Chowpatty Beach, Mumbai

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Chowpatty beach is together with Juhu beach Mumbai's most famous beach. It is a hangout for especially young people in Mumbai. Chowpatty beach is not as big as Juhu beach, but it is more crowded. Small cafes and stalls are located on the entrance from the Marine drive and down to the beach.
The beach is in the middle of a polluted city, so don't expect a tropical beach. Even though I found the place relative clean. The atmosphere is very Indian with a different context for a western visitor. Sometimes a bit frightening to experience the difference. Both poor and middle class people find their way to this beach. There are no sunbeds on the beach and the water is too polluted for a bath. Indian people don't take off their clothes on the beach.

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Located at the northern end of Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach is a tranquil sandy beach in the heart of Bombay. Beach it is, but bathing suits are a definite a no-no and so is swimming, due to the heavily polluted waters. Nevertheless, many Indian families come to their city's most famous beach for relaxation. It is definitely a great location for people watching, and a peaceful stroll on the sand. The curved beach is open to the Arabian Sea, and graced by views over Colaba on one side and Malabar Hill on the other.

From early evening this beach is transformed into a festive area the atmosphere is great.
Many families come down to visit the beach. There are great food stalls selling Belpuri – do try this!
There are also massage wallas from whom you can get a feet or head massage for about Rs50.
There are many policemen around, which make it a very safe area at night.

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Chowpatty Beach acres round at the northern end of Back Bay and is the southernmost of Mumbai's beaches. The beach is the venue for Mumbai's largest festival, Ganesha Chaturthi, which lasts for 10 days in Aug/Sept. It also plays host to political rallies. I was expecting the beach to be a bit flithy but it looks fairly OK but I wouldn't sunbathe on it! Oddly, it's best to come to the beach at night instead of during the day to eat at the stalls and watch Mumbaian's stroll around. There's a few nice buildings overlooking the beach but most of them look at bit rundown. Also it would appear that a few people live on the beach.

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The Chowpatty Beach overlooks a bay, and turns into a magical brightly lit funfair at night with vendors, pony rides, fortune tellers, performing monkeys, fishermen and families out for a stroll. Ship lights twinkle in the distance, and Marine Drive, the city’s most famous boulevard, decorates the bay in a dramatic arc of streetlights christened the Queen’s Necklace. Marine Drive extends from Nariman Point to Malabar Hill past the famous Chowpatty beach, and is built on land reclaimed from Back Bay along the Arabian Sea.

4 more images

The Chowpatty Beach overlooks a bay, and turns into a magical brightly lit funfair at night with vendors, pony rides, fortune tellers, performing monkeys, fishermen and families out for a stroll. Ship lights twinkle in the distance, and Marine Drive, the city’s most famous boulevard, decorates the bay in a dramatic arc of streetlights christened the Queen’s Necklace. Marine Drive extends from Nariman Point to Malabar Hill past the famous Chowpatty beach, and is built on land reclaimed from Back Bay along the Arabian Sea.

4 more images

The Chowpatty Beach overlooks a bay, and turns into a magical brightly lit funfair at night with vendors, pony rides, fortune tellers, performing monkeys, fishermen and families out for a stroll. Ship lights twinkle in the distance, and Marine Drive, the city’s most famous boulevard, decorates the bay in a dramatic arc of streetlights christened the Queen’s Necklace. Marine Drive extends from Nariman Point to Malabar Hill past the famous Chowpatty beach, and is built on land reclaimed from Back Bay along the Arabian Sea.

After all the lurid accounts I was not looking forward to Chowpatty, the truth be told it is lovely. After a while (a few trips there) I started going in the water as well. Rent a mat for a dew rupees and read a book. Also great street food available at the stands on the beach. Pani puri is great here!

If one needs an espesso or cappucino there is a Barista just across the road.

At night and saturdays is when this Mumbai beach gets full of life and animation. As it is not a place for swimming (at least I wouldn't do it!!), you can go there at sunset and enjoy the food stands, fair attractions and people walking up and down the beach for a nice evening.

Try the Bhel Puri & Kulfi at the beach restaurants.

Apart from Juhu in the suburbs, Chowpatty is Mumbai's most famous beach. During the day, it is the hangout of the happily unemployed who snooze under the shade of its stunted trees. But in the evening the atmosphere is more like a carnival: kids screaming on Ferris wheels or taking pony rides, wayside astrologers making a quick buck, monkey shows, and even the odd self -styled gymnast who will demonstrate amazing yogic postures for a small fee. At one end is a row of bhelpuri shops hawking Mumbai's most popular snack: crisp puffed rice and semolina doused in pungent chutneys, all scooped up with a flat, fried puri. You might even catch a film shoot or a street play. In short, for most tourists Chowpatty is where the action is.