Our microguides series is inspired by the slow travel movement, encouraging travellers to relax their pace and take a deep dive into one particular neighbourhood in a well-loved city. Rather than a whirlwind itinerary which aims to hit up every must-see attraction, these compact, close-up guides encourage you to zone in, take your time and truly explore like a local.
Everyone in Mumbai has a Bandra story. Some of the more predictable involve bumping into a Bollywood celebrity or drunken shenanigans at one of its bars. Some are fond memories of a past where a street singer called Cotton Mary would regale the residents. Others are of finding love at a karaoke night, or stolen moments of peace along the seafront in India’s vibrant financial capital.
Bandra is known as the queen of Mumbai’s suburbs and it wears this badge with pride. Packed with a diverse range of restaurants, swinging bars and lounges, boutique stores and street vendors, this northern district is hitched to the more touristy southern part of the city via the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, a bridge that now features in prominent images of the city. The “West” part of the suburb is where you’d go to enjoy the city’s culture; with the “East” half being more residential and subdued.
This coastal area was a tiny fishing village when Portuguese rule brought Christianity to the city. It still bears remnants of its Catholic past: plague crosses and majestic churches including the Mount Mary church, which sees visitors from far and wide, and different religious identities come to seek blessings. The launch of Mehboob Studios here in the 1950s soon saw the place turn into a hub of the Hindi film industry.
In the 20th century, Bandra became a fashionable address, driving up property rates and leading to rampant construction. Today, it is hipster central. It’s where the city brings in the weekend: eating, drinking, partying and attending concerts or events.
The Bandra Worli Sea Link
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Do
Sit by the sea
Bandra has two main seafronts: Bandstand and Carter Road. The former is a lovely promenade ending at a ruined fort, which looks out onto the Sea Link bridge. On the way, stop and join the fans gawking at the houses of two of Bollywood’s superstars, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan (at the start of Byramji Jeejeebhoy Road and at the junction of Hk Bhabha and Byramji Road respectively). Take a detour up the slope to visit the pretty Basilica of our Lady of the Mount, or head to…
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