Hidden Places In Mumbai

Living in a city like Mumbai can turn to be quite a task owing to its excessively crowded streets, stations, tourists’ spots, precisely almost everywhere place you wish to go. The only solution to this problem lies in looking for hidden places in Mumbai or at max around the city which consummates your need of seclusion without having to leave the city. There are many hidden places in Mumbai that hide from an average traveler in plain sight. With a curated list, we help you explore, visit, and enjoy some of the lesser known sights in Mumbai that welcome any traveler with open arms in a city that never sleeps. 

1. Banganga Tank

The Banganga Tank is a temple tank which is part of the Hindu Walkeshwar Temple complex in the Malabar Hill area of the city of Mumbai. The tank was built in AD 1127 by Lakshman Prabhu, a minister in the court of Silhara kings. It was rebuilt in 1715, funded by a donation from Rama Kamath. 

Mythology:-

According to local legend, the temple sprang forth when Rama, the exiled hero of the epic Ramayana, stopped at the spot in search of his kidnapped wife, Sita. As the legend goes, overcome with fatigue and thirst, Rama asked his brother Lakshmana to bring him some water. Lakshmana instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the ground, creating a tributary of the Ganges, which flows over a thousand miles away – hence its name, Banganga, ie the Ganga created by a baan (arrow).

How to reach:- 

If traveling by the Mumbai local train, the nearest railway stations are Charni Road and Grant Road on the Western Line. You'll need to take a taxi from the station.

2. Maharashtra Nature Park

When people come today to the (MNP) they find it difficult to believe that, the forest they see before their very eyes was once a city garbage dump. But that is exactly what it was less than 20 years ago. Conceived by the WWF-India in the late 1970s, an area of about 37 acres in the "H" Block of Bandra-Kurla Complex, which was earlier a garbage dump or land fill, was decided to be ecologically restored and developed as a Nature Park by MMRDA. Today experts from around the world visit the MNP to study how so many trees could grow on a dumping ground used for decades by the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai. Naturalists from the Bombay Natural History Society and the World Wide Fund for Nature-India confirm that MNP plays host to about 38 species of butterflies and more than 80 species of birds. What is more, as many as 200 tree species have been listed, many naturally planted by birds and insects. When you walk in the precincts of the MNP you will see numerous insects, amphibians and reptiles and together with the many species of fungi that thrive, the place has a feel of true woodland.

 

How to reach:- 

It is about 2.5 kilometres away from the Sion Railway Station which is also the closest railway station to the attraction. You'll need to take a taxi from the station.

3. Dhobi Ghat

Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat Mumbai is the world's largest open-air laundry. People bring dirty clothes from all over Mumbai. And hundreds of washermen and women – dhobis, work their shifts through the day to get the clothes back to their fresh, crisp and spotless state. While some dhobi families take help from machines too, much of the activities at this Dhobi Ghat of Mumbai is taken care of by hands. Every family member takes care of their part. One person flogs the clothes in the washing trough, while others hang them out to dry. Then someone will mint the clothes using bulky charcoal irons. Once the clothes are cleaned, dried and pressed, the porters take them back to the owners. The system is well-optimised, and each garment and sheet are coded to be traced back to the respective client. The place was set up by an association of 50 washers in 1890, during the British rule. And except for a few modifications, Dhobi Ghat has maintained its old look and way of working.

How to reach:-

 It is located next to Mahalaxmi railway station on the Western Railway's Saat Rasta roundabout. You can either walk to the ghat or can hire an auto-rickshaw for a few minutes.

4. Sewri Mangrove Park

The Sewri Mangrove Park was declared a protected area by the Bombay Port Trust on January 15 1996. This park consists of 15 acres of mangroves in the mudflats between Sewri and Trombay. 

How to reach:-

It can be reached from Sewri station on the Harbour line of the Mumbai suburban railway network. Get out on the east, cross the highway and commence walking due east. Follow the road as it turns right, and proceed to Sewri jetty. The walk takes about 15 minutes. Taxis will take you to the jetty, but it is hard to find one back.

5. Chhota Kashmir 

Those who are not able to go for vacations, Chota Kashmir located in Aarey Colony is the perfect place to be. For all those, who are looking for heaven and tranquillity in the hustle bustle and clamour of Mumbai, Chota Kashmir is the place to visit. A perfect picnic spot, Chota Kashmir garden, and lake are the place for all age groups. Whether coming with family, friends or partners, this place promises you a complete peace. Here, you will surely encounter a genuine feeling of serenity. The Chhota Kashmir Garden and lake are located on opposite sides of the road. The lake has boating facilities and also has been a shooting location for many Bollywood songs. There is a lotus pond too. Locals visit the garden on weekends as a picnic spot. The garden is visited by both families as well as couples. 

