Mumbai: Off the Beaten Track
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Port
Mumbai (Bombay), India
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$260
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 7 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
This full-day tour is tailor-made for guests who want to delve deeper into Mumbai, with an emphasis on sights and experiences that are off the beaten track.
Your first stop is at the Church Gate Station, where you discover a day in the life of the modern-day Mumbaikar, who travels by local train to work and back every day.
Trains are literally Mumbai's lifeline, and if the trains are unable to run, the city is unable to function. Board a local train for a short ride to Mahalakshmi Station -- one of Mumbai's busiest hubs.
Leaving the lively station, you'll stop for photos at the Mahalakshmi dhobi ghat. A laundry service unique to Mumbai, the dhobi ghat is where clothing from all over the city is brought to be washed, boiled in starch, hung out to dry, ironed and returned to its owners. It is a stunning anachronism in this fast-paced city.
Next is Khotachiwadi, best described as an urban village. Situated in the heart of the city, this is an area that consists of narrow lanes where time seems to have stood still for decades. Walk through the neighborhood and, to add to your experience, visit the home of local resident Mr James Ferreira. One of India's first designers, James has been instrumental in the restoration of the area. His home is one of the original Portuguese buildings and it houses a collection of antiques and exemplary pieces of traditional teak furniture.
Visit the bustling Crawford Market, a blend of Flemish and Norman architecture; then, take a break at the historical Taj Mahal Palace Hotel for an enjoyable lunch.
Before returning to the pier, stop to visit Mani Bhavan -- Mahatma Gandhi's Bombay base between 1917 and 1934. It is now a permanent museum and memorial to the Mahatma, and contains a research library of more than 20,000 volumes. A series of tiny dioramas tell his life story in an interesting fashion. The walls are covered with photos of historic events and noteworthy people, and there are a number of personal artifacts including a letter to Hitler asking him not to go to war, and correspondence with Roosevelt, Tolstoy, and Einstein. Gandhi's sitting room/bedroom is preserved behind glass.
Please note:
Tour does not operate on Sundays or holidays.