Mumbai/North Central

North Central Mumbai consists of Dadar, Dharavi, Matunga, Vadala, Sion and Mahim. It is a solidly middle-class district, which developed due to immigration after independence (in 1947). The non-Muslim Sindhis and Punjabis were refugees from the partition. They settled in Sion and parts of Matunga. Another prominent community to settle here were the South Indians, especially Tamils. They settled in Matunga and Vadala areas. The poorer migrants from Tamil Nadu settled in Dharavi, which was essentially a drained out swamp. So Dharavi turned into Asia's largest slum.

The district is not a tourist haunt, but if you want a slice of Chennai in the city, you could visit King's Circle, Matunga and explore some of the bylanes. This is one rare district where the roads are actually walkable, as the footpaths in the Sion Circle and King's Circle area are well-maintained and free of hawkers and other encroachments.

Get in

This district is very well-connected with the rest of Mumbai. All three of Mumbai's local railway lines pass through this district. The Central railway stations are Sion and Matunga. The Western railway stations are Matunga Road (not to be confused with the Matunga station on the Central line) and Mahim. The Harbour line stations of Vadala, Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar and Chunna Bhatti also lie in this region. In addition, the Western-Harbour link runs through this region and there has a stop at King's Circle.

The Eastern express highway runs as far as Sion and runs into a perennial traffic jam at one point. Then it changes over to the Dr. Ambedkar road that runs all the way to South Mumbai. Road connectivity with the Central line is not that good. The roads exist, but are very crowded. BEST buses in the series 1-199 that serve South Mumbai also serve this district and are very frequent.

See

Mahim

• Astika Samaj Ram Temple (Matunga Khocu Guruyauor Temple, Astika Samaj Kochu Guruvayoorappan Temple), Bhandarkar Marg, (Matunga Stn.), 19.02758°, 72.85398°.
• Don Bosco Church and School, Nathalal Parekh Marg ? Matunga East, Mumbai 19 (Kings Circle Station), 19.02594°, 72.85746°. A very special and tranquil church. This is probably the most prominent landmark in this area.
• Mahim Fort remains (Marathi: माहीम किल्ला), Mahim Causeway (from Mahim Junction Stn. 0.7 km west), 19.04212°, 72.83809°. Strategically located in the Mahim Bay, the fort overlooks Worli to the south, Bandra to the north, and Mahim to the east. The origins of the fort are unclear, but it occupies a strategic location that has been frequently contested. The fort is in disrepair, suffering from administrative neglect, encroachment of slums, and exposure to tidal erosion. Large boulders are strewn on the sand and crevices as high as 3 metres (15 feet) are visible.
• St. Michael Church, Mori Road, Mahim (from Mahim Junction Stn. 0.5 km west), 19.04269°, 72.84069°, +91 22 2445 4483.
• Shree Marubai Gavdevi Mandir (Marubai Gaondevi Temple), Dr. Ambedkar Marg (Matunga Stn.), 19.02681°, 72.85674°. Around 1700s this area was called Marubai Tekdi Gaon, which is said was shortened to MaTunGa (Matunga). Marubai is the traditional Gaondevi (village Goddess) of Matunga whose small temple existed under a peepal tree at King's Circle.
• Sitladevi Temple, Mahim West, Mahim. (from Mahim Junction Stn. 0.5 km SW - near Lady Jamshedji Rd and Sitladevi Road corner), 19.03543°, 72.84224°. A very old temple and a must-see.

Sion

• Jesuit chapel. In 1543, the Portuguese took possession of the islands of Bombay by force, naming it Sião. The Portuguese gave the Jesuit priests the sole ownership of some of these islands. The Jesuits then built a chapel on the hill near the present-day and named it after Mount Zion (Sion) in Jerusalem.
• Sion Hillock Fort (Sion Killa), Sion East, Air Force Quarters, Sion (Jawaharlal Nehru Garden (Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Udyan) - Sion Stn. 300 m), 19.0462°, 72.8675°. It was built by the British Governor of Bombay Gerard Aungier atop a conical hillock. The hillock is a few metres from the Sion railway station. Sion was the boundary between British-held Parel island and Portuguese-held Salsette Island and the castle marked the northeast boundary of their possession. The fort was built between 1669 and 1677. The fort is dilapidated and a collection of broken stone steps, scattered walls, and ruins overrun by trees and ground cover. The fort wall has a small room on top. A series of pathways lead to it. The fort offers a panoramic view, overlooking the salt pans in the Thane Creek. However, vandalism and apathy have taken a toll on the structure.

