26 Places to visit Near Mumbai

Places to visit Near Mumbai






(1) Mumba Devi Temple
Goddess Mumbadevi is often referred to as the resident deity of Mumbai. The Mumba Devi temple is dedicated to Goddess Mumbadevi, the patron of Mumbai city. The city derives its name from this sixth century old temple. Several devotees flock to this temple at Bhuleshwar.

(2) Gateway of India
One of the major landmarks of Mumbai is the Gateway of India. Mumbai's most recognized monument, the Gateway of India, was constructed to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to the city. It was completed in 1920 and remains as a striking symbol of the British Raj era. When approaching by boat, this Gateway is the first thing that you notice.

(3) Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as the Victoria Terminus is one of the architectural wonders of Mumbai. The elegant British building of 1888 makes Mumbai terminus one of the finest stations in the world. Exquisite sculptures of animals and birds decorate the facade and the statue of Queen Victoria adorns the dome.

(4) Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat
Dirty laundry from all over Mumbai is brought here and painstakingly hand washed by the dhobis in the seemingly endless rows of concrete troughs. This is Dhobi Ghat. Thousands of dhobis spend hours every day standing up to their knees in water filled with chemicals, manually scrubbing and beating the dirt out of each item of laundry.

(5) The Three Beaches
The beaches Marve, Manori and Gorai are very close to Mumbai. Alot industrialized now, but its beauty remains the same. Watching sunsets and sunrises is really appealing here. Tourists can reach Marve within an hour, as it is just 40 km from Mumbai.

(6) Elephanta Caves
Today's Elephanta Island, is known for embracing the remarkable Elephanta Caves, which is 11 km from Mumbai.. It has beautiful carvings, sculptures, and a temple of the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been a commercial, military and religions centre for centuries having traces of early Buddhist culture.

(7) Film City
Mumbai is the center of India's booming Film industry. The splendid Eros Cinema, adjacent to the Churchgate railway station, is a great place to watch a Bollywood movie. Alternatively, it's possible to go on a tour to the heart of the action in the Film City of Goregaon.






(8) Prince of Wales Museum
The Prince of Wales museum has a dynamic landscape and worth visiting for its collection of art, sculpture, rare coins, old firearms and a priceless collection of miniature paintings. It was built in the year 1914 and still claims to be one of the best museums in the country.

(9) The 'Kala Ghoda' Statue
Kala Ghoda, meaning "Black Horse" in reference to a statue that was once located there, is Mumbai's cultural center. This crescent-shaped stretch is home to Mumbai's best art galleries and museums. It's also filled with cultural spaces, including some wonderful pavement galleries. Do visit the acclaimed Jehangir Art Gallery. Every year in February, the Kala Ghoda Association hosts a nine day Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, which is interesting.

(10) Haji Ali
You will find mention of the Haji Ali in many of the Bollywood songs. The imposing Haji Ali is both a mosque and tomb built in 1431 by wealthy Muslim merchant and saint Haji Ali, who was inspired to change the course of his life after going to Mecca. Situated in the middle of the ocean, Haji Ali is only accessible during low tide from a narrow, 500 yard long walkway.

(11) Kanheri Caves
Near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, you can reach Kanheri Caves of Maharashtra. Located in the picturesque surroundings of Borivali, Kanheri Caves have a distinctive aura about them. The location of the Kanheri caves is so green with wooded hills and valleys. The architectures of this cave are regarded to be one of the finest in India. The whole area has 109 caves cut manually on the flank of a hill, each fitted with a stone plinth that evidently served as a bed.

(12) Make a wish at Siddhivinayak Temple
The Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha was rebuilt on the site of a 200-year old temple. The black stone idol of Lord Ganesh, in the temple is two and a half feet in height and two feet in width. Several devotees throng this temple in the Prabha Devi area of Mumbai. People say that wishes made here turn true.

(13) Jain Temple
The delightful Jain Temple is situated on the Malabar Hill of Mumbai. The frescoes of the temple depict various events in the lives of 24 Jain Tirthankaras. Pilgrims from far and away visit Mumbai to worship in the temple.

(14) Green Zone
Kihim has dense coconut trees that give a pollution free green environment. One can also enjoy perfect tent stay and a wonderful surfing. This is a place for the nature lovers who want to spend some time with the beauty of the nature. The jungle of Kihim has different species of rare flowers, butterflies and birds.






(15) The Short Trip
The Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, and Pratapgad fort can be clipped together as one short trip. The hill stations of Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar offer an ideal getaway for a couple of days with opportunities for sight-seeing and shopping. Hidden in the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges, Panchgani is one of the most beautiful hill stations of Maharashtra. It makes a nice excursion from the jostling city of Mumbai.
Don't forget to taste Strawberry and Mulberry jam once you are in this hotspot place. Pratapgad, 25-km from Mahabaleshwar, offers a picturesque view of the countryside. Enjoy 400 odd steps to enjoy the view from atop Pratapgad fort.

