Mumbai may be known for its vibrant lights and fast pace, but the city also has a rich past to explore. A visit to some of its historical and religious landmarks will allow you to get a deeper sense of its rich history while learning about this vibrant metropolis.
The Gateway of India in Mumbai is one of the city’s most iconic historical attractions. Constructed to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary’s visit in 1924, this striking monument stands as one of the main tourist spots.
Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is a well-known monument located along Mumbai Harbour that was designed to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary’s visit in 1911; however, construction wasn’t completed until 1924. Inspired by Paris’ Arc de Triomphe design, its design serves as a reminder of India’s colonial past and stands as a monument that symbolizes it today.
The monument stands 26 meters high and features a central dome encircled by four turrets, making it one of the city’s most visited tourist spots and featuring in numerous Bollywood movies. Sunrise is considered an optimal time for visiting this tourist spot as parrots and pigeons fly overhead while streets remain peaceful and uncrowded.
At the Gateway of India you’ll also find food stalls and souvenir shops as well as breathtaking views of Arabian Sea and Marine Drive from here. Additionally, nearby Colaba Causeway Market boasts numerous restaurants and shopping stores.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Everyday, millions of visitors enter India at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (also known as CSMT). Here they are welcomed with an image that blends Mumbai’s rich heritage and dynamic spirit; often it is their first glimpse of this “city of dreams”.
Frederick Stevens designed this railway station, an extravagant Victorian Gothic structure. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its facade features gargoyles with their gargoyle heads snarling as they leap forward, leaping griffins, and peacocks with feather fans spread open on their faces.
It features a central dome which houses the statue of “Progress”, representing India’s modernization process. This statue looks down upon an area which once served as one of British Raj’s mercantile jewels but now represents change across India as part of an independence movement; reminding visitors of this milestone event. Furthermore, this monument serves as an impressive example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture blended seamlessly with traditional Indian designs.
Elephanta Caves
Elephanta Caves, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is an amazing collection of Hindu rock-cut temples on Gharapuri or Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbour. Devoted to Lord Shiva, these five caves and two Buddhist stupas were constructed through time by various dynasties over many generations carved out of stone over time.
Maheshmurti Shiva stands out as the centerpiece of these caves, depicting three heads representing creation, protection and destruction. Other notable figures include Ardhanarishvara – an unusual half male half female depiction that represents masculine-feminine equivalence – Nataraja the God of Dance; Yogishvara Shiva who bears Mount Kailash on his shoulders while exhaling water drops through matted locks – Ardhanarishvara the Half Male Half Female who represents masculine-feminine equivalence while Yogishvara Shiva holds Mount Kailash while exhaling water from his matted locks shedding water drops through his matted locks!
Visitors to the Gateway of India jetty can reach the caves by taking a launch every half-hour that leaves for INR 150 per person, landing on an island, where visitors may either walk up to the base of Western Hill where Grand Cave can be found or take an INR 10 per person toy train ride to reach its location.
Haji Ali Dargah
Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai stands out with its Indo-Islamic architecture. Built to commemorate a Sufi saint, this attraction stands as one of the city’s most striking landmarks.
Legend goes that one day a saint witnessed a distraught woman on the road carrying an empty vessel and beseeching for assistance. Out of compassion he stopped to help, and used his finger to poke at where the oil had leaked out onto the soil where she had spilled it – soon enough the oil began seeping back out into her vessel! That night however he dreamt that his action had caused damage to the earth, causing remorseful regret as his health worsened; eventually leaving for India until arriving on Mumbai shore.
On Thursdays and Fridays, thousands of visitors visit this shrine to pay their respects. Its minarets are constructed out of white marble – an engineering marvel!
