Marine Drive-Chowpatty Beach: Popular Tourist Attraction In Maharashtra

Marine Drive-Chowpatty Beach

About:

Marine Drive, also known as the "Queen's Necklace" due to its curving shape and sparkling lights at night, is a 3.6 km-long boulevard located in South Mumbai, Maharashtra. It stretches from Nariman Point to Chowpatty Beach. Chowpatty Beach, located at the northern end of Marine Drive, is one of Mumbai's most popular beaches and is famous for its vibrant atmosphere, street food, and festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, where thousands gather to witness the immersion of Lord Ganesha idols into the sea.

At the top end of Marine Drive is Chowpatty Beach, the only beach in the central part of Mumbai. One can witnesses many Hindu religious ceremonies taking place at Chowpatty like the annual thread-tying ceremony initiating young boys into the Brahmin caste, 'Nariel Purnima' towards the end of the monsoons and 'Ganesh Chaturthi' immersions. One can see the statues of Lokmanya Tilak and Vithalbhai Patel. There is a huge line of stalls on the beach, selling 'Bhelpuri', 'Kulfi' and 'Paan'. There are also shooting galleries, snake charmers, monkey trainers, balloon sellers and even masseurs. Recently they have added a park called "Nana-Nani Park" for elderly people.

Location info:

Marine Drive is located along the coast of the Arabian Sea in South Mumbai, stretching from Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty (Chowpatty Beach). It is surrounded by famous landmarks like the Oberoi Hotel, Air India Building, and several art deco buildings.

Climate/Weather:

Summer (March to June): Hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C. Monsoon (July to September): Heavy rainfall, often accompanied by strong winds. While the weather is cooler, the sea becomes rough. Winter (November to February): Cool and pleasant, with temperatures between 18°C and 28°C. This is the best time to visit.

History:

Marine Drive was constructed in the early 20th century as part of Mumbai's urban planning efforts to create a scenic coastal boulevard. It quickly became an iconic symbol of the city due to its curving shape and art deco architecture along the seafront. Chowpatty Beach, on the other hand, has been a gathering point for locals and tourists for over a century. It holds cultural significance, especially during major festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Independence Day celebrations.

Interesting things to do:

Evening Walks: Stroll along Marine Drive during sunset or at night when the streetlights give it the appearance of a glowing necklace.

Interesting things to Visit:

Marine Drive: The six-lane road is kissed by the breath-taking Arabian sea. Palm trees along the road make the sight picture perfect. This road connects Nariman Point with Malabar Hills. As you take a stroll along the coast you will see locals and visitors enjoying their time. The other side of the coastline is graced by concrete buildings.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: This terminus is a World Heritage Site. If you have a keen interest on architecture, then you must visit this busiest railway station. Its pointed arches, stone dome as well as elegant interiors, like wood carving, tiles, ornamental iron, brass railings will mesmerize you. Do not miss seeing this beautiful work of British and Indian architecture.

Gateway of India: If you think of Mumbai, then this structure will come to your head. This is the first site that is visited by most tourists. It was built as a triumphal arch to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. This famous landmark will attract you like a magnet. There are steps in this monument which will lead you to the sea.

Flora Fountain: Built in 1864, this splendid structure deserves your visit. Flora fountain showcases the golden period of architecture. It is beautifully surrounded by imperial colonial buildings. It is a piece of Roman sculpture depicting the goddess Flora. The flow of water is like a never ending cycle of life.

Taj Palace Hotel, Mumbai: If you want to spend a luxurious time in Mumbai, then you must visit the famous and world-renowned Taj Palace Hotel. The view from the top floors of the hotel is amazing as you can have a full view of the Arabian Sea. The hotel is truly exquisite and lavish in its design and style.

Mumbai is a spectacular city. You will have an experience of a lifetime after your visit to this people's place. It is said about Mumbai that the city accepts all. Discover Mumbai in its real sense and you will have the city etched in your mind.

Mobile range info:

Mobile network coverage is excellent along Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach, with all major providers such as Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone offering reliable connectivity.

How to reach?

Nearest Railway Station:The nearest railway station is at Charni Road (Western Railway).