Wadala

Wadala (also spelled Vadala, formerly spelt Wuddala) is a locality of the city of Mumbai. Wadala Road is a station on the Harbour Line of Mumbai's railway network. In clockwise order connected: Sion (North), SaltPans, Thane Creek (East), Sewri (South), Parel (Southwest), Dadar (West) last two are part of South Central Mumbai and Matunga (Northwest).

• Bahá'í Cemetery (Bohri Cemetery), Bhoiwada Samshan Bhoomi Rd, New Police Lines, Wadala (between Wadala and Sewri Stn.), 19.00730°, 72.85001°.
• Balaji Temple, Nandkarni Park, Antop Hill, Wadala (Wadala Stn), 19.01962°, 72.86327°. It celebrates the Jatra festival each year in the month of January.
• Barkat Ali Dargah, Nandkarni Park, Antop Hill (on a hill where the bridge connecting Wadala East to Wadala West ends), 19.01809°, 72.86440°. Landmark.
• BEST Transport Museum. It features amateur mini models of BEST buses and the ancient trams.
• Chinese Cemetery (Sewri Cemetery?), Jerbai Wadia Rd, MHADA Colony, Wadala, 19.00320°, 72.85170°.
• Devi Mandir (Pimpaleshwar Mahadev Mandir), Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, Azad Nagar, Wadala, 19.01207°, 72.85485°.
• Gurudwara near Wadala station..
• Hanuman temple (Albela Hanuman Mandir), Katrak Road, Parsi Colony, Wadala (~Tilak Road), 19.01581°, 72.85154°.
• IMAX dome theater, Bit outskirts on Eastern Express Highway, Near wadala truck terminus (Bakhti Park Station), 19.03145°, 72.88120°. The world's largest IMAX dome theater, in 2008.
• Krishna Temple, David S. Baretto Road, Wadala or Balkrishna Sule Marg, Wadla Village, Wadala, 19.02296°, 72.86046°.
• Lord Ram temple (Ram Mandir), Nr. Signal, Wadala (West), 19.01542°, 72.85179°. Founded in the 15th century.
• Our Lady of Dolours Church (St. Joseph Church), DS Baretto Road, Matunga East (Wadala Road Stn), 19.01869°, 72.85655°.
• Pathan Mosque, Sewri Cross Road, Madhav Nagar, Wadala (From Wadala Stn South), 19.00675°, 72.85484°.
• St. Dominic Savio Church, Wadala East. This church, built in 1981, was the first of Mumbai churches to be on the first floor.
• Shiv Temple, Sewri Wadala Road, Wadla Village, Wadala (From Wadala Stn North 0.8km), 19.02225°, 72.85828°.
• Vidyalankar Educational Campus, Vidyalankar College Marg, Wadala (East) (~15 minute walk from the Wadala Railway Station, - Dadar Railway station is also very near to the college and can be reached to by bus 110 in approximately ~25 minute), 19.021571°, 72.87077°, +91 22 2416 11 26, principal@vit.edu.in. The area of it is ~4.5 ha. The campus comprises 3 buildings, 2 gardens, a football field, a volleyball ground and also a cricket pitch. A canteen and a cafe both offer a wide range of food and beverages. There is a library with a reading hall which is open 6 days a week and on Sundays when exams are approaching. Vidyalankar has won the Honour Award from Designshare, New York, USA for its innovative design. The structure boasts of gateless campus, a man-size chess board, an amphitheatre and a multi purpose zone for students to chill
• Vitthal Temple (Vitthal Mandir). This is a 400-year-old Temple built by Sant Tukaram who brought the idol from Pandharpur, home of the original temple of Lord Vithal. The temple is known as Prati Pandharpur (Pandharpur temple’s replica). One of the many one day festivals in Mumbai has been held in this temple to devote Lord Vitthal on Ashadhi Ekadashi (According to Hindu Calendar) in June/July.

