Temples in Mumbai
Mumbai's best-known temple is Siddhivinayak, but the city's sacred places cover every faith, often within a few kilometres of each other. Here is what to expect at the main ones, and what each asks of visitors.
Siddhivinayak, Prabhadevi
The Ganesha temple at Prabhadevi was built in 1801 and is one of the busiest in India. Tuesday is Ganesha's day, so it has the longest queues, and the crowd is heavy all through Ganesh Chaturthi. Since 2025 the trust has asked for decent, body-covering clothes, and it turns away short skirts and torn jeans. Security at the gate is strict, so carry little. Photography is not allowed in the shrine.
Mahalakshmi and Babulnath
The Mahalakshmi temple stands by the sea near Haji Ali, and is dedicated to Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati. It is at its busiest during Navratri. Babulnath, a Shiva temple on a hillside above Girgaon Chowpatty, is reached by steps or a lift, and fills up on Mondays and at Mahashivratri.
Mumba Devi and Banganga
Mumba Devi, in the crowded market lanes of Bhuleshwar, honours the goddess who gave the city its name. Banganga, on Malabar Hill, is an old stone tank surrounded by small temples and houses, and one of the quietest corners of South Mumbai. Walk its steps in the early morning.
Haji Ali and Sufi shrines
Haji Ali Dargah is the tomb of a Sufi saint on an islet off Worli, and people of every faith visit it. Thursdays and Fridays are the busiest. Women have been allowed into the inner shrine since 2016. Cover your head and remove your shoes.
Churches, a synagogue and a pagoda
Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra is the centre of the Bandra Fair in September. St Thomas Cathedral in Fort dates from 1718, and the Afghan Church in Colaba remembers soldiers of the First Afghan War. Keneseth Eliyahoo, the pale-blue synagogue in Kala Ghoda, usually lets visitors in with photo ID. The Global Vipassana Pagoda at Gorai, in the far north, is a huge stone dome used for meditation.
General rules
Remove shoes where asked, dress modestly, keep phones away in sanctums and ask before you photograph anyone at prayer. Timings change on festival days, so check before you go.
Questions
Mumbai — FAQ
Which day is busiest at Siddhivinayak?
Tuesday, which is Ganesha's day, and above all Angarki Chaturthi, when Sankashti Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday. Queues can then run for hours. Weekday mornings other than Tuesday are the calmest.
Can non-Hindus visit Siddhivinayak?
Yes. The temple is open to visitors of all faiths who follow the dress code and the security rules.
Can women enter the inner shrine at Haji Ali?
Yes. The Bombay High Court ruled in 2016 that women must be allowed in, and they have been admitted to the inner shrine since November that year.
When is the Bandra Fair at Mount Mary?
It starts on the Sunday after 8 September, the feast of Mary's birth, and runs for about a week. In 2026 it ran from 13 to 20 September.