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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Mumbai

23 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Mumbai, India

Updated February 5, 2024

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A honeycomb moray eel, stranded by the receding tide at Mahalaxmi, was later released into a nearby intertidal pool. The rocky shoreline has since been developed into part of a coastal road.

Discovering the Unexpected Wonder of Mumbai's Coastal Wildlife

Photographer Sarang Naik is reintroducing his hometown to its rich biodiversity, from glowing corals to dazzling sea slugs.
by Gemma Tarlach
The Nawab Ayaz Ali pyaau sits forgotten in Mazgaon, one of Mumbai's oldest neighborhoods.

No Longer Ignored, Mumbai’s Ornate Drinking Fountains Are Bubbling Back to Life

Some are 20 feet tall.
by Kamakshi Ayyar
A clock shop in Chor Bazaar in Mumbai.

The Long History of 'Bombay Time' and Resistance to Colonial Rule

For decades the city of Mumbai operated by two—or more—different clocks.
by Bhavya Dore
Jal Bapasola, Rustom Bhumgara, and Adi Hakim (left to right) rode around the world on Royal Benson cycles.

India's Mini-Craze for Bicycling Around the World

In the 1920s and 1930s, a dozen adventurous young riders went on the ultimate journey.
by Arti Das
During heavy rains in June 2019, a painted lady butterfly, or Vanessa cardui, flew up to Mithawala's apartment.

A Photographer Turned His Mumbai Window Into a Butterfly Garden

He spent $5 on a few water jugs and two succulents.
by Kiran Mehta
The shelves and drawers of the Bombay Natural History Society—open to the public only by appointment—display perfectly preserved blood pheasants, moon moths, pangolins, and more.

Inside the Hidden Natural History Museum of Mumbai

Rahul Khot oversees 138,000 specimens at the Bombay Natural History Society.
by Kamakshi Ayyar
The bubonic plague killed around 10 million people in India. This photo shows a temporary hospital in 1896 or 1897.

How the 1896 Bombay Plague Changed Mumbai Forever

It reshaped the city and inspired a revolutionary vaccine.
by Nadia Nooreyezdan
Making the spices is often a symphony of jangling bangles and rhythmic pounding.

How Mumbai's Masalawaalis Make a Single Spice From 30 Ingredients

Bottle masala is impossible to find in stores.
by Beverley Ann D'Cruz

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