The city of Mumbai lies on the coastline of Maharashtra and to protect it, many forts were constructed in its long history. One of those is the Vasai Fort, also known as Bassein Fort, significant militarily to oversee the surrounding areas of Mumbai, Thane and Saashti. Located in the Vasai suburb of North Mumbai, the walls of the fort, though in ruins, still have enough in them to make you wonder at its architectural marvel. Due to its strategic location, the fort has witnessed many battles. It was under the control of the Portuguese army till the early 18th century. The Maratha kingdom, under the leadership of Bajirao Peshwa, waged a few battles to claim it for their own. After the initial unsuccessful attempt in 1737 to capture Vasai, the Maratha leader Chimajiappa, was handed over this task. A lot of research and reconnaissance went into planning the next attack and after a swift and well-planned guerilla campaign, the Maratha army finally captured the fort in 1739. The remnants of chapels, watchtowers and staircases in the ruins of this fort under the cover of large palm trees tell many stories from that time period. Because of its history as a Portuguese settlement, there are a few graves with carvings in Latin and remains of an ancient church that can also be seen. The ramparts, arches and watchtowers are hauntingly beautiful and many visitors prefer to shoot their wedding photos here. The wild overgrown vegetation as well as coconut and palm tree cover adds to the beauty of the wilderness. There are a few trails that let you go up to the edge of the fort from where gorgeous views of the Ulhas river and the setting sun can be seen. The fort has also been used as a location for many Bollywood films like Josh,  Khamoshi and Ram Gopal Verma Ki Aag. 

The building that houses the National Gallery of Modern Art today used to be a popular public hall donated to Mumbai (then Bombay) by Sir Cowasji Jehangir, a leading Parsi philanthropist and industrialist. Named as Sir CJ Hall in honour of its founding patron, this building acted as an impressive auditorium back in its heyday, with horseshoe balconies overlooking the main stage. Right from concerts by musical stalwarts like Yehudi Menuhin and Paul Robeson to freedom rallies organised by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammed Ali Jinnah to meetings for the Parsi Panchayat, this building has been witness to many significant moments in Indian history. It was designed by Scottish architect George Wittet (1878-1926). At that time the only other public hall in Mumbai (then Bombay) was the Town Hall and this new public hall soon became the hub of culture, frequented by the elite of the city. Over the years, the auditorium fell into disuse, especially after newer venues with air conditioning, better acoustics, lighting and other amenities cropped up in the vicinity. Soon the hall was only being booked for boxing matches, wedding receptions and leather goods sales. The artist community protested heavily against the deterioration of this building from a venue of high culture to one with a more bazaar-like vibe. After a concentrated effort from the art community, a 12 year renovation was undertaken that transformed the building into what we today call the National Gallery of Modern Art. It quickly went on to become an important centre in the contemporary art movement in India. Architect Romy Khosla was tasked with the restoration. Today, NGMA has five exhibition galleries, a lecture auditorium, a library, cafeteria, office and a vast storage space. This exhibition space regularly features many painting and sculpture displays along with works from artists from the international arena, both established and upcoming. 

A monument of significant historical importance that houses one of the finest railway stations in the world, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus sees a footfall of over 3 million daily. The railway terminus was named Victoria Terminus in honour of the British Queen, Victoria, on Golden Jubilee Day (1887) to mark fifty years of her reign. It was subsequently renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in 1996 to honour the founder of the Maratha empire and is currently known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (as of 2017). This was the very first terminus station in the subcontinent. British architects joined hands with Indian craftsmen to build this heritage building, an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic revival architecture blending with themes derived from traditional Indian architecture, thereby forging a style unique to then-Bombay. Designed by British architect F W Stevens, this heritage structure is known for its magnificent stone dome, cantilevered staircase, ornamental turrets, elegant columns, pointed arches, high vaulted ceilings and a host of expansive decorative sculptures and carvings. The main gate of the building is flanked by two columns, with sculptures of a seated lion representing Britain atop one and a crouching tiger representing India on the other. The facade has snarling heads of gargoyles jutting out, leaping griffins, peacock with its feathers open like a fan and a cobra locked in a fight with a mongoose. Because of its elaborate, intricate and three-dimensional stone carved decor, the terminus took almost 10 years to build. Mumbai, known as the city of dreams, opens its gates to a multitude of people every day and a large part of these people arrive on trains. The majestic and awe-inspiring Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is the first structure that they usually see and many have written of the overwhelming effect this massive heritage site has on them. 

One of the best things about Mumbai is the sea and the access it provides for quick day-time trips to nearby beaches and islands. Less than an hour's boat ride from the Gateway of India, in Colaba, lies the Elephanta Island colloquially known as Gharapuri or the Fortress City. The scenic island stretches across 10 to 15 sq km of land and has a dense foliage of mango, tamarind and palm trees. Perfect for a weekend excursion, this island provides good trekking as well as picnic opportunities. The island gets its name from a giant stone sculpture of an elephant that was discovered by the 16th century Portuguese explorers who came to this area. The island owes its global popularity to the fact that it is home to a network of ancient rock-cut caves known as the Elephanta caves that boast artistic wall carvings and sculptures, dedicated to Hindu and Buddhist gods. These caves were incorporated in the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites in the early 1980s. The walls of the caves, which are located on top of a hillock, are lined with rock art that experts say, dates as far back as the mid- 5th and 6th century. There are two main hills on the island – Gun Hill and Stupa Hill. The former gets its name from the two British-era canons perched on it and the latter because of the remains of a Buddhist stupa that was excavated here. The most intricately detailed and architecturally majestic cave, among the Elephanta network is situated on Gun Hill. The panels on these caves depict the lives and beliefs of the esoteric Pashupati sect of the Shaiva system. A 7-m-high sculpture called Sadashiva lies at the entrance of the cave. 

A great historical monument, true to its name, the Gateway of India is often the starting point for tourists who visit Mumbai. An integral visual seen in most skyline photographs of Mumbai, this monument is visited by millions of people across the world. As the oft-repeated saying goes 'When in Mumbai, do what the films actors do' and in the same vein, many tourists can be seen clicking photos of each other while running in exaggerated styles through the mass of pigeons that are often pecking on seeds in the courtyard of this heritage structure. This structure was built as a triumphal arch to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay and is today synonymous with the imagery associated with Mumbai. The archway is 26 m high and joined with four turrets, with intricate lattice work carved on stones. The arch alone was built at the cost of INR 21 lakh. It is built in Indo-Saracenic style, though some influence of Gujarati style is also evident in its architecture. In the past, Gateway of India used to be the arrival point for visitors from the west. Ironically, when the British raj ended in 1947, this colonial symbol also became a sort of epitaph: the last of the British ships that set sail for England left from the Gateway. This majestic landmark of Mumbai faces the vast Arabian Sea and is a must-visit at night, all lit up in its pristine glory against the backdrop of the sea. For those who have a few hours to spare, there are private yachts that can be booked at the Gateway of India to sail away with the setting sun casting the perfect golden glow over the glittering Mumbai skyline.