Juhu Beach
From gentle strolls along soft sand to scenic views, typical cuisine and colorful celebrations, Juhu Beach has a mix of relaxation and entertainment. It’s an ideal place to escape the throngs of bustling Mumbai and breathe some ocean air. Juhu Beach sits on the west coast of Vile Parle, an upmarket district of Mumbai famous for its celebrity residents. The area is often used as a shooting location for Bollywood movies.
Throughout the day the scene at Juhu Beach changes considerably. Come in the morning to discover an almost deserted beach, where you can take undisturbed long walks and wade in the cool water. While wading in the water is fine, it’s advisable not to swim at the beach because of contamination. Find a quiet spot, gaze out across the Arabian Sea and watch as planes arrive and depart from the nearby airport.
Later in the day the beach slowly fills up with courting couples, families and groups of friends. Time your arrival to coincide with the sunset and witness as the sky turns into pretty pink, yellow and orange hues. See children having fun on rickety fairground attractions and watch spontaneous games of soccer and cricket. Look for acrobats, fortunetellers and snake charmers.
Go to the collection of food shacks to smell the spicy aromas of delicious Indian street snacks. Order a pani puri, a deep-fried bread (puri) filled with flavored water (pani), chilies, chutneys, chickpeas and vegetables. Also worth trying is a pav bhaji, a selection of vegetables topped with tangy sauces and eaten with butter-fried bread.
Similar to Girgaun Chowpatty (Chowpatty Beach), Juhu Beach is a hive of activity during the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival. See devotees launch elaborate and hand-crafted statues of Lord Ganesh into the sea. The festival takes place in August or September.
Juhu Beach is about a 1-hour drive north from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Getting to the beach is easiest via affordable auto-rickshaws and taxis. You can also take a train to Vile Parle station, which is a short taxi ride from the beach.