Chowpatty Is The Indian City To Get Your Party On

A cursory web search for Chowpatty might throw up results to disappoint the traveler in you. On the other hand, if your soul is of a Mumbaikar, a web search is the last activity you would do to understand Chowpatty. It is more than a beach; it is an emotion like any other.

Chowpatty, or Chau-pati, means ‘four channels or creeks’ and was likely coined to signify the supposedly four inlets from the sea to Girgaun, which existed at some point in the past. At this point, it is an outlet for the people of the city to the sea.

Crowds gather at the end of the day to watch the sun go down at Chowpatty

You just need to step aside from the road and walk on the sand to feel that time has slowed down its pace. Although the space is famous for hosting Ram Leela and is host to the multitude of devotees who flock here for immersion at the end of Ganesh Festival, there is another facet to the beach.

It’s a space where your evening lingers on, moving bit by bit with each successive step on the sand. A space where one can witness the evening unfold and watch the madness of the city from its comfort. As the cars zoom by, you feel blessed to be there, doing nothing in particular except for savoring the moments. Once there, you’ll be greeted with one of the best street foods in Mumbai. After you are done with the usual distractions, you proceed towards the shore. If you are lucky enough, you may spot colorful fishing boats idling on the waves. A gradual feeling of being a part of this beach begins to sinks in.

For locals, the beach is an extension of daily life, an outlet for the daily grind. They revel in its sands and shores while the city rushes by. For the travelers, Chowpatty is not just a beach spot. For a beach, it’s relatively small in area. There are many other glorious beaches around Mumbai to visit like Aksa, Gorai, and Manori. One will find a vast expanse of clean sand and clear water to unwind. In that regard, Chowpatty fares poorly. However, what it holds is the ability to slow down your daily life, your routine existence, for you to sneak in leisure at no extra expense. Chowpatty holds the power to slow down the evenings, make them last longer, and when the sun goes down the Arabian sea, you know Mumbai a whole lot more.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.