Dadar

• Lokmanya Tilak Bridge, Tilak Bridge, Lokmanya Tilak Colony, Dadar (: Dadar Central Railway Stn,), 19.02025°, 72.84405°. 24/7. One of the oldest bridges in Mumbai, built in 1923. This bridge is made of entirely of granite and hard English-made metal. The bridge is an important connection between east and west Dadar. Approximately 10,000 cars use the bridge each day. Free
• Mumbai Mayor's Bungalow, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Marg, Dadar West (: Matunga Road stn.), 19.02918°, 72.83666°. The official residence of the Mayor of Mumbai and the famous Sena Bhavan, headquarters of the political party Shiv Sena.
• Pir Bagdadi Mosque (Pir Bagdadi Masjid), NC Kelkar Rd, Dadar West, Dadar (: Dadar Railway Station), 19.01935°, 72.84079°.
• Plaza movie theatre (Plaaza Cinema Dadar), NC Kelkar Road, Kasar wadi, Dadar West (Near Tilak Bridge. : Dadar), 19.02196°, 72.84285°, +91 22 2430 4704. This was damaged during the 1993 bomb-blasts/riots. It has now reopened and remains one of the theaters in Mumbai that show Marathi movies.
• Shivaji Mandir (Shivaji Mandir Drama Theater), NC Kelkar Road, Dadar (: Dadar Western Railway Stn.), 19.02297°, 72.84206°. Marathi plays are running in this theatre.
• Shivaji Park (Marathi: शिवाजी पार्क), Keluskar Road South, Dadar West (: Dadar Western Railway Stn), 19.026724°, 72.838047°, +91 1800 22 9930. The park is named after the legendary 17th century warrior king of the region, Chhatrapati Shivaji. The park was created in 1925 by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, in the days of the British Raj. This is the largest park in Mumbai. - Like the Azad Maidan and August Kranti Maidan (formerly Gowalia Tank Grounds), it is of historical and cultural value because of the political and social gatherings it has witnessed, both in pre- and post-independence Mumbai. The walkway around the perimeter is crowded with people taking walks. The inner circumference of the park is 1.17 km - 11.29 ha in area, the ground is busy with young cricket players. Various attractions are spread over the grounds, including the Samarth Vyayam Mandir (gymnasium), Shivaji Park Nagarik Sangh (established in 1947), Shivaji Park Gymkhana (club), Children's Park, Nana-Nani Park (Grandpa and Grandma park), Scout's Pavilion (which is a popular venue for marriages), Udyan Ganesh Mandir (Ganesh temple), The Bengal Club with a small Kali shrine and a library. The walkway is lined with huge rain trees. The most prominent entrance to the park is the one on the east side, intended only for pedestrians. A bust of Meenatai Thackeray, late wife of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray, has been placed at this entrance. A bust of Ram Ganesh Gadkari used to be present at the same spot.
• Shree Siddhivinayak Temple, SK Bole Marg, Prabhadevi (: Parel Stn.), 19.01455°, 72.82665°, +91 22 2437 3626. One of the most famous temples in Mumbai is a shrine to the Lord Ganesha (the elephant headed god who is said to be the destroyer of obstacles). Many devout Hindus walk from their homes to this temple barefoot, especially on Tuesdays, which is considered a special day. The queue to enter the temple stretches to eternity on Tuesdays, so visit some other day if you can.

Do

• Five Gardens, 19.01993°, 72.85393°. Take a walk in the mornings.
• Dharavi, 19.04640°, 72.85437°. The Dharavi slum is a breathtaking, overwhelming experience at the heart of this part of Mumbai, with a massive recycling industry, ultra-dense housing, and both poverty and wealth existing in close proximity. Seeing the slum firsthand is safer and easier under the auspices of a professional guide such as Fahim Vora, based in Dharavi.
• Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Olympic Swimming Pool, Swatantrya Veer Sawarkar Marg, Shivaji Park, Dadar, 19.02799°, 72.83611°, +91 22 24452062. In addition to swimming, canteen and gymkhana facility is available

Learn

• Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute — Premier Engineering Institute, H R Mahajani Marg, Matunga East, Wadala (Matunga Station 0.5 km), 19.02214°, 72.85604°, +91 22 2419 8102.

