Dharavi Travel Guide

Mumbai
Dharavi as well as an individual male
Discover time-honored pottery workshops, extraordinary entrepreneurship, bustling bazaars and revered temples amid one of Mumbai’s liveliest neighbourhoods.

Dharavi is a teeming and colourful neighbourhood of serpentine lanes lined with artisan workshops, bazaars and temples. It’s the centre of Mumbai’s small-scale industry, entrepreneurship and resourcefulness, a place to experience an unprecedented feeling of community spirit. Dharavi is famous as one of Asia’s largest shanty towns, yet it is a popular destination for curious tourists. Try to recognise sites that were used as filming locations for the 2008 blockbuster movie Slumdog Millionaire.

The most convenient way to visit Dharavi is via organised tours. Come in the morning to witness the streets waking from a deep sleep and becoming an animated village. Watch as worshippers move between the churches, temples and mosques and as market sellers set up their stalls. Listen as the sounds of morning prayers resonate from temples such as Arulmigu Ganesar Alayam, Haji Malang Baba Dargah and Hanuman Mandir.

Wander along narrow alleys and peek inside humble homes and chawls, which are traditional multilevel tenements. On 90 Feet Road and 60 Feet Road you’ll find a veritable showcase of Dharavi’s energetic lifestyle. Soap factories, leather shops and tanners stand amid bakeries, cafés, spice stores and fresh produce hawkers. Meanwhile, chai wallahs weave between frantic tuk-tuks and horn-tooting taxis to offer milky spiced tea.

Visit Kumbharwada pottery colony, established in the 1930s, to see a multi-generation families of artisans craft all types of pots from sundried clay. Marvel as women make poppadoms, crispy Indian snacks, by hanging them out to dry on overturned wooden baskets. Check out the neighbourhood’s recycling area, where workers busily separate and recycle waste brought from all over the world. Climb onto a factory rooftop to appreciate the enormity of the neighbourhood.

Dharavi is about a 30-minute drive from Mumbai’s tourist-friendly coastal districts of Colaba and Kala Ghoda. Get here by taking an affordable tuk-tuk or taxi. Alternatively, ride a train to Mahim Junction station, located on the eastern edge of the neighbourhood. Several tour operators have offices in Dharavi and can arrange for an English-speaking guide to meet you at the train station.


Popular places to visit


Top hotels in Dharavi

Niranta Airport Transit Hotel & Lounge Terminal 2 Arrivals
Niranta Airport Transit Hotel & Lounge Terminal 2 Arrivals
4 out of 5
Terminal 2 , Landside Terminal, CSI Airport, Sahar, Mumbai, Maharashtra
The price is ₹8,116 per night from 1 May to 2 May
₹8,116
per night
1 May - 2 May
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Mumbai. Enjoy a full-service spa, breakfast and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,002 reviews)
A decent stay
"Niranta Transit Hotel in Mumbai offers commendable service, making it a convenient choice for travelers. However, some may find the charges relatively high compared to similar options. The hotel's location within the airport adds to its appeal for those seeking a seamless transit experience. Clean ..."

Reviewed on 16 Apr 2024

Niranta Airport Transit Hotel & Lounge Terminal 2 Arrivals
The Leela Mumbai
The Leela Mumbai
5 out of 5
Sahar, Mumbai, Maharashtra
The price is ₹12,000 per night from 20 Apr to 21 Apr
₹12,000
per night
20 Apr - 21 Apr
Stay at this spa hotel in Mumbai. Enjoy free parking, 4 restaurants and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,001 reviews)
Great Service
"Excellent hotel - a place of tranquillity in the middle if a busy and hectic city. A perfect place to unwind and enjoy the wonderful services available. No better place in Mumbai."

Reviewed on 16 Apr 2024

The Leela Mumbai
JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar
JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar
5 out of 5
IA Project Road, Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl Airport, Mumbai, Maharashtra
The price is ₹9,000 per night from 3 May to 4 May
₹9,000
per night
3 May - 4 May
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Mumbai. Enjoy free valet parking, 3 restaurants and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (744 reviews)
"I had an absolutely phenomenal stay at JW Marriott Sahar, thanks to the outstanding hospitality provided by the guest services team. From the moment we arrived, it was evident that they were committed to making our experience unforgettable. Lydia, Rupal, Devika, and the entire team went above and ..."

Reviewed on 17 Apr 2024

JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar
Trident, Nariman Point Mumbai
Trident, Nariman Point Mumbai
5 out of 5
Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra
The price is ₹10,575 per night from 10 May to 11 May
₹10,575
per night
10 May - 11 May
Stay at this spa hotel in Mumbai. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and 3 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (999 reviews)
Perfect Family holiday
"Amazing hotel, family friendly, attention to detail, clean, plenty of options at breakfast and dinner, great location."

Reviewed on 14 Apr 2024

Trident, Nariman Point Mumbai
Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel and Serviced Apartments
Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel and Serviced Apartments
5 out of 5
Bandra Kurla Complex vicinity, Off Western Express Highway, Vakola, Mumbai, Maharashtra
The price is ₹10,000 per night from 3 May to 4 May
₹10,000
per night
3 May - 4 May
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Mumbai. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and 4 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (998 reviews)
"What a fab stay I had with my team at The Grand Hyatt Hotel and Serviced Apartments. It was the best service I would have experienced - my sincere gratitude to the staff of The Grand Hyatt Hotel and Serviced Apartments. Loved the upgrades. Best wishes Sandeep"

Reviewed on 17 Apr 2024

Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel and Serviced Apartments
JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu
JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu
5 out of 5
Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra
The price is ₹14,500 per night from 20 Apr to 21 Apr
₹14,500
per night
20 Apr - 21 Apr
Stay at this 5-star luxury resort in Mumbai. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and 3 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (773 reviews)
Enjoyed the stay
"Great service by all. Very proactive and accommodating. Hotel rooms a bit outdated."

Reviewed on 13 Apr 2024

JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Dharavi

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Bandra Kurla Complex

Bandra Kurla Complex is popular for its abundant dining options, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to JioGarden or MMRDA Grounds.

Bandra Kurla Complex
Mt. Mary Church showing heritage elements as well as a large group of people

Bandra West

Travellers come to Bandra West for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Linking Road and Mt. Mary Church while you're in town.

Bandra West
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Dadar

3/5(7 area reviews)

Get to know Dadar and its many features like its churches and gardens. You might want to explore sights like Shivaji Park and Plaza Cinema, and you can jump on the metro at Dadar Western Station or Matunga Station to get around the city.

Dadar
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Santacruz

3.5/5(18 area reviews)

Santacruz is popular for its abundant dining options, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Linking Road or Ashtavinayak Temple.

Santacruz
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Airport Area

While Airport Area isn't home to many top sights, Juhu Beach and NMIMS Mumbai are some notable places to visit nearby.

Airport Area
ISKCON Temple featuring heritage architecture

Juhu

4/5(1 area review)

While visiting Juhu, you might make a stop by sights like Juhu Beach and ISKCON Temple.

Juhu


Dharavi Travel Guide