How to reach:-

It is easily commutable from the Goregaon railway station via auto-rickshaw at a distance of 5km. On the other hand, you can take 326, 341, 450, 451, 460, 479 buses which go through Aarey Dairy Milk Colony.

Entry Fee:-

 ₹20 per unit for Camera

₹20 per person for Boating (30 minutes)

Timing:-

The place is open all the seven days of the week from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

6. Mahakali Caves

Kondivite or Mahakali Caves are a group of 19 rock-cut monuments built between the 1st century BCE and the 6th century AD. They are cut in black basalt. Unfortunately, the caves are on the verge of collapse. And divided into two major groups having 19 caves in total. The caves have stone figures of Buddha and stupas and a few engraved figures of Buddha on the walls of the caves too, along with some scriptures in the language Pali. These solid basalt caves are a favourite place for history lovers, and archaeologists. Surprisingly clean and efficiently maintained, the caves are far from the city area hence give a sense of serenity. A majority of the caves are on a low-lying hill, rising only a few meters above the surroundings. Since the caves are carved in volcanic trap breccias, they are prone to weathering. The caves are small in size and contain numerous rock-cut cisterns. Though the images today are not clearly visible, the Mahakali caves are indeed one of the most beautiful specimens of the rock-cut monastery. 

How to Reach:-

you can take a train to Jogeshwari and Andheri which are the nearest railway stations. From here you can take a taxi or an auto to reach the caves.

7. BEST Bus Museum

BEST Bus services is first means of transport and one of the lifeline of the public in Mumbai city. It is also a best bus services in India. The museum is housed on the third floor of Anik Bus Depot at Wadala and refreshes the era of 1947 when it took charges of tram transport. It highlights the various stages through which the city’s transport system evolved.

Things to see:

1) Old bus tickets and various miniature models

2) Model of the 1938 version of the double decker bus called as Daimler bus

3) Display of vintage buses

4) Showcases the history of B.E.S.T.— from the horse-pulled trams in 1874 to the double-decker buses and the present single-decker buses.

Timing:-

Wednesday to Sunday – 9 am to 5 pm.

Entry Fee:- Free

How to reach:-

It can be reached from Sion Railway station via taxi at a distance of 5km (10 min).

8. Khotachiwadi

Khotachiwadi is a heritage precinct that is a delight for architecture lovers and enthusiasts alike. Khotachiwadi seems to be taking you back in time with its quaint bungalows and cottages and the heritage village makes for a rare sight in the heart of the city. Khotachiwadi has narrow winding lanes and homes in the Portuguese style that you will find mostly in Goa. Most homes here were built more than 100 years earlier and the village is home to the East Indian Christian community, the original inhabitants of Mumbai.

How to reach:-

The nearest railway station is Charni Road. Walk up to St Teresa’s church, take a right onto Jagannath Shankar Seth Road and walk into the second or third left.

9. Kanheri Caves

The Kanheri Caves are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments cut into a massive basalt outcrop in the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, on the former island of Salsette in the western outskirts of Mumbai, India. They contain Buddhist sculptures and relief carvings, paintings and inscriptions, dating from the 1st century CE to the 10th century CE. Kanheri comes from the Sanskrit Krishnagiri, which means black mountain.

Entry Fee:-

 ₹ 15 per person for Indians

₹ 200 per person for foreign citizens

Timing:-

Tuesday to Sunday - 7:30 am to 5:00 pm

How to reach:-

Goregaon (east) is the closest railway station to the park. Since kanheri caves are located inside the Park, there is no direct transportation from Goregaon (East) to Kanheri.

10. Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari

The Film City was built in the year 1911 under the precise guidance of the renowned veteran actor, director and film producer V. Shantaram. It was a dream project of one of the prominent film personalities, Dada Sahib Phalke under whose initiative the city was constructed and named after. As many as 900 films and television shows have been shot here. 

How to Reach:-

The nearest railway station is Goregaon station. From Goregaon, you can take a rickshaw to Film City.

Entry Fee:-

Rs. 499/- for Indian and Rs. 3,250/- for all the foreigners.

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