10 best places to visit in Mumbai in winter

As the cool breeze works its charm in Mumbai, here are places to explore on a winter day.

Mumbai winters don’t really call for leather jackets and boots, in fact, during the day you probably can get away with a simple full-sleeve top and throw in a thin shrug in the evening. However, after months of humidity and monsoon, the winter months are a welcome change. There is definitely a dip in temperature however small it is and even though you may not need much winter clothing, it is certainly one of the best times to explore the city of Mumbai. We give you a list of places you can visit in Mumbai in winter.

Marine Drive

One of the best spots in the city, Marine Drive is a place you can visit all-year-round. In the summer, it provides respite from the heat, in the monsoon, it looks splendid as the rains drench it completely and the sea roars with high tides and in the winter, it becomes even more pleasant thanks to its proximity to the sea. The entire stretch of Marine Drive is a perfect place to catch a glimpse of the city’s skyline and enjoy some moments of solitude as cars drive by on one side and the sea mesmerizes on the other side.

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Gateway of India

Head to Colaba for a glimpse of the Gateway of India, which is an iconic landmark of the city and stands tall at 85 feet. The monument offers a perfect backdrop for photos and you are sure to find photographers roaming around with Polaroid cameras. During winters, you can expect a cooler climate and a light breeze even during the day. From Gateway, you can even take a ferry ride on the Arabian Sea and visit Elephanta Caves. Tickets are available just outside the premises. The opposite the Gateway is the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel. You can either drop in for a bite or admire the structure from outside.

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Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Sanjay Gandhi National Park or SGNP is one of the biggest attractions for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. The wildlife reserve is spread across 104 sq km and is one of the most visited national parks in Asia attracting over 2 million tourists annually. You can rent a bicycle and explore the beauty of the park or even go on foot if they are all booked. Winter is a good time as you can visit the park in the day without the heat bogging you down. The 2400-year-old Kanheri Caves are also inside the national park and constitute a group of rock-cut monuments.

Hanging Gardens

A terraced garden in Malabar Hill, Hanging Gardens along with Kamala Nehru Park are one of the city’s largest open spaces and attract families with children. The gardens have structures carved in animal shapes and provide a breathtaking view of the Arabian Sea. You can catch a beautiful sunset here and even take some amazing photos. Kamala Park is opposite Hanging Gardens and is famous for a shoe-shaped structure that is popular with kids. It offers views of Chowpatty Beach and Marine Drive. You can go for a day picnic to these spots with a packed lunch and Frisbee.

Bandra

Bandra is one of the most popular suburbs in Mumbai and warrants at least a day to explore its treasures. From hep restaurants and pubs to iconic buildings like Mount Mary Church to bylanes with trees and old Portuguese houses, Bandra has it all. Some parts of Bandra are best explored on foot especially if you plan to go street shopping on Linking Road or Hill Road. A visit to Carter’s Road that is lined with restaurants and offers majestic sea views is also recommended and so is Bandstand that is often visited by couples. The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is another attraction.

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Chowpatty

Mumbai may not have the best beaches even though it is made up of seven islands, but even so, tourists flock to Juhu and Girgam Chowpatty for a glimpse of the sand and sea. These beaches are packed with food stalls that offer Mumbai’s regional favourites like pav bhaji, chaat, gola, wada pav, etc. To avoid the tourists, you can visit Chowpatty in the day or early evening. Mornings are also a good time if you want to go jogging on the beach. Both Juhu and Girgam Chowpatty are popular among tourists.

Karnala Bird Sanctuary

Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

A little outside the city of Mumbai is Karnala Bird Sanctuary near Panvel. It is centred around the Karnala Fort. It is open for visitors from morning to evening and has a range of species of birds to spot. The lush greenery of the sanctuary and the chirping of birds around is perfect for nature lovers. Karnala Bird Sanctuary is relatively small as it is spread across 12 sq km but the drive to the place and back with a few hours of exploration makes for a day out.

Amusement parks

Mumbai is home to some of the best amusement parks in the country. The two most popular ones are Essel World and Adlabs Imagica. Both of them also have a water park that is equally big. Essel World has been around for a while and Imagica is relatively new. Winter is a good time visit these as the heat will be less and you can enjoy roaming around and the roller coaster rides. Both the amusement parks are in opposite ends of the city.

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Chor Bazaar

If you are looking for some vintage knick-knacks or practically anything under the sun to decorate your house, you definitely have to give Chor Bazaar a visit. The bustling shops here are packed with unique items from vintage clocks to typewriters and telephones. The market is a visual treat even if you don’t want to buy anything, you can click photos of the tiny shops stocked with memorabilia. Skip Friday and visit the market in the morning if you want to purchase stuff.

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Dharavi

The slum colony of Mumbai shot to fame after it was portrayed in Slumdog Millionaire and since then there are various organized tours that take tourists inside the narrow lanes of Dharavi to witness how people live here. There are also several industries like recycling, leather, etc that run inside the slum and have a great annual turnaround. Winter is a good time as this a walking tour that lasts a few hours.

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