Personally, I hate having my life disrupted by routine. But living in Mumbai does that to you. It keeps you running – work, meetings, deadlines, grocery shopping, family, train-catching… like a re-run of a very average movie.
And then the weekend arrives. Finally… some free time!! And you, like countless others, are sitting at home, scratching your head and wondering what to do.
You have 5 options:
Bandstand/Carter Road
Juhu Beach
Marine Drive
Malls/Restaurants and Pubs
Stay at home with the idiot box.
Sure, these are great the first dozen times, but after that, potty training the cat becomes far more interesting.
So I’ve enlisted the help of my fabulous Twitter and Facebook followers to find out what there is to do in Mumbai apart from the above said dreary things. You won’t find eating places on the list. Some of them are on the verge of being “touristy” and the rest already are.
(Side note – If you AREN’T one of my fabulous Twitter and Facebook followers, and are waiting for Diwali to hit that “Follow” button… guess what!)
Here it is:
Spend a morning at Borivali National Park (@FlirtyTango) – Give your lungs a break from all that polluted air and go on a nature walk. Kids will love going on a ride in the toy train, experiencing the lion safari and marveling at the wildlife. The Kanheri Caves is a major attraction here, comprising of 109 caves with rock inscriptions. You can rent a cycle, go camping, and have a meal in the forest-restaurant.
Watch a Play (@FuschiaScribe) – Get a schedule of the Hive, NCPA or Prithvi Theater and attend live concerts and performances. Find out what’s hot and head over for plays, dances, and art.
Visit bluebulb.in (Jordella D’souza) – I recently checked out this website and found that it has a host of things to do. From lifestyle to art and sports to adventure, browse through their list of workshops and fun activities. What I found interesting were these: learn to make Vada Pao like a boss, turn that dusty window ledge into a garden and the art of tea appreciation.
Visit the Planetarium (@iishitav) – Astronomy lover? The Nehru Planetarium in Worli conducts science quizzes and elocution. If that’s not your thing, simply gaze at the night sky in the planetarium dome. Good for a one-time visit.
Scour the Markets (Rajan Parekh) – Walk down the old streets of Crawford Market, Zaveri Bazaar, Pydhonie, Abdul Rahman Street and Gulal Wadi. Sales, discounts and deals are aplenty, just like the maze of shops and chaotic lanes! It has interesting architecture (like Brihan Mumbai Mahanagarpalika) and a ton of history (like Rudyard Kipling’s birth house). You’ll find everything from imported chocolates to magic tricks… all cheap!
Gallery Hop at Colaba to explore art (@FilmyKeedaa) – Held on the second Thursday of the month, this self guided tour shows you latest the art world has to offer. This isn’t the typical high-class event, there’s a lot of walking involved as you head from one art gallery to the other armed with a map.
Hang out at Powai Lake Waterfront (@Mitzyeah) – As simple as it gets! Take a walk down the promenade and enjoy the musical fountain show.
Go Boating at Aarey Colony (Anshul Verma) – Choose a boat, decide how long you want to paddle for, pay accordingly and head out. This little green oasis is away from the noise and traffic. Finally, some peace!
Equal Streets and Happy Streets (Kalpesh Patel) – Happy Streets (Navi Mumbai) and Equal Streets (Bandra) have a buzz of events every Sunday, when select roads are made car-free. You can skate, attend a dance or yoga class, draw, paint, or do just about anything. Check if it’s on that week before you go.
Walk through Parsi Colonies (Behoz Menon) – An interesting idea, considering how therapeutic these areas are. Rustom Baug, Malcolm Baug and Cusrow Baug, for example have gorgeous in roads lined with old cottages and solid stone buildings, and a personality of their own.
Take a short cooking class (Khushnaz Y. Khambata) – Cooking classes don’t require as much time and commitment as it did before. Weekend ones seem to be an upcoming trend, especially those for all-men. Learn regional cuisines, knife skills, french pastry or take a three hour pasta class.Boating along the Gateway of India (Aditya Londhe) – There are short trips that start and end at Mumbai’s iconic monument as well as those that take you to the Elephanta caves. Get into a speed boat and ride the Arabian Sea, taking in the Mumbai docks, the Taj Hotel and the gateway from a distance.Moonlight cycling Tours from Churchgate to Bandra (Parth Viradia) – When these crowded areas and those in between thin out at night, they undergo an amazing transformation Take the 20 Km-5 hour ride with 70 other people… how much fun does that sound?
Go Dancing – (Digvijay Desai) – Find out where dance classes or events are happening around you. Learn different styles and participate in socials. You’ll meet new people, have fun and have a great work-out too!
I hope this list will give you enough ideas and motivation to get out of the weekend routine-rut. If you really, really want to rest, that’s what the office is for *wink*
Thank you for the overwhelming response, readers! If you have any more tips to help your fellow Mumbaikars out, comment below, tweet to me or let me know on Facebook. (Remember, nothing food related for now!)
Happy Diwali, everyone! Till next time!