The Maximum City – Mumbai is a labyrinth of dreams. Woven with countless colorful threads, the city is impossible to explore in one go. To fully understand the city and its culture, you must step out and walk through its narrow lanes, bustling bazaars, and quaint neighborhoods. But, don’t worry about getting lost in the city crowd, for there are plenty of walking tours in Mumbai to make your experience worth it. Here’s us telling you about some of the best walking tours in the city that will make you fall in love with the City of Dreams more than ever!
5 Best Walking Tours In Mumbai
1. The Crown Jewel Of Mumbai – Inside CSMT Tour
Organized by: Raconteur Tours
The first walking tour in Mumbai on our list begins with the most iconic landmark of Mumbai. No, it’s not the Gateway of India, it’s the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Building. The first train ride in India commenced from Bori Bunder to Thane, covering a distance of 34 kilometers, and the rest is history. Years later, the iconic building of the CSMT station was built by architect F. W. Stevens in the classic Indo-Gothic style of architecture.
This walking tour takes you through the architectural marvel that this building is and the awe-inspiring history of the railway station. It includes the lesser-known corridors, passages, the garden outside, as well as the Staircase and the Grand Dome. If you are interested in Mumbai’s history, architecture, and culture, this tour is just the right fit for you.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Time: 4:00 PM onwards
Price: INR 500 (adults); INR 100 (students with a valid ID card)
Booking link: The Crown Jewel Of Mumbai Tour – BookMyShow
2. Several Walking Tours By Hallu Hallu
Hallu Hallu takes pride in slow walking tours, urging participants to stop and observe the city that is forever running. They organize several walks in the city, exploring its different facets. Also, do you know that hallu hallu literally translates to ‘slowly-slowly’ in Marathi, so their walking tours in Mumbai only makes sense!
In January, Hallu Hallu organized the following tours:
- 5th January: Haji Ali and Maa Hajiani Tour by Falak Chowdhary
- 11th January: Versova Koliwada Seafood Festival Tour with Rajhans Tapke
Here are upcoming tours that Hallu Hallu will be organizing, so we recommend registering for these at the earliest.
- 26th January: Medieval Mahim with Falak Chowdhary
- 2nd February: Tirnuelveli To Dharavi with Pooja Ashokkumar
The dates, timings, and duration of the tours vary according to the individual tour itself, so we suggest that you visit the official Hallu Hallu Instagram page for more information.
3. Nature Walking Tours By Mumbai Van
If your corporate soul is available to explore Mumbai only on the weekends, this is one of the best walking tours in Mumbai you can participate in. Run by naturalist Abhishek Khan, Mumbai Van organizes botanical tours inside Veermata Jijabai Udyan or Byculla Zoo (Rani Baug Botanical Garden) and Maharashtra Nature Park, Deonar.
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Even I attended one of their tours, specifically the Botany of Lovemaking walking tour in Byculla a few months ago and was mesmerized to understand more about Mumbai’s true saviors – its trees. The tours are informative and surely intrigue you with tons of backstories and lores of Mumbai’s indigenous and foreign flora. So, what are you waiting for?
These are the walking tours you can be a part of on your weekends. You can simply DM them on Instagram for more information:
- Botany of Lovemaking – Rani Baug Botanical Garden
- Botany of Witchcraft – Maharashtra Nature Park
- Botany of Alcohol – Rani Baug Botanical Garden
Duration: 2 hours
Time: Depends on the tour
Price: INR 820 onwards
4. Gezgin Walking Tours
Next one on our list of the best walking tours in Mumbai is known for exploring the lesser-explored parts of Mumbai. Be it the Kanheri Caves on Elephanta Island or the historic Parel Gaothan neighborhood, Gezgin stands out for shedding light on the archaeological and socio-cultural history of these different places.
In January, they organised tours like Bylanes of Bandra and Chronicles of Krishnagiri with Ketan Parte, and Clap & Fling Butterfly Trail with Shardul Bajikar, among others. For the January schedule, here are a few more walking tours Gezgin will be organizing:
- 12th January: Dharavi’s Working Gods by Raamesh Gowri Raghavan
- 18th January: Rajgruha Visit by Dikshita Jadhav
- 19th January: Parel Pradakshina
- 26th January: Thane Meanderings by Raamesh Gowri Raghavan
For details like timings and fees for individual tours, you can DM Gezgin official Instagram handle or contact +918369913918.
5. Art Deco Mumbai Walking Tours
If there’s one striking yet underappreciated feature of Mumbai, it has to be its stunning art deco buildings. Art deco movement, tracing its roots in the 1920s seemingly made its way to the Maximum City, and is not just limited to South Bombay. The Art Deco Mumbai Trust, in an attempt to throw light on this architectural treasure of Mumbai, conducts curated walking tours throughout Mumbai. These include the Oval Maidan, the Matunga neighborhood, and Marine Drive.
Art Deco Mumbai conducts these tours on request, with groups of 4 to 12 people. They also arrange customized private tours if that is what you would want. You must totally sign up for these tours if you and your friend group is interested in knowing more about Mumbai’s art deco architecture.
For requesting a tour and more information, you can visit their official Art Deco Mumbai website.
Summing Up
While exploring the City of Dreams is equally fun by rickshaws, buses, and trains, the joy of walking through Mumbai is quite incomparable. The city’s history isn’t a megalith to be studied in one go – it’s made of many tiny pebbles, each from a different era and culture. Be it the botanical gardens or the art deco buildings, it’s time to slow down and explore the ever-running city on your own feet!
FAQs
How Are Walking Tours Conducted?
Walking tours are conducted and led by tour guides, who are often experts in their respective fields. They guide the participants through a particular part of the city and explain the history, cultural significance, and interesting facts about that place.
Are Walking Tours Popular?
Yes, walking tours are quite popular and a recommended way of exploring a city or a place. This way, you are more likely to understand the place better, in terms of its culture, social life, architecture, and history.
Where To Go For A Walk In Mumbai?
There are quite a few places throughout Mumbai where you can go for a leisurely walk. These are a few of them:
- Bandra’s Ranwar Village
- Juhu and Versova Beach
- Marine Drive and Girgaon Chowpatty
- Bylanes of Matunga
- Dadar Flower Market and the nearby Shivaji Park
- Kala Ghoda, Fort
- Khotachi Wadi, Girgaon
