Neither by service nor fee Come I to mine estate - Mother of Cities to me, For I was born in her gate, Between the palms and the sea, Where the world-end steamers wait.
~Excerpt from To the City of Bombay, By Rudyard Kipling
A home alike to the richest and the poor, Mumbai is marked by it's typical chaotic, cosmopolitan and dynamic spirit. The narrow wedge-shaped metropolis, surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides, attracts a large number of tourists all over the year.
Beaches and coastlines offer a respite from the frantic life to us, the locals of Mumbai, and are a major attraction for the tourists. Naturally, alongside other tourist attractions, beaches are the must-see spots in the itinerary of any of my friends or relatives who come to Mumbai.
For those of you planning to visit Mumbai, here are some of the popular beaches in Mumbai. Juhu beach
The sprawling Juhu beach stretches for about six kilometres from Juhu to Versova.
Walking on the sand along the shore of the Arabian Sea, you see the vast expanse of the sea meeting with the horizon. The beach is lively with joggers and walkers who come in the mornings and evenings, and it gets crowded on the weekends as people flock to picnic and unwind on the beach.
The ISKCON temple in Mumbai is a stone throw away from Juhu beach.
Chowpatty beach
Located in the heart of the city is the Chowpatty Beach, popular for its street food ( Bhel Puri, kulfi and Pav Bhaji ) and for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. You can savour the local delicacies sitting on the rugs spread out in front of the stalls or while strolling on the shore.
The Versova beach, situated in the suburbs of Andheri is a secluded beach, which is actually an extension of the Juhu Beach, which is separated by a creek. Huge boulders, bordering the beach, buffer the buildings from the enormous waves that cover the beach during high tide.
Residing at one end of Versova beach, are the Kolis, the native fisherfolk of Mumbai. However, due to the lack of basic amenities such as lifeguards, the beach is not frequented by tourists.
Worli Seaface
Worli Seaface is one of my favourite promenades for walks in the evenings. The promenade right across the Bandra Worli sea link is neat and well maintained and provides an ideal stretch for walking / running. The statue of RK Laxman's common man greets you at two places as you walk along the seashore. During high tides, the waves come crashing over the wall, sprinkling water on the face of the onlookers.
At around 1.8 km from the Worli Sea Face is the revered Siddhivinayak temple .
Marine Drive
The necklace (or C) shaped coastline at Marine Drive, has a beautifully laid boulevard along the shore of the Arabian Sea. Situated at the foot of Malabar Hill, the 3 km long Marine Drive is a natural bay, and forms a portion of the skyline of Mumbai. The pathway stretching from Chowpatty Beach to Churchgate is protected by tetrapods.
Marine Drive is full of life in the evenings, crowded with promenaders of all age groups, who are out for a stride along the breezy pathway.
One of the popular weekend getaways is the scenic Madh Island beach, at a distance of 32 km from Mumbai. One of the cleanest in the state, Madh Island beach is made of a cluster of little villages and farmlands situated on the North-Western coast of Mumbai.
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