Mumbai Sights: Heritage, Shrines and Caves
Sightseeing in Mumbai is mostly a scheduling puzzle. Several headline sights close on different weekdays, one shrine is cut off by the tide twice a day and the harbour ferries stop in rough weather. This page starts with those constraints, then goes through the sights in groups. Figures are in Indian rupees (INR), roughly 95 to the US dollar, and the hedged ones come from secondary sources, so confirm them before you travel. Standard big-city care applies: watch your bag in crowds.
Closing days at a glance
| Sight | When it is shut |
|---|---|
| Elephanta Caves and the ferries | Mondays |
| National Gallery of Modern Art | Mondays (open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00) |
| Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum | One weekday; sources name different days |
| CSMVS | Only 26 January, 1 May, 15 August and 2 October |
| Haji Ali Dargah | Not by day: the causeway floods at high tide |
| Gateway of India promenade | Never, by most reports: open round the clock |
Three UNESCO listings
Mumbai has three World Heritage entries. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, designed by F. W. Stevens in Victorian Gothic Revival style and finished in 1887-88, was inscribed in 2004. It is a working station, so look from the outside and keep clear of the concourse. The terminus was one of the places attacked in November 2008, and visitors do well to be quiet and respectful.
The Elephanta Caves, on Gharapuri Island, were inscribed in 1987. Cave 1 holds the Sadashiva sculpture. The ferry from the Gateway takes about an hour each way, boats are often cancelled or delayed from June to September, and a same-morning check is wise. The ASI ticket is reported at about INR 600 for foreign visitors, so confirm at the counter. Life jackets are required on the boats, and the island sits in a busy shipping area with no diving or snorkelling.
The third, the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai, was inscribed on 30 June 2018. It spans the buildings around Oval Maidan and the Art Deco blocks facing Marine Drive.
The harbour front
The Gateway of India is a basalt arch that marks the royal visit of 1911 and was completed in 1924. The surrounding promenade is free. Boats to Elephanta leave from beside it.
Museums
CSMVS keeps the longest hours: daily from 10:15 to 18:00, with the counter closing at 17:45. Foreign adults pay INR 700 with a free audio guide, and Indian adults pay INR 200, or INR 250 with the audio guide. Students and seniors with ID pay INR 100. A handheld camera pass is INR 500, and selfie sticks and tripods are not allowed. Details are on the CSMVS visit page .
The National Gallery of Modern Art in the Fort district charges about INR 500 to foreign visitors and INR 20 to Indians, according to Incredible India . The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Byculla reopened in January 2025 after restoration, and its hours are 10:00 to 17:30.
Sacred and historic places
Haji Ali Dargah, built in 1431, stands on an islet about 500 m from the shore. Its causeway has no railings and goes under water at high tide, so you can only reach the dargah at low tide. Look up the tide table first, because monsoon spring tides and rough seas can shut the way. Entry is free, and the hours are usually quoted as about 05:30 to 22:00. Dress modestly, and women normally cover their heads. Since 29 November 2016 women may enter the sanctum as well. Sources describe it as open to all faiths, though entry to the inner tomb for non-Muslims is not confirmed, so follow the staff.
Banganga Tank on Malabar Hill is a stepped pool of 12th-century origin with small shrines around it. It is free, and it is still used for worship, so keep your voice low and ask before photographing people.
Mani Bhavan was Gandhi’s base in Mumbai from 1917 to 1934. Most sources report free entry with a donation box and opening from about 09:30 to 17:30 or 18:00.
Seeing the Sea Link
The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is a toll expressway, and pedestrians are reported to be barred from it. Good views come from Bandra Bandstand and Worli Seaface.
Getting between sights
A taxi meter starts at about INR 33. Autos start at about INR 27 and run only north of Bandra and Sion.
Guided heritage outings can be searched on GetYourGuide .
Read more: walking tours in Mumbai , attraction tours in Mumbai and the Mumbai guides hub .