(16) Bassein
Bassein has a less crowd and those who wish to enjoy peaceful environment must visit Basssein. One can see ruined forts that were built by Portuguese inside dense forests of brushwood and palm grooves. The Portuguese cuisines served by the locals are really delicious.

(17) Khandala, Lonavala and Karla
Khandala, Lonavala and Karla are 104 km from Mumbai and 64 km from Pune on the Mumbai-Pune highway.
Locating at an altitude of 625m, the hill stations, Lonavala and Khandala have magnificent waterfalls that give a heart catching view during monsoon. No wonder the song " Aati kya Khandala" won so many accolades.
Tourists can plan their trip together with Karla, Bhaja, and Bedsa caves, which are very near from Lonavala. This hill stations are also known as the 'Jewel of Sahydri', because of its nature's gifted of beautiful valleys, hills, milky waterfalls, lush greenery, and pleasant cool winds.

(18) Matheran
The name Matheran means "Jungle Topped" or "Wooded Head" which is just what it is- an undulating hilltop cloaked in shady trees. It became popular during the days of the Raj as the abundant shade and altitude (800metres) made it slightly cooler than Mumbai.
Matheran has maintained the tranquility and peace by banning any kind of motor vehicle within the town limits. One can also see Mumbai from Hart Point. The best season to visit this place is between November to June. Porcupine Point is a good place for catching the sunset, but Panorama Point, at the extreme north, is said to have the finest views.

(19) Ganapatipule
Ganapatipule is about 380-km from Mumbai by road. Visit and enjoy a quiet, peaceful vacation among the beaches of Ganapatipule in Ratnagiri district of Konkan in south-west Maharashtra. The Malvani cuisine cooked here is exquisite and visit the forts and religious places close by.

(20) Alibag
Alibag is a coastal town of India, famous for its clean waters, sandy beaches and fresh air. It makes a great escapade for the Mumbaikars, owing to its close proximity to Mumbai, which is around 35 kms away. Alibaug is an amazingly beautiful place, where nature appears at its best.

(21) Shirdi
Shirdi, the place where Sai Baba sits, is a religious town that allures devotees day and night. Thousands of devotees stand in the line to catch a glimpse of the reliable Sai Baba. The town has a mystic aura about itself, which never fails to captivate even a casual sightseer. This small town is spread over an area of 2 sq kms.






(22) Vaitarna
Enjoy the monsoons with all its waterfalls and wildflowers. Millions of waterfalls, small and big, umpteen wildflowers, not a soul in sight apart from the odd villager - Its paradise on earth. You will come across a beautiful mini Niagara Falls, cut through the forest and walk along the edge. When you have had your fill, walk upto the old British stone bridge. The road continues with many delightful peaceful spots all the way upto Khodala.

(23) Malshej
Another August paradise is Malshej Ghat. On week days it is waterfall heaven, some come right across the road like a bridge. The mountains are misty and cool with lots of trails to explore. MTDC has a hotel at the plateau immediately after the Malshej tunnel. One can experience the boomerang effect, if you throw anything light off the cliff edge. On a clear day, you can see neighbouring Harishchandragad.

(24) The City of Entertainment
Pune is about three hours drive from Mumbai on the 6-lane Mumbai-Pune expressway. Pune is an ideal weekend retreat for Mumbaikars that are looking to eat, party, and enjoy the restaurants, multiplexes, shopping malls, and popular hangouts of Pune.
Spend a Saturday evening taking a walk on M.G. Road, which is now a 'Walking Plaza' from 4pm to 10pm on weekdays without any vehicular traffic. Also visit the various eating joints on F.C. Road.

(25) St. John's Church
The Afghan Church or the St. John's Church is a place of tourist interest in Mumbai. The church is dedicated to the British soldiers, who lost their lives in the Sindh and Afghan campaigns during 1838 and 1843.

(26) The Bazaars
From the colorful pavement vendors that line Colaba Causeway, to the fascinating Chor Bazaar, Mumbai is full of interesting places to go street shopping. Colaba Causeway,Linking Road, Chor Bazaar for antiques, and sample the fresh food while marveling at the architecture of Crawford Market.
At the end of the day, relax with the locals on the beaches of Juhu and Marine Drive, and watch the sunset. Bordering the Arabian Sea, Marine Drive is a popular spot for watching sunsets, and is gorgeous when lit up at night.

- By Sunil R Yadav

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