1 . Gateway of India
Nowadays, the Gateway of India is one of the most popular gathering spots in Mumbai for tourists and locals alike. Watch the yachts and ferries take off to sea from the five jetties that flank the arch. Enjoy some of the famous bhelpuri (a crunchy, savory snack made of puffed rice and doused in tamarind sauce) from the street food vendors. Or just spend an hour or two people watching at this lively attraction.
Afterwards, walk 10 minutes southwest to the Colaba Causeway Market, a vibrant bazaar selling everything you can imagine and more. It’s one of the best places to visit for cheap shopping in Mumbai.
- 2.Watch the Sunset on Marine DriveMarine
- Drive No trip to Mumbai would be complete without a cruise down Marine Drive. The 3.6-kilometer-long, C-shaped boulevard offers epic views of the coast. However, just as amazing are the sightseeing opportunities on the other side of Marine Drive. The street is lined with stunning Art Deco buildings that have earned status as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
After your mini road trip, head out on foot for some more sightseeing along the Marine Drive promenade. The best time to go is at sunset. That’s when tourists and Mumbaikars gather on the sands of Girgaum Chowpatty to see the cotton candy skies fade to dark while noshing on Mumbai’s famous street food from nearby stalls.
Hot tip: Wonder why Marine Drive is also known as “Queen’s Necklace”? Just look up at the street lights–they were positioned to make the road resemble a pearl necklace from above.
3 Take Pictures of the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Photo Source: The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Photo Source: The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Tourists can find another popular site right near the Gateway of India: The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai and Tower. More than a century old, India’s first luxury hotel is revered for the grandeur of its brownstone exterior. The windowed facade infuses its Renaissance architecture with Islamic touches, like corner turrets topped with onion domes, pointed archways, and covered balconies.
Fun fact: The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai hotel is one of India’s most photographed places. Walk by and snap your own picture from street level. Or, better yet, step inside the hotel’s colonial-style restaurant, Sea Lounge, in the afternoon for an elaborate high tea.
