1. Kamala Nehru Park and Hanging Gardens

Dadi Sheth Wadi, Ridge Rd, Malabar Hill • Open 5am–9pm daily

Situated on the slopes of Mumbai’s Malabar Hill, this 370-sq-m (4,000-sq-ft) park, is named after former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s wife. A structure in the shape of a shoe, and some illustrations of nursery rhymes are well-liked by children. Stroll along the park’s tree-shaded pathways which lead to a series of well-kept flower beds and fountains; look for the Ashoka Pillar, crowned with an intricately carved, four-faced lion statue; or enjoy the panoramic views from the hill.

2. Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya

19, Laburnum Rd, Gamdevi • Open 9:30am–6pm daily • www.gandhi-manibhavan.org

This modest two-storied bungalow, once owned by a diamond merchant but now a museum and library, is where Mahatma Gandhi stayed from 1917–34. In the main hall, a statue of the Father of the Nation greets visitors. Photographs chronicling his life line the wall by the stairs, and the upper floor houses his belongings including two spinning wheels, a book and bed.

3. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

Built in 1888 in the Bori Bunder area, Mumbai’s main railway station was originally known as Victoria Terminus, and is occasionally referred to by that name. It was renamed in 1996, after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha Empire. The volume of commuters that go through this architectural marvel can be an overwhelming sight for a first-time visitor. Visit the small, on-site museum that chronicles the history of the station, and study the famous façade that has found a place in Indian cinema.

The stunning architecture of the CSMT

4. Kala Ghoda

Home to well-known art galleries such as the Institute for Contemporary Indian Arts, eateries such as the Yazdani Restaurant & Bakery and 145 Kala Ghoda, as well as boutiques such as FabIndia and Sabyasachi, Kala Ghoda is best covered on foot. Explore the art on the pavement and book stalls, and take in the stunning architecture all around. In 1965, the original statue of King Edward VII atop a black horse, commissioned by David Sassoon, was moved to the Byculla Zoo. However, in 2017, a similar-looking kala ghoda was placed on the original stoop, this time without a rider. The annual Kala Ghoda Arts Festival often sees artists create a new mural celebrating the original statue of the horse.

Black horse statue at Kala Ghoda

5. Jehangir Art Gallery

Founded at the urging of physicist Homi Bhabha and celebrated artist K K Hebbar, this gallery exhibits big names in Indian art, print-making, crafts, ceramics, photography and even textiles in the form of over 300 shows throughout the year. The waiting period for artists to showcase here is said to be a minimum of 5 years. Jehangir Art Gallery holds lectures and discussions as well as workshops on different art forms, aimed at an audience ranging from an artist or an academic to a layperson.

Exhibit at the Jehangir Art Gallery

6. Marine Drive

South Mumbai’s iconic promenade is a 3.5-km (2-mile) long road along the coast, curving around a natural bay. The Art Deco buildings that line the promenade were once the homes of famous singers, composers, filmmakers and actors, such as Suraiya, Raj Kapoor, and Nargis. In the evenings, the street lights make the stretch glitter like a string of pearls and create the illusion of a necklace, when viewed from an elevated point.

The glittering Queen’s Necklace

7. Taraporewala Aquarium

Marine Drive, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Rd • Open 10am–8pm Tue–Sun • Adm

Built in 1951 with a donation from the Parsi philanthropist D B Taraporewala, the aquarium has impressive marine life on display. Modern renovations have enhanced the viewing experience. The aquarium is popular, especially among families and young children.

8. Gateway of India

Situated at the tip of Apollo Bunder in Colaba, this 26-m- (85-ft-) high basalt arch overlooking the Mumbai harbour is bordered by the Arabian Sea. The colossal gateway is one of the city’s most remarkable landmarks, and makes for a magnificent spectacle at any time. However, evenings are easily best for visiting as the area is especially lively then, and the sight of the setting sun remains etched forever in your memory.

9. Elephanta Caves

A 30-minute ferry ride from the bustling metropolis lie some of the oldest rock-cut structures in India. The five Hindu and two Buddhist caves on the Gharapuri Island are perfect expressions of religious Indian art. To see the stone elephant that lent the caves this name, visit the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum. In addition to the caves, the island consists of three small villages, two small hills where fragments of the past can be traced through two British-era cannons and the ruins of a stupa, as well as a thick forest. Visitors are not allowed to stay on the island overnight.

Carved pillars in the Elephanta Caves

10. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

CSMVS is one of the foremost art and history museums in India. It was established as a result of a Town Hall meeting in 1904 where prominent figures of the erstwhile Bombay administration resolved to erect a memorial to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales.

A figurine at CSMVS