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Updated October 5th, 2018 at 09:01 IST

Have You Visited These Oldest Religious Places In Mumbai?

Emblematic of easy blending of modernity and historicity, the city has many historical landmarks dating back to the 18th century or older. Here's taking you on a religious tour of Mumbai's oldest holy shrines!

Reported by: Digital Desk
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Borrowing words from Charles Dickens, Mumbai can be described as: “A city that offers the best of times and the worst of times. A city of splendor and squalor. An epoch of belief and incredulity. A city which offers the spring of hope and the winter of despair. We have everything before us and we have nothing before us.”

A city that never stops, Mumbai is always moving and thoroughly accommodating. It accepts thousands of people that come here every day with dreams in their eyes and passion in their hearts. Best known for its nightlife and Marine drive, Mumbai offers something to everyone. One can often hear people saying, “Someone who has stayed in Mumbai can never live anywhere else in the country.”

It is emblematic of easy blending of modernity with historicity. Colonial architecture adorn the city as it has many heritage landmarks. Mumbai boasts of numerous religious places too, some of which dating back to the 18th century. While there are countless places to see in Mumbai, here’s taking you on a tour of the oldest shrines in the city!

1. Mumbadevi Temple

(Image Courtesy: Twitter)

Formerly called Bombay, the city was renamed as ‘Mumbai’ after Maa Mumba Devi. One of the oldest temples in the city, the goddess is the protector of the city from all calamities. This is the most important temple in the city. The ‘Koli’ fishermen honour the devi as their kuldevi and consider her their guardian. It is believed that whoever comes to the city to make their fortune should visit this place. The temple is located right in the centre of Zaveri Bazar.

2. Mahalaxmi Temple

(Image Courtesy: Twitter)

Located in the posh residential area of SoBo, this temple also dates back to the 18th century, constructed in 1785. The idol in the temple comprises of a Trimurti (three idols) of goddess Laxmi, goddess Saraswati and goddess Kali - the partners of tridev (Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh). The temple is one of the heritage places to visit in Mumbai.

3. Siddhivinayak Temple

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One of the most famous temples of Mumbai, Shri Siddhivinayak temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh. Located in Prabhadevi, the temple is one of the Ashtavinayakas in Maharashtra. Tuesdays see the most crowd where devotees can be seen lining up from 3 a.m. in the morning. Strikingly, this is the only idol of Lord Ganesh whose trunk is on the right side (usually, his trunk is on the left side). The temple is renowned for its architecture and can be considered as the richest temple in the city.

4. Haji Ali Dargah

(Image Courtesy: ANI)

A historical landmark of Mumbai, the Dargah is one of the most important places for Islamic followers. Built in the 1400s, the Dargah is situated in the middle of the sea. According to evidence, even during the floods, the water could not touch the holy shrine of Baba. It witnesses a crowd of over 15,000 followers every day. Devotees from all castes and creed are welcomed here. It is the tomb of Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, a wealthy merchant who renounced the world before going on a pilgrimage to Mecca. His shroud came to rest in the middle of the sea, where the tomb now stands. It witnesses the most visitors on Fridays.

5. Makhdoom Shah Baba Dargah

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One of the lesser known places, the shrine is located in Mahim, one of the busiest places in Mumbai. It holds a special place for the Mumbai Police as miracles have been experienced by the security forces. The first offerings during the annual festival of Saint Hazrat Makhdum Ali Mahimi are from the Mumbai Police Department. Thousands of people visit this place regardless of caste, creed or religion. The dargah was also shown in Singham 2.

6. Mount Mary Church

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Bandra’s most beautiful basilica, the history behind the current statue dates back to the 16th century. Called Mot Mauli (The Pearl Mother) by the Koli fishermen, it draws thousands of devotees from all faiths. Destroyed by the Marathas in 1738, the church was rebuilt in the early 1900s. During the annual Bandra Fair and Christmas, the church sees the most visitors coming to seek blessings of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

7. Babulnath Temple

(Image Courtesy: Twitter)

Babulnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is said to date back to the 12th century. It was lost over time and was only discovered in the late 1700s following the discovery of buried shrine. A swayambhu in itself, the temple is at 1,000 feet above sea level. Visitors have to climb hundreds of stairs to reach the temple; however, skip the effort and pay just Rs 2 for the elevator service operating in the temple for a ride to and from the temple. Located near Girgaum Chowpatty, the temple is busiest on Mondays and during the holy month of Shravan.

8. Shri Godiji Parsvnath Jain Temple, Pydhonie

(Image Courtesy: Twitter)

The 200-year-old Jain temple, it has intricate architecture. The idol placed in the temple has been brought from the Sirohi district in Rajasthan. Although located in the busy markets of Mumbai, the temple has calming aura amidst the noise. Shri Parsvnath is the 23rd Tirthankar in the Jain sect.

READ: International Coffee Day: Places In Mumbai That Offer The Best Coffee Experience

Make sure to visit these shrines in the city of Mumbai this festive season. Let us known your experience in the comments below.

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Published October 2nd, 2018 at 09:48 IST

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