Mumbai’s Hidden Architectural Gems You Must See

Why Mumbai’s Architecture Tells a Multicultural Story
1. Elephanta Cave Temples
2. Banganga Tank & Walkeshwar Temple
3. Hasnabad Dargah
4. Eros Cinema
5. Oval Maidan
6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
7. Khotachiwadi
8. Kanchanjunga Apartments
9. Dadar Parsi Colony
10. National Center for the Performing Arts
Sources

Why Mumbai’s Architecture Tells a Multicultural Story

Mumbai’s skyline may be dominated by sleek residential towers, but the city’s true architectural soul lies closer to the ground—where centuries of cultural exchange, colonial history, and local ingenuity converge. From ancient Hindu cave temples to Art Deco cinemas and neo-Mughal mausoleums, Mumbai’s built environment is a living museum of India’s pluralistic identity.

1. Elephanta Cave Temples

Carved into basalt rock on Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbor, these 5th–7th century cave temples honor Lord Shiva with monumental reliefs, including the iconic three-headed bust. Two of the seven caves may date back to the 2nd century BCE and were likely used by Buddhist monks. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the caves offer a rare glimpse into India’s rock-cut architectural legacy.

2. Banganga Tank & Walkeshwar Temple

Nestled in the upscale Malabar Hill neighborhood, this 12th-century stepwell is steeped in myth—legend says Lord Rama created it by shooting an arrow into the earth. Though restored in the 1700s after Portuguese destruction, Banganga remains a serene oasis amid Mumbai’s urban chaos, flanked by the historic Walkeshwar Temple and near the new Malabar Hill Forest Trail by IMK Architects.

3. Hasnabad Dargah

Built between 1881–1884 in Mazgaon, this mausoleum honors the first Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Nizari Ismailis. Its pale blue domes and pointed arches exemplify neo-Mughal revival style. Unlike the more famous Haji Ali Dargah, Hasnabad has seen minimal alterations since its construction, making it one of Mumbai’s most harmonious Islamic architectural gems.

4. Eros Cinema

Completed in 1938 near Churchgate Station, Eros Cinema is a ziggurat-topped Art Deco marvel. After a seven-year restoration, it reopened in 2024 with an IMAX theater—but retained its golden sun medallion ceiling and stylized lobby murals. It stands as a tribute to Mumbai’s cinematic soul and its golden age of single-screen theaters.

5. Oval Maidan

This rare green lung in South Mumbai hosts cricket matches under the shadow of colonial-era landmarks: the High Court and Rajabai Tower. Once fronting the Arabian Sea, the maidan now borders a row of locally designed Art Deco apartments—a subtle act of architectural resistance during British rule that foreshadowed India’s independence.

6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

Formerly the Prince of Wales Museum, this 1915 Indo-Saracenic masterpiece blends gray basalt walls with a soaring white dome inspired by Mughal architecture. Contemporary architect Rahul Mehrotra added a glass-and-steel visitor center in 2011 and the ethereal Children’s Museum in 2019—both respecting the original while embracing modernity.

7. Khotachiwadi

This 200-year-old heritage precinct in South Mumbai preserves Indo-Portuguese villas with tiled roofs and carved balustrades. In 2022, the 47A Gallery opened here, spotlighting local design and hosting heritage walks led by fashion designer James Ferreira—a native of the village.

8. Kanchanjunga Apartments

Designed by Indian modernist Charles Correa in 1983, this Cumbala Hill tower reimagines the traditional bungalow for high-density living. Its duplex units feature double-height terraces carved into the facade, creating a dynamic play of light, shadow, and airflow—proof that modernism can be deeply contextual.

9. Dadar Parsi Colony

Founded in the 1920s, this open residential enclave celebrates Zoroastrian heritage with tree-lined streets, Faravahar medallions, and neo-Classical verandas. Unlike other gated Parsi baugs, Dadar Colony welcomes respectful visitors to witness a community that shaped Mumbai’s mercantile and cultural fabric.

10. National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA)

Perched on reclaimed land at Nariman Point, the NCPA blends Brutalist exteriors with vibrant interiors—like Philip Johnson’s gilded Tata Theatre canopy, inspired by banyan trees and Mughal columns. Opened in 1969, it remains a monument to post-independence India’s dream of unity through diversity.