Chowpatty Beach

Also known as Girgaon Chaupati Beach or Girgaum Chaupati Beach, Chowpatty Beach is situated in the south of Mumbai and adjoins Marine Drive.

Although it’s relatively quiet during the day, and isn’t a suitable place to sunbathe or to swim, Chowpatty Beach comes alive in the evenings. You’ll find it lined with street entertainers and vendors, and there are kiosks selling local food, such as bhelpuri, a dish made from puffed rice, potatoes and tamarind sauce.

A number of festivals are held at Chowpatty Beach throughout the year. One of the main festivals to be held there is Nariel Purnima (the Coconut Festival), which is held in August. This festival marks the end of the monsoon season, and fishermen decorate boats and break coconuts against their bows before setting them afloat, in order to honour the Gods and ask for protection whilst they are fishing.

Another annual festival held at Chowpatty Beach is Ganesh Chaturthi (also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi). This ten day Hindu festival is celebrated throughout India and is usually held during August or September (during the Hindu month of Bhaadra). It celebrates the elephant-headed god, Ganesha and, on the final day of the festival in Mumbai, giant statues of Ganesha are paraded through the streets and down to Chowpatty Beach, where they are immersed into the sea in a ritual known as Ganesh Visarjan.

Juhu Beach

Juhu Beach is situated in the suburb of Juhu, to the north of Mumbai’s city centre, on the edge of the Arabian Sea, and is popular with both locals and tourists. Like Chowpatty Beach, it’s not a great place to sunbathe or swim, but you’ll find plenty of street vendors and entertainers here, and its famous for its food stalls. The beach is busiest in the evenings and at weekends.

Juhu is one of the most affluent of the city’s suburbs and a number of Indian celebrities live in the area, and you’ll notice some particularly luxurious apartments and hotels at the southern end of the beach.

Other Mumbai Beaches

Other beaches in and around Mumbai include Madh Island Beach, Versova Beach and Marvé Beach.

A number of  airlines operate flights to Mumbai, and you’ll find a wide range of hotels and guest houses within the city. Most of Mumbai’s beaches are accessible from the city centre by public transport, taxi or hire car.

Image: Toksave