The Pearl Necklace of Mumbai
Facing the Arabian Sea, a wide paved promenade traces a curve along a natural bay in South Mumbai. People walk or jog here, keeping their eyes on the water on one side and a row of vintage facades on the other.
At the northern end, the stroll continues naturally down to Chowpatty beach and its street food stalls at the foot of Malabar Hill.
Why take a walk on Marine Drive
The road and the promenade were built by Pallonji Mistry. Six concrete lanes curve along the coast on land entirely reclaimed from the sea, lined with palm trees that follow the path from end to end.
Officially named Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, the promenade has remained known by another far more evocative name.
Why it is called the Queen's Necklace
Seen at night from a high vantage point, the alignment of streetlights running all along the bay forms a glowing pearl necklace. This image gave rise to the nickname Queen's Necklace, which has largely eclipsed the official name of the street.
Sunset over the bay remains the most popular time of day. When evening arrives, crowds settle on the low walls bordering the promenade to watch the lights turn on.
An open-air Art Deco gallery
Thirty-five Art Deco buildings line the road, serving as reminders of an architectural modernization effort carried out in colonial Mumbai. These facades are part of the site inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 30, 2018, under the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai designation.
Friendly tip: plan for 45 minutes to two hours to walk the entire promenade depending on your stops, and aim for the late afternoon if you want to catch the sunset, as the area gets notably crowded by evening.
Highlights
- Free admission, open 24 hours a day
- Flat, paved walkway that is easy to navigate
- Accessible on foot from the Churchgate and Marine Lines railway stations
Good to know
- Very crowded in the evening, especially at sunset
How long for this activity
Plan on 45 minutes to 2 hours to walk the entire length of Marine Drive, depending on how many stops you make.
Marine Drive is a nice promenade several kilometers long that runs along the sea. However, with the traffic and the crowds, it is not necessarily very pleasant to walk there. I was advised to go in the evening, as the scenery is very beautiful with the lights, but I did not feel very safe...