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From Wikitravel

This district covers Byculla, Parel, Worli, Prabhadevi, and Dadar areas of Bombay.

It started its modern history as a sort of backyard to South Bombay. In the late 19th century, many industries, especially textile mills, relocated here. The industries naturally attracted migrant labour from all parts of the country, but mostly from Maharashtra and its Konkan region. The influence of this migration is still seen today and the district is considered the home of Marathi culture in the city.

In the 70s and 80s, high labour costs, industrial unrest, and the exorbitant price of land caused the closure of many industries and the district consequently went into a decline. Over the past two decades, the decrepit old mill area has regenerated into swanky office complexes. You will find many BPO operations, advertising agencies, film production houses, and banks here. Many old textile mills have given way to enormous malls like High Street Phoenix. Much of what is happening in Mumbai today is happening here, with the newest, largest malls (Atria, Phoenix), clubs (Shiro, Hard Rock), hotels (ITC, Four Seasons), and restaurants (Olive).

[edit] Get in

If you're in Mumbai city, you can get here just about anyway. There is excellent road connectivity and most bus routes pass through here. Although word of caution, at night this place can be a traffic nightmare.

[edit][add listing] See

• Worli Seaface — A promenade in 2 parts.
• Bandra-Worli sealink — Long-awaited connectivity dream for Mumbaikars.
• Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400 028 +91 022 2437 3626 (Fax +91 22 2422 1558) [1]. 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.
• Haji Ali — A shrine to a Muslim saint on Worli Seaface, accessible only at low tide since at high tide the pathway to the shrine is submerged.
• Veermata Jijabai Udyan (Local Stn. Byculla) — A zoo in Byculla, it was established during British times and named "Victoria Gardens". After independence, naturally, it had to be renamed, so it is now named after Shivaji's mother Jijabai, though it is popularly known as Rani Bag (queen's garden — it is not clear whether the queen in question is Victoria or Jijabai). The place is not really worth visiting as it has been called more of a prison for animals than a zoo in the modern sense. Go there for the garden, not to look at the animals.
• Shivaji Mandir — Marathi plays are running in this theatre.
• Nehru Science Centre (Local Stn. Mahalaxmi) Dr. Edwin Moses Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 018 +91 22 2493 2667, +91 22 2493 4520, +91 22 24926042(fax: 91 22 2493 2668 nscm@vsnl.com, nscm@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in, Additional Contact[2] ) [3]. A science museum, also contains the "Discovery of India", a show on India's History named for Jawaharlal Nehru's book. It is spread over a relatively large area and surrounded by greenery. Check the website for prices and timings of different shows.
• Nehru Planetarium (Local Stn. Mahalaxmi) Dr. Edwin Moses Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 018, +91 22 2492 0510. This is located next door to the Nehru Science Centre and has some interesting shows. Adult Rs. 35. Children Rs. 20, Tu-F 11AM-5PM.
• Magen David Synagogue, located at Veer Jijamata Udyan, Byculla by the Sassoon family.

[edit][add listing] Do

Just about everything you can do in the city you can do here.

• Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel. Multiplex, mall, food, booze, entertainment, all in one place. See below  edit

If you can get members to sign you in, do go to Bombay's old British style clubs- Willingdon, CCI, NSCI.

