Background:
Bandra, ‘Queeen of the Suburbs’ is one of the lesser explored but more interesting parts of Mumbai, tempting visitors with its unique mix of history, architecture, traditional ‘gaothans’, Bollywood glamour, and some of the best shopping in the city.
The earliest records of Bandra are from the mid-1500’s, when the Portuguese gave the Jesuit priests the islands of Bandra, Sion, Wadala and Parel. The Portuguese built several churches in Bandra, many of which are still in use today. Bandra remained a village with plantations of rice and vegetables, until it was connected to Mahim by a causeway in 1845. Many bungalows were built here in the boom years of the 1860's and 70's. With the growth and prosperity of Bollywood, Bandra became home to many well-known movie stars. By the mid 1900’s, Bandra had definitely become a fashionable address, and in recent years, going by the number of new upscale lounges and bars, it seems to have eclipsed the ‘old money’ poshness of South Mumbai.
However, in spite of its sea-front houses, bungalows, movie-star homes, restaurants, shopping arcades and clubs, Bandra still retains its old charm – the sleepy fishing village of the past is not difficult to find, if only you know where to look!
Tour Description:
In this tour, we take a look at Bandra’s multi-faceted personality. We will visit the following:
- Ranwar Village, one of the surviving old villages of Bandra, to see the quaint homes and quieter pace of life of the inhabitants
- The Basilica of Mount Mary, originally a chapel built in 1640, and rebuilt in 1761.This is Bandra’s most popular church, believed to effect miraculous cures, and visited with great faith by Indians of all religions.
- St. Stephen’s Church, consecrated in 1853, an Anglican church built by wealthy English business magnates who made Bandra their home during the British Raj.
- Castella de Aguada, the Old Portuguese Fort, from top of which there are beautiful views of the sea and “taad” palms.
- Bandstand and residential areas of Bandra, to see the pretty bungalows and the homes of Bollywood movie stars
- After a break for tea and refreshments at a popular local cafe, we will visit the Linking Road area for a look at the bustling street markets, selling a wide range of footwear, bags, fashion accessories, clothing, home décor and other collectibles.
When:
All days of the week. Timings are flexible based on your convenience. We recommend you start either 9 am or 2 pm.
Costs and Booking:
The costs are based on the number of people doing the tour, and the duration of the tour. You can combine different tours from our tour menu, including car tours, boat tours and walking tours. Please tell us what you'd like to do, and how much time you have. We'll put together a tour that best suits your needs.