Nearest Airport:Mumbai has both national and international airports and regular flights connect it with all major countries and states in India.

Road Transport:Mumbai being the capital city of Maharashtra State is well connected by road with all parts of the state. City bus services are available from all-important points in the city.

Nearest Visiting places:

Gateway of India
Colaba Causeway
Hanging Gardens
Crawford Market
Essel World
Fashion Street
Film City

Nearest Petrol Pump:

HP Petrol Pump, Nariman Point: Located along the route, it is easily accessible for visitors driving to Marine Drive.

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

Grand Sarovar Premiere, Mumbai
Hotel Singhs International, Mumbai
Budget Guesthouses

Things to carry:

Comfortable shoes for walking along Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach. Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun during the day. Water bottles and snacks if you plan to explore the area for an extended period. Camera to capture the beautiful views and architecture along Marine Drive.

Tips & Suggestions:

Visit Marine Drive during the evening to enjoy a beautiful sunset and the pleasant sea breeze. If you're visiting during the monsoon, be cautious near the sea as high tides and strong waves can be dangerous. Chowpatty Beach is famous for its street food, but make sure to eat from clean and hygienic stalls to avoid any health issues. Marine Drive is an excellent place for morning jogs and yoga sessions, as it offers a peaceful atmosphere in the early hours of the day.

Help Line/Phone Number:

Police Station:100

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Helpline:+91 22 1916

Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

Dynamic View

Nearest Attraction

Tansa River

The Tansa River is a small river on Salsett island near Mumbai, and is one of Mumbai's water sources via Tansa Lake. It is embanked by one of the largest masonry dams in the world, built in 1892. The embankment is nearly 2 m. long, 118 ft. high, and 110 ft. thick at the base.....more

Thane Creek

Thane Creek is part of the estuary of the Ulhas River in western India opening into Bombay Harbour. It comprises the area stretching from Mumbra Retibunder to the Mankhurd-Vashi Bridge. It has been recognised as an Important Bird Area by the Bombay Natural History Society, as it is home to flamingoes and several other migratory and wading birds......more

Vaitarna River

Vaitarna is an important river in Thane District that flows across Shahapur, Wade and Palghar taluks. The tributaries of this river are Dahreja, Surya, and Tansa. A dam has been built on the river. Datiware Creek is near the mouth of the river......more

Vasai Creek

Vasai Creek is an estuarine creek, one of the two main distributaries of the Ulhas River in Maharashtra state of western India. The Ulhas splits at the northeast corner of Salsette Island into its two main distributaries, Vasai Creek and Thane Creek. Vasai Creek forms the northern boundary of Salsette Island, and empties west into the Arabian Sea; Thane creek empties southwards into Bombay Harbour.....more

Jawhar Hill Station

The district of Thane to the North East of Mumbai offers a unique hill station of Jawahar. A distance of 125 miles from Mumbai, the hill station is closer to Nahsik though. The area was a major tribal kingdom of Maharashtra. You can get the feel of the tribal life by visiting few protected tribal villages of the region and those with nimble fingers can learn a trade or two......more

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

.The sanctuary is located in the northern part of the Western Ghats. It is spread over three districts Pune, Thane and Raigad. There is a shrine in the forest with the Jyotirlinga, temple of Lord Shiva. Two major tributaries of river Krishna namely Bhima and Ghod originate from this area. The valley is a splendid combination of plant and animal life.....more

Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Known as the lungs of the city of Mumbai, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a respite to the hustle and bustle of city life. It is in fact the largest park to be build within city limits in the world. It is a tiny park enclosing an area of just over 104 square kilometers. Despite its small size, it has got the best varieties of trees, bird, mammals, herbs and insects. Stunning wildlife, fabulous flora and fauna, and supreme natural beauty make this place a mind blowing tourist destination......more

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary is positioned in the Thane District of Maharashtra. This sanctuary spread on the sprawling land of 320 sq kms attracts a healthy footfall throughout the year. Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary consists of the catchment region of Tansa Lake in addition to the neighboring forests of Khardi, Vaitarna, Shahapur and East Wada Ranges in the Tehsil of Shahapur in Thane district......more

