Mumbai is known by many names, such as 'Maximum City,' 'City of Dreams,' and 'The Financial Capital of India,' among others. But beyond being the thriving hub of the Indian film industry, Mumbai offers so much more for curious travellers.
If you are visiting Mumbai and wish to see the city besides its most popular aspects, choose to go around it through these specialised walks. These walks will take you through the lanes of Mumbai that you didn't know existed and open a whole world for travellers and locals to explore.
Mumbai's shoreline is thriving with a diverse marine life. As you walk the rocky shores of Haji Ali, Erangal or Versova, you will inevitably find a hermit crab hurrying to hide under the crevice of a tidepool, a sea star, or a sea-slug, nudibranchs, sea anemones, several bivalves. Marine Life of Mumbai, a flagship project of the Coastal Conservation Foundation brings the sea closer to the people of Mumbai and introduces each species of inhabitants and their functions in the ecosystem.
A word of caution: since these walks are on rocky shores, avoid wearing sandals. Wear sturdy shoes.
Price Range: Starts from INR 500/ person
Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
What you embrace is a tinge of slowness in the fast-paced life of Mumbai. 'Go Hallu Hallu' is dedicated to introducing the actual indigenous residents of Mumbai. Warli or Varli tribes, along with urban residents, will take you along the Dahisar River that flows through Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Founded by Gangadharan Menon and Aslam Saiyad, these are not just heritage walks but also opportunities for people to stop, observe, and soak in the sights and sounds of the city, which remain hidden in plain sight.
Price Range: Starts from INR 1,000/ person
Duration: Some are 1 – 2 hours long, and some are 6 hours long, like the Dahisar River walk.
Book here: https://www.instagram.com/gohalluhallu/
Everyone knows Bandra for its cheap hauls, but few know about the history and heritage of Bandra, which snakes its way through the cobblestone-paved path. Keeping Heritage Alive and Kicking in India, a.k.a. KHAKI, was founded by Bharat Gothoskar, who dreamed of becoming a conservation architect. As you traverse Ranwar Village, the architectural vestiges of the colonial past, the cultural conundrum of the lanes, churches and heirlooms will not be lost on you. Wait till you are transported to the dwindling East Indian culture spread across Bandra.
Price Range: Starts from INR 599 /person
Duration: 1 – 2.5 hours
Book here: https://www.instagram.com/khaki.tours/
Located in the secluded part of Aarey Colony, the Bombay Natural History Society or BNHS will take you along guided trails with naturalists for an immersive and enlightening walk. As you wait for the participants to arrive, you can stroll in the butterfly garden and allow the Lepidoptera to hover around you. You might spot some multi-coloured caterpillars, too, before you start the short expedition. There are several nature walks consisting of leopard and wildflower trails, of which the easiest is Temple Trail.
Price Range: Starts from INR 600/ person (prices for members and non-members are different)
Duration: 1 to 2 hrs
Grade: Easy (1-2 km walk)
Book here: https://www.bnhs.org/nature-trails
South Bombay is an island of surprises where every distinct community celebrates their blended lifestyles. Known as the wealthiest precinct, it is also home to the oldest part of Mumbai, but every time you step into that time capsule, you will go astray in the absence of a good guide. Mumbai Magic exposes you to the hyperlocal experience of diving into the cacophony of Mumbai markets, the narrow lanes of Khao gali (Food lane), the antiquities collection of Chor Bazaar and also the artwork at Kala Ghoda. Of the several walks Mumbai Magic offers, the most popular and recommended is the 'Mumbai Local'.
Price Range: Starts from INR 750/ person
Duration: Depends on the type of walk
Book here: https://www.mumbaimagic.com/fort-heritage-district-walk.html
Dharavi is known as one of the largest slums in the world, but Reality Tours & Travels will take you through the dingy lanes of Dharavi, which boast a thriving industrial hub shadowed under the shanties. A microcosm of sorts, through Reality Tours & Travel, you will acquaint yourself with the society that contributes around a billion dollars to the local economy. This is the most recommended of all the Reality Tours & Travel walks, which will allow you glimpse into the resilience of Dharavi.
Price Range: Starts from INR 1,200
Duration: Minimum 2.5 hours
Book here: https://realitytoursandtravel.com/tour/dharavi-tour-2/
Move over the too-large nightlife and the usual markets and witness a Mumbai that is about culture and community. No Footprints not only takes you through fish auctions of Sasson docks, the bustling fruit and vegetable markets and the textile industries at dawn, but their walking tours also consist of learning about the Jewish community of Mumbai along with an introduction to the famed Dabbawalas. One of the best walking tours that has captivated the likes of Nigella Lawson and Eric Roth, their most popular and recommended walk is 'Worli-Koliwada Walk,' which captures the essence of the Koli community - Mumbai's original fisherfolk.
Price Range: Starts from INR 700/ person
Duration: 2 – 2.5 hrs
Book here: https://www.nfpexplore.com/
More often than not, you will be completely captivated by South Bombay's architecture. Imprints of Indo-Saracenic aesthetics are quite prominent in many historical monuments, while Art Deco architecture is everywhere. But to identify them, you will need to have a keen eye. Nautical features, streamlining, and rounded features are some of the characteristics of this architecture, which is commonly found in old office and residential buildings. Art Deco Mumbai guides you through the neighbourhoods that were influenced by this structural design around the streets of Matunga, Oval Maidan and Marine Drive. Of these, the most recommended is the walk around Matunga, which brings an element of surprise.
Price Range: Starts from INR 899/ person
Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Book here: https://www.instagram.com/artdecomumbai