10 Historical & Heritage Tours in Mumbai That You Shouldn't Miss

Peaceful palm-lined streets, unspoiled beach, and pervasive Portuguese heritage make the town of Vasai. Vasai is located in the northern outskirts of Mumbai, surprisingly reminiscent of Goa. You'd never guess but Vasai was once of more importance than Mumbai. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was a headquarters of Portuguese rule with a thriving fort city. Nowadays, it's a cool oasis that feels blissfully stuck in a time warp. On this tour you will see a contrasting side to Mumbai, from Old churches to fishing colonies to a local home-made food to a 5 time world UNESCO awardee wood carver.

Inclusions: Afternoon tea, Beverages, Bottled water, Breakfast, Lunch, Local guide, Coffee and/or Tea

Exclusions: Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off

We will be happy to welcome our friends from the LGBTQ community to incredible India and make them feel safe, comfortable and welcome to India. With this objective in mind, we have become the first LGBTQ friendly tour company in India. LGBTQ Friendly Mumbai City Tour is the first of many future products and tours that we have launched. In this tour, we will show you all the famous tourist attractions in Mumbai and will also help you to uncover the little-known treasures of Mumbai on a 5 to 6-hour tour with a friendly, knowledgeable and helpful English speaking guide. The tour will include a 40-minute pit stop for lunch and beer at a very popular 150 years old cafe and bar in Mumbai known as Leopold Cafe & Bar.  You will explore famous historical monuments like Gateway of India and VT Railway Station, 140-year-old fishing colony, 130-year-old open-air laundry, Gandhi House (Mani Bhavan), besides many other interesting places in Mumbai.

Inclusions: GST (Goods and Services Tax), Local taxes, TripAdvisor Experiences brokerage fee, Afternoon tea, Bottled water, Light refreshments, Lunch, Snacks, Driver/guide, Local guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Port pickup and drop-off, Transport by private vehicle, Coffee and/or Tea

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Drinks, Gratuities

>TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: • Dabbawala ( Real Hero ) • Dhobi Ghat ( Open Air Laundry ) • Place where Slumdog Millionaire was shot • Leather Industries • Pottery • Making of soap • Bakery  • Colour Dye • Small Alley • Schools & Hospitals • Houses in Slum • Plastic Recycling • Muslim people making a shrine for Hindus • Recycling of veg oil can • The most interesting thing, guide himself lives in slums • Slum market

Inclusions: Cultured, professional, highly qualified and knowledgeable Guide, Transport by Local Train

Exclusions: Gratuities, Food and drink

Comfortable and flexible tour Clear and transparent communication. Friendly and highly hospitalized Team. Proper communication with the guests.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Fights return tickets and monument entry fee, Professional Tour Guide and Driver

Exclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Gratuities

On this tour we will visit: •Gateway of India - Built to welcome King George V and Queen Mary into India •Taj Mahal Palace Hotel •Mumbai University - British heritage building built in 1857 •Rajabai Clock Towers - Big Ben of India •Watson's Hotel Ruins - Tata was refused an entry in this hotel and so he built Taj Mahal Hotel •OvalCricket Ground - Place where we play the most beloved sport of India •Bombay High Court - Beautiful British Heritage Building •VictoriaTerminus Train Station (CST) - UNESCO World Heritage Site •Muncipality Building - Another marvelleous Colonial building •Drive past Marine drive and Chowpatty beach •Kamala Nehru Park - Skyline view of the city & Old woman's shoe •Hanging Gardens - Gardens built on top of water tanks near the Tower of Silence (Parsi burial place) •Dhobi Ghat - Open Air Laundry where clothes are washed in full view of public After Dhobi Ghat we will head straight to Dharavi (Biggest Slum in Aisa). Experience the life of Slum and talk about it.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: Lunch

Enjoy the city to the max and hear more about the origin, history, and culture of Mumbai. Learn the struggles of the Maharashtra State and understand the emotional story behind the Hutatma Chowk sculpture. See and touch Mumbai’s history at the St. Thomas Cathedral, where you can see the city’s first Anglican church. Follow your local host through the streets of South Mumbai and see from the outside the Jehangir Art Gallery where your host will explain about the rebirth of Indian art. And step into the Knesset Eliyahoo to discover the city’s fascinating Jewish communities. Visit a resilient café, beloved by the locals, and try their delicious Indian snacks. Hear the story of how the locals united together with the café, becoming a symbol of the city’s courage. Every Lonely Planet Experience also comes with six months' free access to Lonely Planet's Guides app, which includes over 8,000 destination guides, and unbeatable discounts in the Lonely Planet store.

Inclusions: Local Guide

Exclusions: Hotel pick-up and drop off

Bandra became a part of Mumbai only in 1950. Prior to that, it was a separate municipality, and before that, till the mid-19th century, a separate island. In the 16th century, the North Konkan coast came under the control of the Portuguese and Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries began to forcibly convert the population to Christianity.When the Portuguese handed over the seven islands of Bombay to the British, Bandra was not part of the deal. And so, Bandra has a slightly different history from Bombay, and that has a part to play in Bandra retaining its Indo-Portuguese Roman Catholic character in spite of wide-scale development. On our #BandraBreeze open-jeep heritage tour, we breeze through five centuries of Bandra’s history in a two-hour ride.

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A walk around Mumbai’s most sacred spot - the Banganga Tank, ringed by temples, monasteries, graveyards, pilgrims’ inns and much more. This mini-Benaras will introduce you to the spiritual side of the city including the pantheon of Hindu Gods and the myths and legends that surround them.

Inclusions: Walking tour

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This 3-hour long tour gives you an insider's access into the soul of Mumbai! You will be prive to the backbone of the city's trade and what makes it truly tick. From exploring community trade and auction of 50 tonnes of fish at the docks, to the sorting of 7 different languages of newspapers; from flower markets to the story of the mills; this tour pays homage to the people of Mumbai- restless, hardworking and affluent. From the markets to the communities who make it possible, get a chance to see all the action for yourself. Witness a unique side of Mumbai, almost like secret, unfold as you you explore the city at Dawn.

Inclusions: Professional Guide , Driver and Private Transport, Bottled Water , Tea and/or Coffee, All Fees and Taxes, A Fruit, Shoe covers

Exclusions: Gratuities, Pick up & drop from any other points apart from the ones mentioned under the meeting points section

Visit the Elephanta Caves on this 4-hour tour. Explore the more enormous Hindu caves, the smaller Buddhist caves as well as the main cave, also known as the Shiva Cave. See the numerous sculptures depicting various aspects of Shiva’s life.

Inclusions: Expert Guide (English, Spanish or German speaking depending on option selected) , Family Lunch (Only if Lunch Inclusive Option Selected)

Exclusions: Hotel pickup & dropoff by airconditioned vehicle (available for extra charge of USD 24 for 1-4 pax), Entrance fee: USD 8 per person, Return ferry ticket: USD 3 per person, Gratuities, Any other meals or drinks