10 Places You Have To Visit In Mumbai If Heritage Is Your Thing

After article over article of some lad/lady quitting their job and heading out to travel the world, one's GOT to be bitten by the travel bug. It's only natural. But for someone stuck in a corporate job, the time to travel doesn't really come easy. But here's the catch - nobody said you have to fly across the Atlantic to see a beautiful place. Our own cities are beautiful, only if we bothered to step out!

Take Mumbai. The city plays host to several places of cultural and historical significance, including beautiful heritage buildings and iconic places of worship. In the fourteenth century, the archipelago of seven islands that would later be known as Mumbai, was governed by the Gujarat Sultanate. It was under their aegis that several stunning mosques including the famous Haji Ali Dargah came to grace Mumbai’s shores. The pages of the city’s history are numerous and the stories therein, may keep you awake long after the day has departed.

So if you've been living under a rock in Mumbai thus far, here's a lovely way to spend a weekend out.

1. Gateway of India

Jean-Pierre Dalbera

Initially used as a jetty for the fisher folk of the area, Gateway of India at Apollo Bunder was later turned into a landing place for British governors and other officials. Today, it is a favourite among locals and tourists for its proximity to Taj Mahal Palace & Tower and the beautiful view of the Arabian Sea. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, the arches and dome of the Gateway are a remarkable sight. A visit here can also be combined with a walk along Colaba Causeway, located right behind the Gateway.

2. Elephanta Caves

Ricardo Martins

Mumbai is home to many caves and forts built by different communities in different eras. But perhaps the most atmospheric of them all are the Elephanta Caves, located off the coast and accessible via a ferry from Gateway of India. Carved between the 5th and 8th century, they are a network of rock-cut caves dedicated to Lord Shiva. Once the Portuguese reign began, the caves went into disrepair and it was only in the 1970s that they were renovated again. In 1987, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Also Read: Mumbai's Iconic Elephanta Caves Are Facing Risk From Rising Sea Levels

3. Asiatic Library

Elroy Serrao

The Asiatic Society of Mumbai at Fort was established in 1804 by Sir James Mackintosh, a Scottish jurist, politician and historian. Many musicians have regaled crowds of adoring listeners on the steps of the library, the most recent being Ayushmann Khurana at the Kala Ghoda Festival 2016. While the building itself is a pleasure to explore, don’t miss the treasures housed within the library. Notable among these is the manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy and 15,000 other rare and valuable books. Totally, there are over a hundred thousand books in the library.

4. CST station

Anoop Ravi

Earlier known as Victoria Terminus, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the most important railway station in Mumbai and the terminating point for many long-distance trains. With its High Victorian Gothic style of architecture and interesting turrets and arches, CST station has found a place among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Not too many people know that many of its external fixtures such as the balustrades, grills and ornamental railings are the work of students at the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art. On days of national significance, the station is often lit up in multiple colours.

5. Kala Ghoda

Abhishek

Kala Ghoda is the name of an area that’s dotted with historical and cultural landmarks like Jehangir Art Gallery and the Pavement Gallery, Bombay Natural History Society, David Sassoon Library and Lions Gate. But it also refers to the black stone statue of King Edward VII, who was the then Prince of Wales. He is seen astride a horse crafted by Jewish businessman and philanthropist Albert Abdullah David Sassoon. This statue is now present at the Byculla Zoo but Kala Ghoda (literally ‘black horse’) continues to embody its memory. An exploration of Kala Ghoda is incomplete without a visit to the Esplanade Mansion, India's oldest surviving cast iron building.

6. Rajabai Clock Tower

Nikhil Kulkarni

The Rajabai Clock Tower at the Fort campus of the University of Mumbai is our very own answer to London’s Big Ben. Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, an English architect, the Tower took nearly ten years to be built and was finally finished in November 1878. Although a melange of Venetian and Gothic styles, the Tower is very much local, having been fashioned from buff coloured Kurla stone. Don’t miss its beautiful stained glass windows which can rival any other in Mumbai. A visit here can be combined with an exploration of the University’s campus. Once, the Rajabai Clock Tower was the tallest structure in Mumbai but not anymore.

7. Haji Ali Dargah

Humayunn Peerzaada

The Haji Ali Dargah is a legendary landmark of the city situated off the coast of Worli, accessible only during low tide thanks to the long causeway one has to walk along to reach the mosque. It was built in the 19th century in the Indo-Islamic style of architecture and shelters the tomb of the Muslim saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. The shrine is particularly magical on Fridays, when visitors are often greeted by qawwali. If you have more time at hand, hop over to Mahalaxmi Temple on Bhulabhai Desai Road.

8. Castella de Aguada

Castella_de_Aguada

Like caves, several forts stand as bastions of time in the ever evolving city of Mumbai. Arguably the most popular among them is Castella de Aguada, better known as Bandra Fort. Located at the end of Land’s End at Bandstand in Bandra, the fort is best explored in the bright light of day. Once you ascend the steps, you are treated to a sweeping view of the Bandra Worli Sea Link and the rocky coast below. ‘Castella de Aguada’ means ‘watery castle’ in Portuguese and refers to the erstwhile fountain of fresh water that passing Portuguese ships used to slake their thirst.

9. Mount Mary Church

wikimedia

This Roman Catholic Basilica in Bandra is where the entire city converges for midnight mass on the eve of Christmas. The church also comes alive during the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is followed by the week-long Bandra Fair in September. Mount Mary Church sits on a hillock overlooking the Arabian Sea and the present structure is over 100 years old. However, in reality, the church dates back to the 17th century when it was destroyed and had to be rebuilt. 

10. Banganga Tank

Sourabh Sinha

This ancient water tank is located in the Walkeshwar Temple Complex at Malabar Hill. The silent cistern with its surrounding ducks and playing children can have a mesmerising effect on many. Originally built by a minister in the court of Silhara dynasty kings of Thane in the 1127 AD, Banganga Tank was rebuilt in 1715 AD. Over the years, the main temple has been reconstructed several times. The tank owes its name to a legend that says Lakshmana created a tributary of the Ganga to quench his brother Rama’s thirst.

While many of the heritage sites in Mumbai are located in the Southern part, there are several gems strewn across the city and it will take more than a day to cover them all.