Buy

• Sarees — The best place to buy them is Dadar. The place is buzzing 12 months a year. Good shops to buy sarees are Dadar Emporium, Lazaree, and RoopSangam.
• Dadar vegetable market, Tulsi Pipe Road, Dadar West (From : Dadar Railway Station 100m West), 19.01882°, 72.84176°. This was the heart of the city and was responsible for distributing vegetables across all of Mumbai. It is said that one can get all possible things in Dadar. It is also famous for its underworld.
• Matunga Market, 19.02756°, 72.85076°.
• Secondhand books, streets of King's circle, Matunga, 19.03072°, 72.85734°. Dirt cheap prices, but many of them are pirated and the quality of paper is not very good.
• Dadar (W) Flower Market, Gurunanak Marg? Tulsi Pipe Road, (Opposite Dadar Train Station), 19.02052°, 72.84310°. early morning. Visit early morning to see colourful and wholesale flower market in action
• Dadar Emporium, NC Kelkar Rd, Dadar West, Dadar (: Dadar Railway Station), 19.01971°, 72.84100°. For sarees and more.
• Adacks, NC Kelkar Road, Matunga West (near Sena Bhavan. Opp. Shivaji Park Post Office.), 19.02275°, 72.84264°, +91 7819870253. Reasonably priced shirts.
• Benaras Silk House, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Rd, Mahavir Nagar, Hindu Colony, Dadar and Ranade Road (: eastern Dadar Stn. near to Khodadad Circle), 19.01726°, 72.84691°, +91 22 2413 7455.

Eat

• Guru kripa (Supplier of samosas to almost all the cinema theatres in the city).
• Peninsula.

Authentic Marathi cuisine

• Aaswad, Opp. Sena Bhavan, Shivaji Park, Dadar(W) (next to the petrol pump towards Mahim, at Gadkari Chowk?), 19.02516°, 72.84021°.
• Dattatray (Pure vegetarian restaurant), Ranade-Gokhale Road Junction, Dadar(W) (Dadar Stn.), 19.02294°, 72.83861°.
• Diwa Maharashtracha, Kataria Marg, Takandas Kataria Marg, Dadar(W) (Matunga Road Stn), 19.03160°, 72.84192°, +91 24440202.

Punjabi

• Aroma (Another traditional Punjabi restaurant for a quite drink), Dada Saheb Phalke Road, Dadar (E).

Fast food

• Classic (Decent Pav Bhaji and Masala pav).

Indian Chinese

• Chinaman. Great Chinese resto at a purely reasonable rate.
• Garnish. New place with Chinese, South Indian food.

Udupi restaurant

• Anand Bhavan.
• Amba Bhavan.
• Cafe Mysore (The Oldest Udupi restaurant in Mumbai, serving South Indian food).
• Cafe Madras.
• Manis Lunch Home (Great South Indian Snacks).
• 'Rama Nayak's Udipi Shri Krishna Boarding (Lip-smacking South Indian thali served on a banana leaf). ₹80
• Sarada Bhavan.
• Sadhana, Dada Saheb Phalke Road, Dadar (E).

Drink

• Cafe Coffee Day, Matunga. For the coffee lovers.

Sleep

• Hotel Ashray International, Plot - 12, Road, No 1 Sion, +91-22-2407 5544, +91-22-2409 1133, +91-22- 2409 1514. Check-in: 260708, check-out: 280708. This is a two-star hotel close to Sion railway station. ₹2879/night (as of Feb 2012)

Splurge

• Hotel Midtown Pritam, Sir Bhalchandra Road, Dadar(E) (: Dadar Railway Station, opp. Punjab National Bank), 19.01686°, 72.84619°, +91 24042501, reservations@pritamhotels.com. This is a decently good hotel and is very close to Dadar station. - Here is the Pritam Da Dhaba: a traditional Punjabi restaurant with a very warm interior ideal for a quite drink ₹5,000-7,000 (2014), suite ₹10,000

Connect

• Dadar Post Office, Lokmanya Tilak Colony, Dadar East (: Dadar Stn.), 19.01612°, 72.84598°, +91 22 2416 8410.