From the Gateway to the Skyline: What to Explore on a Mumbai Boat Tour
Mumbai is a magical place. It’s often called the ‘Hollywood of India’ because of its Bollywood film productions. There are many fantastic city tours, including guided walking trips and private transport. However, a Mumbai boat tour comes highly recommended when you’re looking for a fresh perspective.
As you’d expect when visiting such a popular tourist destination, you won’t have the warm waters of the Arabian Sea all to yourself when touring Mumbai’s skyline by boat. Having said that, you’ll still enjoy the relaxing ebb and flow of the water in Mumbai’s harbour area. Depending on your preference and budget, you can book various trips, from busier voyages to more intimate sailings.
It’s hard to fully appreciate Mumbai’s skyline when you’re immersed in the city. So taking to the water is a wonderful way to create a different set of memories and capture some spectacular photographs.
What can you expect from your Mumbai boat tour? Let’s dive in now and find out.
The Gateway of India
Mumbai’s most famous landmark, the Gateway of India, overlooks the Arabian Sea. Standing at 85 metres tall, this monument was finished in 1924. No holiday to Mumbai is complete without a visit here, and indeed, it’s the starting point for many sightseeing voyages.
It was initially planned to commemorate the landing in India of King George V and Queen Mary, but there was only a model available at the time of their visit, and construction started around four years later.
The structure is made of basalt and was built in the Indo-Islamic architectural style. The last British troops to leave India in 1948 departed from the Gateway of India, so it has added historical significance.
Its sheer scale means it’s visible for a while from the water as you set sail to see more of what this great city has to offer on your Mumbai boat tour.
The Taj Mahal Palace
With over 500 rooms, the Taj Mahal Palace is a grand hotel inside and out. You’ll find it next to the Gateway of India, where it’s stood since 1903. It provides legendary five-star luxury and is named after India’s most famous sight of all - the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Whether you’re staying in the hotel during your Mumbai holiday or not, cruising gently past by boat is a great way to comprehend this stunning piece of architecture. It makes for an even more magical scene when you embark on a sunrise or sunset Mumbai boat tour.
An array of islands
Depending on the Mumbai boat tour you choose, you may see some of the several islands in the area. These include Elephanta Island (also known as Gharapuri Island), home to the fascinating Elephanta Caves - a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Hindu sculptures and temples. It’s definitely worth stopping off here to explore if you have time and your itinerary allows. The caves are in complete contrast to the thriving city life you’ll find a short distance away on dry land.
If you’re interested in naval history, the islands of Oyster Rock and Middle Ground are also found in Mumbai Harbour. Your guide will be able to tell you all about how these have been and are still used by the Indian Navy. Because of this, you won’t be able to get too close or disembark at these particular islands.
Making sunrise and sunset memories on your Mumbai boat tour
Mumbai is home to over 200 skyscrapers, many of which you can see by boat from Back Bay. While it’s nice to view these by day to get a different outlook than you would on the streets, the most special time to admire the range of impressive buildings is either at sunrise or sunset. The light is beautiful and gives everything a lovely golden glow and aura.
Early morning and late evening tours around this part of the Arabian Sea can also be romantic. For example, you might want to push the boat out and book a private cruise for you and your partner with a candlelit sunset dinner or a mesmerising morning watching the city burst into life from a distance.
The added bonus of taking to the water at these times of day is that things tend to be quieter, so you’ll have more freedom to enjoy an effortless trip - sure to be a major highlight of your Indian holiday.
Dolphin-spotting
You may be lucky enough to see dolphins on your Mumbai boat tour. The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin is known to frequent the waters close to the coast. You might also see a similar creature - the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise.
Of course, nobody can guarantee a sighting on your cruise, but there are also five different species of flying fish living in the Mumbai Harbour area. So, if you keep a close eye on the surface, you might see some near your vessel.
Simply being out on the water is a refreshing experience, especially if you’ve been walking around the city’s bustling streets. A boat trip around Mumbai Harbour may not currently be on your to-do list, but you certainly won’t regret adding it.
Whether you’re travelling to India with friends, as a couple or taking the whole family, seeing the sights from the sea is something you’ll always look back on fondly.
If this blog has whet your appetite for a holiday to Mumbai, you may also want to plan to visit some of the city’s best-kept secrets.