Baseein Beach

Bassein Beach is situated in Bassein, which is somewhere around 50 to 60 km from the Mumbai city of Maharashtra. The splendid beach has, infact, become one of the major attractions of the town today. The beautiful fusion of natural beauty with historical and religious significance that Bassein town offers could never ever get complete without the splendid beach, which has been attracting tourists from far and wide......more

Dahanu-Bodhi Beach

Situated in the Thane district of Maharashtra, Dahanu is a coastal town where Persian settlers and Chikoo orchards propound their distinct culture and natural beauty. Its beach marks the beginning of the popular beach stretch of Maharashtra. Near to the beach is 'Udwada' which is a sacred pilgrimage site for the Parsis. The nearby stretch of Bordi beach reflects the sleepy nature of the seaside village that is famous for its boarding schools.....more

Dabhosa Waterfall

Dabhosa Waterfall is a seasonal fall in Thane District of Maharashtra. This 300 ft high waterfall is on Jawhar-Silvassa road, about 18 km from Jawhar. The fall is at its peak capacity during the rainy season. The entire depth of the fall can only be witnessed from a flat summit near the fall.Dabhosa Waterfall can be approached by trudging ones way through an uneven road from Dabhosa village.Overlooking the magnificent Dabhosa waterfall, it is the exotic campsite......more

Bassein Fort

The Bassein Fort is the Sea fort in Vasai Road, which is a suburb towards north of Mumbai. Vasai Road is the third last station on the western railway towards Virar. It falls in Thane District on the mainland just north of the Bombay archipelago. It was established by the Portuguese as the headquarters of their Indian operations in 1534 and centre of their operations until 1739. With this as the main base, they built other smaller forts such as the Castella de Aguada, and strong houses in many of the islands in what is now Pakistan.....more

Bhatsa Dam

The Bhatsa Dam is built on Bhatsa & Chorna rivers in Shahapur Taluka Of Thane District. Bhatsa Lake is one of the principal sources of water supply for Mumbai city. It is a multipurpose project, used for irrigation water supply & hydro electricity. Height of dam - 89 meters. Length - 959 meters. Submergence area - 3070 ha. Power gen capacity - 15 mW....more

Tansa Dam

Tansa Dam in Maharashtra which is part of the Mumbai Water Supply Project undertaken for the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, needed strengthening. Unity Infraprojects was chosen to execute this vital project that involved strengthening of the dam by providing buttresses, etc.....more

Vaitarna Dam

Situated in a pictorial environment, Vaitarna Dam in the Vaitarna River offers the stunning scenery of the undulating stony peaks of the Western Ghats. Constructed in the early 50’s, this dam site commenced an era of concrete dams in India .A lovely lagoon with a vast extend of black waters, flanked by deep woods, makes this dam site a delight for the tourists......more

Ambarnath Akoli

Ambarnath is a small town located near Akoli in Thane district of Maharashtra. This town is on Mumbai-Pune railway line. Ambarnath houses a fascinating temple dedicated to Lord Shiva dating back to the 11th century. It is built in a peculiar form of architecture known as "Hemadpanti" style. An inscription on the north gate bears the date of construction, 1060 AD.....more

Balaji Temple Nerul

Balaji Temple at Nerul, Mumbai is the exact replica of Balaji Temple at Tirupati. This temple is built on the lines of Venkateshwara Temple at Tirupati and has been constructed according to the Shilpashastras. Others temples - Vidya Ganapati Temple, Shri Padmavati Devi Temple, Hanumana Temple, Vishvakasena Temple, Ramanuja Temple, and Lakshmi Nrisimha Temple surround the main temple.....more

Arnala

Arnala Fort is built on a small island of the port town of Arnala, located around 8 miles north of Vasai, Maharastra, India. Being an island fort, it is also called Jaldurg or Janjire-Arnala. The Portuguese, who owned this fort rebuilt and gave it the name Ilha das vocas.There is a large hexagonal fresh water reservoir inside the fort. Inside the fort are the temples of Ambakeshwar, Goddess Bhavani, Lord Shiva, and the tombs of Shahali and Hajjali.....more