Mumbai and Chennai are two of the biggest cities in India. Both sit on the coast, both grew into large ports under British rule, and both are proud of their art, food and faith. Yet they feel very different. Mumbai faces the Arabian Sea on the west coast. Chennai faces the Bay of Bengal on the east coast. If you plan a trip from Mumbai to Chennai, you can see two very different sides of Indian culture in one holiday.
This guide lists the main cultural places to visit in each city. It explains what each place is, a little of its story, and what you can do there. The facts come from published histories of each site. Timings, ticket prices and flight fares change often, so check them with the official source before you go.
Table of Contents
Mumbai and Chennai at a Glance
- Mumbai: Capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of India. It was called Bombay until 1995.
- Chennai: Capital of Tamil Nadu. It was called Madras until 1996.
- Mumbai name: The city is believed to take its name from MumbÄ, the goddess of the Koli people, who were among its first settlers.
- Chennai name: The name is linked to Chennappa Nayaka, a Nayak ruler. It was first used in a 1639 land deed.
Cultural Places to Visit in Mumbai
Start your trip in Mumbai. The city was once a group of seven islands. Over many years, land was filled in between them, and the islands joined into one city.
Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is the most famous landmark in Mumbai. It is a large stone arch on the waterfront at Apollo Bunder. It was built to mark the visit of King George V in December 1911. He was the first British king to visit India. The foundation stone was laid in 1913, and the arch was finished in 1924.
The arch is 26 metres high and is made of basalt, a dark volcanic stone. Its style mixes Indian and Islamic designs, inspired partly by old Gujarati buildings. In 1948, the last British troops left India through this gate, a year after independence.
Elephanta Caves
The Elephanta Caves are on Elephanta Island, also called Gharapuri, which means “the city of caves”. The island lies about 11 kilometres east of the Gateway of India, in Mumbai Harbour. UNESCO named the caves a World Heritage Site in 1987.
The caves were cut out of solid rock. Most of them are temples to Lord Shiva. The eastern hill also has two Buddhist mounds and a brick stupa. The most famous carving is the large three faced Shiva, often called the Trimurti. It is a little over six metres tall and stands on the south wall of the main cave. The main cave is about a one kilometre walk uphill from the jetty, so wear good shoes.
Kala Ghoda Art District
Kala Ghoda means “black horse”. The name comes from an old black stone statue of King Edward VII on a horse. That statue was moved to the Byculla Zoo in 1965.
Kala Ghoda is now the main art area of Mumbai. It has museums, galleries and colleges. The Jehangir Art Gallery opened here in 1952 and has four exhibition halls. Entry to it is free. The National Gallery of Modern Art is also in this area.
Each February the area hosts the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. It began in 1999 and runs for nine days. It covers art, dance, music, theatre, cinema, books, food and heritage walks. Entry to the events is free, but seats are limited by the size of each venue.
Chor Bazaar
Chor Bazaar is one of the largest flea markets in India. It is on Mutton Street, near Bhendi Bazaar in South Mumbai. “Chor” means thief, so the name means “thieves’ market”. One story says it was first called Shor Bazaar, or “noisy market”, and the British said the word wrongly. Today it mostly sells second hand and old items such as antiques, brass and old Bollywood posters. Bargaining is normal here.
Film City
Mumbai is the centre of Hindi cinema and also Marathi cinema. Film City, officially named Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, is a large studio complex in Goregaon East. The Maharashtra government set it up in 1977. Filmmaker V. Shantaram guided the project. In 2001 it was renamed after Dadasaheb Phalke, who is called the father of Indian cinema.
Film City covers more than 520 acres. It has 42 outdoor shooting spots and 16 sound stages.
Mumbai Street Food
No trip to Mumbai is complete without its street food. Try vada pav, pav bhaji and bhel puri. Maharashtrian home dishes like puran poli, misal pav and bhakri are worth a try too. Along the coast, fish dishes such as Bombil fry are popular. Bombil, also known as Bombay duck, is a fish, not a duck. Crawford Market, Colaba Causeway and Mohammed Ali Road are well known spots for food stalls.
