Here are some places which make Mumbai highly popular:
1. Gateway of India
The Gateway of India, the historical arch-monument, is what Mumbai is famous for primarily. It is a large basalt-made monument, which served as a ceremonial place during the British rule to welcome King George V in India in 1911. However, it is the same place from where the last troop of Britain left India in 1948. Apart from that, the architecture has a height of 26 metres and is located in the Apollo Bunder area, overlooking the mesmerising Arabian Sea.
2. Marine Drive
Marine Drive also comes among the top attractions in Mumbai for the picturesque seaside beauty it offers. It is a C-shaped, 6-lane highway beside the coast of the Arabian Sea. The bridge is also called the 'Queen's Necklace' due to its C-like shape. It is a matter of immense delight whether you walk or drive through Marine Drive preferably, during sunset.
3. Bandra-Worli Sea Link
It is a 5.6-kilometre-long bridge with eight lanes, connecting the West suburb of Mumbai at Bandra to South Mumbai at Worli. This sea link decreases the overall time of commuting from Bandra to Worli by almost 10 to 20 minutes. Further, if you want a panoramic view of the Bandra-WorliSea Link, you can go to the Portuguese watchtower located at Bandra Fort.
4. Kanheri Caves
Kanheri Caves is a group of more than 100 rock-cut monuments situated at Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Inside these 2000 years old caves, you can find large Buddhist stupas, prayer halls and congregation areas. Among these, Cave 34 contains some unfinished yet magnificent Buddhist paintings on its ceiling. All these indicate that Kanheri Caves was once a properly organised Buddhist establishment and a centre for studying, meditating and living.
5. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is a large and beautiful museum that houses more than 70,000 artistic works and historical artefacts that display the growth of human civilisation from the Stone Age to the present time.
The original intent behind building this museum was to commemorate the Prince of Wales's visit to India in 1905. The architecture of this building is an embodiment of Indo-Saracenic style with an amalgamation of indigenous Maratha, Mughal and Jain styles.
6. Global Vipassana Pagoda
Global Vipassana Pagoda is a large dome hall for meditation that can accommodate nearly 8,000 visitors. It is a large Buddhist temple built in the style of Shwedagon or Golden Pagoda in Myanmar. This pagoda has the world's largest dome having no pillar as support and you can also explore Buddha's life through numerous arts and artefacts kept within the housing complex.
7. Shree Siddhivinayak Temple
It is one of the most prosperous temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha, situated in Prabhadevi,Mumbai. The temple contains beautifully carved-out sculptures of Ashtavinayaka on the inner gates and pillars. Apart from that, it also has a well-designed gold-plated dome over the idol of Lord Ganesha. Moreover, the exterior of this temple also gives an impressive sight with a large dome lit with bright and beautiful colour that changes hourly.
8. Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya
Mani Bhavan is a two-storied old-fashioned building in which Mahatma Gandhi used to stay whenever he had to come to Mumbai during the Indian independence movement. It served as a residence cum headquarter for Gandhiji for almost seventeen years. From here, he also ignited the spirit of the Satyagraha movement and propagated Khadi and Swadeshi Movement. In 1955, this building was converted into a research centre and museum to celebrate historical events associated with the Father of India.
9. Mahalakshmi Temple
It is an old and one of the most venerated temples in Mumbai dedicated to the goddess Mahalakshmi. You can find images of Tridevi (three goddesses), Mahakali, Mahasaraswati and Mahalakshmi inside. There is a legend that Ramji Shivji Prabhu dreamt of a statue of a goddess near the seashore of Worli and built the beautiful temple. In addition, a merchant of Mumbai, Dhakji Dadaji, contributed to this temple construction project.
10. Elephanta Island
Situated near the Mumbai harbour, Elephanta Island is one of the major tourist magnets and a UNESCO World Heritage Site of India. It contains beautifully carved cave temples that Mumbai is famous for. The 990-metre-long main cave temple has numerous carved pillars, cross beams and rock-cut images related to ‘Trimurti Sadashiva', the wedding of Shiva and Parvarti, etc.
11. Taj Mahal Palace
Taj Mahal Palace is one of the oldest and most iconic luxury hotels in Mumbai. Further, the brown-stoned building, beautiful windowed façade, onion domes, etc., adds to this palace’s impeccable beauty. All these make this palace one of the most photographed places in India.