Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

High Court

It’s very easy and lovely to take a brief (1.5 hour/2.5 km) walk around the very best of Mumbai’s heritage architecture. A wonderful mix of colonial-era and art deco buildings are closely grouped together in the neighbouring Colaba and Fort districts. The Lonely Planet Guides have a good map with directions.

On a work day, you can also see dabba-wallahs at work outside Churchgate station and the walk takes you near some great eating spots like Samrat Restaurant (for thalis from noon) (near Eros Cinema), Trishna (for seafood from noon) (between Sasson Library and St Thomas’ Cathedral), Bademiya (behind Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, from about 7pm) and Olympia Coffee House (Chilla Muslim cuisine, Colaba) (near Regal Cinema and the Majestic Hotel).

Start at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, and on your way you will pass the Gateway of India, Royal Bombay Yacht Club, Dhunraj Mahal, Regal Cinema, Sailors Home (now Maharashtra Police Headquarters), Regal Cinema, Majestic Hotel, National Gallery of Modern Art, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum (formerly ‘Prince of Wales Museum’), Elphinstone College, David Sassoon Library, New India Assurance Building, Flora Fountain, St Thomas’ Cathedral, Horniman Circle, Town Hall, High Court (well worth going inside to see hundreds of gowned advocates and dozens of court rooms in action), University of Mumbai, Rajabi Clock Tower, Oval Maidan and Eros Cinema.

Go India offers some good ideas and background to key sights too.