Cultural Places to Visit in Chennai
When you reach Chennai, you will feel a new pace. The city began in 1639, when the British East India Company got a strip of coastal land here. A year later, they built Fort St. George, the first major English settlement in India. Chennai is also known for its temples, its classical music and its dance.
Mylapore
Mylapore is one of the oldest parts of Chennai. Records of settlement here go back to the first century BCE. The name is linked to the Tamil words for “land of the peacock scream”, as peacocks once lived here in large numbers.
The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is the heart of Mylapore. It is a temple to Lord Shiva. The present temple dates from around the 17th century, though an older temple is mentioned in old Tamil hymns. Mylapore is also home to the Sri Ramakrishna Math and the San Thome Cathedral Basilica. Many Christians believe this church holds the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle. For more temples in the state, see our list of famous Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu.
Cholamandal Artists’ Village
Cholamandal Artists’ Village was set up in 1966. It is the largest artists’ commune in India. It is in Injambakkam, a coastal area in the south of Chennai. Its artists are linked to the Madras Movement of Art, which brought modern art to South India.
George Town
George Town is the old trading area near Fort St. George. The city began to grow from here in the 1640s. It is also called Muthialpet, Parry’s Corner and Broadway. The British renamed it George Town in 1911, after King George V.
The area is full of history. The Armenian Church stands on Armenian Street, where Armenian traders once lived. Many old Hindu temples here were built between 1640 and 1680. Sowcarpet, in the western part, is home to many families whose roots are in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Museums of Chennai
The Government Museum in Egmore started in 1851. It is the second oldest museum in India, after the Indian Museum in Kolkata. The National Art Gallery is in the same complex and holds paintings by artists such as Raja Ravi Varma.
DakshinaChitra is a living history museum about 25 kilometres south of Chennai, on the East Coast Road. It opened in December 1996. Real old houses from the southern states were moved here and rebuilt.
Music and Dance
Chennai is the home of Carnatic music and a key centre for Bharatanatyam dance. The Madras Music Season runs from about mid November to January, for around nine weeks. It began in 1927 with the people who later set up the Madras Music Academy.
Kalakshetra Foundation in Besant Nagar is a famous arts academy. Rukmini Devi Arundale and her husband George Arundale founded it in 1936. It teaches Bharatanatyam and music, and Parliament named it an Institute of National Importance in 1994. To read more about the state, see our guide to Tamil Nadu history and tourism.
Simple Tips for Your Trip
- Book flights and hotels early if you travel in December or February, as the Chennai music season and the Kala Ghoda festival draw crowds.
- Dress modestly and remove your shoes when you visit temples and some other places of worship.
- Check opening days and ticket prices on official websites before you go.
Mumbai to Chennai: Two Cities, Two Styles
Mumbai is fast, loud and full of films, food and old British buildings. Chennai is calmer, with old temples, classical music and a long trading past. A trip from Mumbai to Chennai lets you see both sides of India’s coast in a short time. Pick a few places from each list, take your time, and enjoy the food and the people along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top cultural places to visit in Mumbai?
Popular choices are the Gateway of India, the Elephanta Caves, the Kala Ghoda art district, Chor Bazaar and Film City. Street food is also a big part of the city’s culture.
What are the top cultural places to visit in Chennai?
Good choices are Mylapore and the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Cholamandal Artists’ Village, George Town, the Government Museum in Egmore and DakshinaChitra.
When is the best time to enjoy music in Chennai?
The Madras Music Season runs from about mid November to January. December is the busiest month for concerts.
How do I reach the Elephanta Caves?
Ferries leave from the jetties at the Gateway of India. The island is about 11 kilometres away in Mumbai Harbour. From the island jetty, the main cave is about a one kilometre walk uphill.