 km from Mumbai Harbour & Gateway of India. The caves primarily consist of two groups which are Hindu Caves and Buddhist Caves. The Hindu Caves contain rock cut sculptures of Lord Shiva and are believed to be made between 5th and 8th century. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
- Marine Drive
Marine Drive is a 3.6-kilometre-long boulevard which is a ‘C’ Shaped six-lane concrete road connecting Nariman Point and Babulnath and is situated at the foot of the Malabar Hill. Throughout history Marine Drive has hosted some major events such as IAF Air show, Bombay Marathon, Republic Day Parade etc. The drive is situated along the coast of a natural bay and is one of the iconic symbols of Mumbai. Tourists and fellow Mumbaikars occasionally like to stroll by the Marine Drive amidst the gust of fresh air coming from Arabian Sea.
- Juhu Beach
Photo by Rajkiran, CC BY-ND 2.0
Probably one of the most visited places of Mumbai, Juhu Beach is located on the shores of Arabian Sea in Western Mumbai i.e. Ville Parle. The beach is adorned with groves of palm trees and vast sandy stretches which comes to life during the evening hours. When the tourists and locals dawdle along the coast to witness the beautiful sunset while relishing on local street food such as Bhel Puri, Sev Puri and Pav Bhaji.
- Film City
Visit the ever-famous Film City and take a trip down the memory lane. The integrated film-studio complex is situated near Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the neighbourhood of Aarey Colony in Goregaon East. The Film City is spread across an immense area of 520 acres which is filled with real-life sets, fake lakes, fountains, mountains and villages. The city hosts several recording rooms, sets and other paraphernalia which has served as the venue for many Bollywood Film Shootings.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Also, known by the name of Victoria Terminus, the gothic edifice serves as the Headquarters of the Central Railways. It is a historic railway station which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. Build over a span of 100 years, it was completed in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It was designed by F.W. Stevens with the concept of Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and is today one of the busiest railway stations in India.
- Mount Mary Church
Photo by Rakesh, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount is located in Bandra, Mumbai. This ancient church was built in 1640 and then rebuilt in 1760. The shrine attracts thousands of devotees and is most notably known for its feast of Virgin Mary which is celebrated on the first Sunday after 8th September which considered to be the birthday of Virgin Mary. Many people believe that the Church has miraculous healing powers and is often thronged by devotees.
- Haji Ali Dargah
Haji Ali is a mosque as well as a mausoleum (dargah, tomb) situated on an islet off the coast of Worli in South Mumbai. The Dargah was constructed in 1431 in memory of Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, the mosque is thronged by devotees especially on Thursdays and Fridays to get the blessings of the fabled saint. It is said that Haji Ali possessed divine powers and could fulfil prayers. Notably on Friday, sometimes Sufi Musicians come to perform devotional music called Qawwali in memory of the famed saint.
- Chowpatty Beach
The beach is located in a tiny hamlet of Khotachi Wadi in Girgaum, South of Mumbai. This tiny village is a proof of the long Portuguese Era in this area as there are several Old Portuguese styled houses which are maintained by original inhabitants. Chowpatty public beach is known for its pristine view and unspoilt beauty.
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