[edit] Shop

• Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel. Phoenix Mills is one of the largest, most popular malls in Mumbai. You can find international brands (from Guess, Nike, Lacoste, Body Shop, etc) to local brands and Indian designers. It can get extremely crowded on weekends. Also has a multiplex, food court, supermarket, bowling alley, arcade, restaurants, pubs (Sports Bar), and clubs. You can easily kill an entire day here if you choose.  edit
• Atria mall, Worli. One of the nicest, best maintained malls in the city. For upscale there's Mango, Nine West, Aldo, Promod, Guess, La Senza (all sold at slightly inflated prices in India). There's also your regular Nike, Reebok, Levi's, along with some cheaper local brands.  edit
• Central, Tardeo. At the site of Crossroads, what used to be Mumbai's first mall. Nothing to write home about.  edit
• 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. You can buy almost everything a woman needs in eastern Dadar at the Benaras Silk House on N C Kelkar Road and Ranade Road.
• Shirts — Reasonable priced shirts at Adacks near Sena Bhavan.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Olive, Mahalaxmi Race Course. Bombay's best-kept secret, the Olive in Bandra, recently opened this outlet in South Bombay. Spectacular Mediterranean food (including kebabs, meats, seafood, and pizzas) at spectacular prices (expect to pay Rs 1000-2000 a head with drinks). Beautiful, romantic ambiance, and if you sit inside you can see the horses stabled in the race course.
• Gajalee, High Street Phoenix. A cheap Indian seafood restaurant.
• Pritam da Dhaba, a traditional Punjabi restaurant near Dadar TT Circle. A very warm interior ideal for a quite drink.
• Byculla Restaurant And Bakery — A typical Irani restaurant that has been in business for just under a century, not far from Gloria Church.
• Copper Chimney, Worli, near Atria, or at High St Phoenix. The original Copper Chimney at Worli serves perhaps the best butter chicken in the city. Go for their chaat and buffet lunch, or simply for their smashing North Indian food (at reasonable prices- expect to pay Rs 400 a person for a very large and filling meal). The one at Phoenix, while technically the same, doesn't quite compare.  edit
• Spaghetti Kitchen, High Street Phoenix. Decent Italian food. Try their thin-crust pizzas. Average Rs 500 a head.  edit
• China Gate, Atria mall. Heavily Indianized, spicy Chinese food. Rs 300 per person.  edit
• Kebabs and Curries, ITC Grand Central, Lower Parel. Spectacular Indian food. They serve the famous Delhi Bukhara curry at this ITC restaurant. Try their succulent kebabs, their thick-enough-to-cut dal bukhara, or their fantastic Indian breads. Expect to empty out your wallets at this place, each dish can be Rs 1000.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• The Sports Bar, at High Street Phoenix. Pool table, darts, sports on all screens. Usually filled with after-work regulars, and with reasonably priced drinks.
• The Brew Bar, at High Street Phoenix.

Some of Bombay's newest, largest nightclubs are in Central, in large mill compounds.

• Shiro, Bombay Dyeing Mills. Classy Buddha-bar style lounge/club, drinks Rs 300 up. Busiest nights are Friday (retro music). Open until 3 on weekends (kitchen open til midnight), making it extremely popular.

• Hard Rock Cafe, Bombay Dyeing Mills, open til 1:30. More club-like than most other Hard Rock Cafes worldwide. Packed with the post-office media crowd (usually between 20-30 years old), with a fair share of expats. Drinks Rs 300 up. Thursdays band nights. Don't expect to get a table for a while if you go after 11.

• Zenzi, Todi Mills. Smaller than most other bars in the area, but well done up, and usually crowded with expats. Drinks between Rs 400-500, Fridays hiphop.

• BlueFrog, Todi Mills. Large, space-age looking place that has live bands/performances most nights. Expensive, with drinks above Rs 500. Decent food too.

• Play, Phoenix Mills. Used to be called Ra. Popular with the teenyboppers.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Hotel Midtown Pritam, Opp Punjab National Bank, Near Dadar Station (Central Railway) SG Road, Dadar(E) Mumbai — 400 014, ☎ +91-22-24042501 (midtown@nivalink.com, fax: +91-22-24042792), [4]. This is a decently good hotel and is very close to Dadar station. Rs. 4,500-5,500.  edit
• ITC Grand Central Sheraton & Towers, 287, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Parel, Mumbai – 400 012, ☎ +91-22-24101010 (fax: +91-22-2410 1111). This extremely posh hotel is also suitably expensive Rs. 15,000-22,000, $400-525 for foreigners..  edit
• Four Seasons. Bombay's newest, swankiest hotel.  edit

[edit] Contact