Marine Drive

Mumbai’s iconic Marine Drive is a landmark in its own right and needs no introduction. As the face of Mumbai and Bollywood, it is becoming a must-see for all city dwellers. A 2.2-mile (3.5 km) six-lane curved, or C-shaped,boulevard runs along the city’s south shore from Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty. What was a peaceful seafront promenade in the 20th century is now the busiest part of town.
Marine Drive is also nicknamed the “Queen’s Necklace” because the aerial view of the sweeping driveway at night resembles a necklace due to the yellow lights along the curve. Another notable element that goes unnoticed are the four-legged friends lined up along the entire length of the promenade. Tetrapods were imported from Australia in 1958. There are nearly 6,500 pets on Marine Drive, each weighing two tons and costing over ₹5,000.
The reason quadrupeds were placed along the coast is to protect the waterfront from damage caused by strong waves.Tetrapods absorb wave energy and allow the water to flow around them so they are not in direct contact with the boardwalk. The Art Deco buildings of Marine Drive have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Mumbai’s Victorian Gothic and Art Deco ensemble.
History of Marine Drive Mumbai
Marine Drive’s history dates back to the 1860’s with the idea of building a boardwalk by reclaiming more land by dredging the sea and dumping rocks to create soil. This plan was abandoned after civil war raged shortly after the great economic crash that paralyzed trade in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The idea came about after the founding of Cuffe Parade, a redevelopment project by the Bombay City Improvement Trust. When the then administration drew up the Backbay Restoration Plan in 1919 to rid the city of the plague, the project took shape thanks to pressure from private investors who put their money into it.
Marine Drive now has only 17 acres of the 1,500 acres of land originally designated in the reclamation plan. The rest of the territory was subject to war, imperfect planning and military occupation. The Girgaum Chowpatty Lighthouse, originally from , bears the inscription that construction of Marine Drive began there, and the site was originally named Kennedy Sea Face. Housing development around Marine Drive was funded by the city in the 1930s and 1940s.The inhabitants of the region were mainly European and Indian elites.
The Soona Mahal, the building that now houses the famous Pizza By The Bay restaurant, was one of the posh residential buildings of the time and was built by the alcoholic Parsi businessman Kawasji Fakirji Sidhwa, who named his house after his grandmother Soona Bai Kawasji .Shiva. Marine Drive was also home to the Kuwaiti royal family as they owned the Al-Sabah and Al-Jabreya farms as holiday homes. Aside from the Parsis, most of the buildings on Marine Drive were owned by wealthy Indians who emigrated from Pakistan after the Great Partition of 1947.
Much of the history is tied to the hotels on Marine Drive. The Sea Green Hotel served as accommodation for British Army officers during the Second World War. What was once Mumbai’s exclusive club for Europeans has become the famous “The Intercontinental”. Apparently the old club building was demolished and a hotel called “Natraj” was built there, which also housed an ice cream shop (supposedly Mumbai’s first ice cream shop) called Yankee Doodle. Nightlife on Marine Drive apparently flourished in the 1960s, becoming the epicenter of the city’s nightlife due to its proximity to popular restaurants, bars, and jazz clubs.
Sights in Marine Drive Mumbai
1. Art Deco Buildings:
Art Deco buildings line a third of the waterfront. ArtDeco is a unique style of architecture used in Mumbai during the colonial period of the time and has significance throughout the city. Most of Mumbai’s Art Deco buildings are located on Fort, Churchgate and Marine Drive. Soona Mahal is Marine Drive’s best-preserved Art Deco building. It was built in 1937 and opened in 1968 as the Talk of the Town restaurant, now known as Pizza by the Bay.
2. Experience arts and culture at the NCPA:
The National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai is the country’s leading arts and culture institution and the first of its kind in South Asia. The restaurant opened in 1969. Here you can book theatre, dance, live music and even a film screening.
3. Chowpatty Beach and Street Food:
Located at the north end of Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach is commonly referred to as Girgaum Chowpatty. It is famous for its range of local restaurants and street food. Chowpatty Beach is one of the oldest beaches where you can enjoy water sports.
4. The Hanging Gardens:
The Hanging Gardens are terraced gardens on Malabar Hill, also known as Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens.From here you have a great view of the entire Marine Drive and is the best place to watch the sunset.
5. Taraporewala Aquarium:
Self-managed by the Ministry of Fisheries, the Taraporewala Aquarium is the oldest aquarium in India and is home to avariety of freshwater and marine fish. A visit to the Aquarium is a must when visiting Marine Drive. After reopening in 2015 after renovations, the aquarium attracted more and more visitors. The aquarium is named after a famous Parsi philanthropist, DB Taraporewala, who donated the entire amount needed for its construction in 1951.
6. Babulnath Temple:
Babulnath Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is visited by millions of devotees on Mahashivratri day. The temple grounds are quite peaceful. The deity takes the form of the lord of trees Babul and hence the name Babulnath.
7. Nilambari Open Bridge Bus Tour:
You can book the Nilambari Open Bridge Bus Tour which covers all the famous places in South Mumbai including Marine Drive. This tour is an initiative of Maharashtra Tourism.
Marine Drive Mumbai facts and trivia
The official name of Marine Drive is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Marg. Marine Drive is considered the largest viewing gallery in the world Marine Drive is part of the failed Backbay Reclamation Project Local refers to Marine Drive by its original name Sonapur
The Art Deco buildings of Marine Drive are a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with those of Churchgate and Fort Contrary to local property prices, rents are only INR 300 per month due to Mumbai’s Rent Control Law Marine Drive.
Mumbai Entrance Fees and Hours
There are no restrictions on visiting times as the boardwalk is open all day while Marine Drive is You can sit there for hours and the best time to visit Marine Drive is around sunset.
As this is an open space and open to the public, entry is free.
How to get to Marine Drive Mumbai.
As Mumbai’s main attraction, Marine Drive is easily accessible from all parts of the city by all modes of transport.
You can arrive by bus, regional train or taxi.
Visitors can also hire a taxi (Ola, Uber, etc.) to get there.
You can also book a private taxi from the best Mumbai car rental companies for a comfortable ride during your Mumbai sightseeing tour.
Nearest train station: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Nearest Local Station: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Central or Main Line), Churchgate, Charni Road and Marine Lines Stations (Western Line) Nearest Airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Air