The Murals Of Bandra — Bombay wall art
Is it possible to be both happy and sad? I guess it is. Blessed are those whose minds are always calm and composed. Well, mine is one hell of a mess. The mess reached its epitome when I was leaving my hometown Kolkata to make a new nest in Mumbai — the city of dreams. Forget the people, I was even missing the walls of my room. The clouds reminded me of my furry ‘stray Persian’ cat! On the other hand I was excited to discover a new city.
My home in the Kolkata suburb of Howrah is a standalone two storied house. My friends, neighbours, relatives and most of the people I know lives in either standalone houses or flat buildings which are five-six storied at the maximum.
The skyline of the Mumbai suburb I reside in now is ruled by skyscrapers. The concept of standalone houses is non-existent in my current locality.
I thought to myself “ Navi Mumbai is a modern planned city and it is expected to have the characteristics of the same. However, Mumbai must have old neighbourhoods which can still remind me of my native place.” Where better to start my search of old neighbourhoods than the alleys of Bandra?
Why Bandra?
I had been to Bandra once before to visit Mount Mary’s Basilica and gawk at the Bandra-Worli sea link. I sensed there is a remarkable ‘Unity In Diversity’: Several religions co-exist; Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan have some neighbours down the beach who live in makeshift shacks. Though some of the richest people of India live in Bandra, it doesn’t stop the shopkeepers from selling bags, shoes and dresses worth only a couple of hundreds.
Apart from my own observations, I read lots of literature available on the internet which swear by the charm of Bandra. They sold Bandra to me!
Path Taken
The Bandra railway station and bus station are adjacent to each other. We boarded off the bus, turned on Google Maps and set Bandra Station the source and Chapel Road the destination.
We followed Lord Google, left the broad street and entered an alley. As we moved forward the alley became thinner and bifurcated several times. We were in a Muslim neighbourhood. The houses were humble, old and it reminded me of my hometown. Since it was a sweltering afternoon not many were out on the road but still the hustle and bustle was noteworthy.
I don’t remember how many times we took left and right turns, but I remember the sudden change in the nature of the alley. There, in front of each house was a cross of Jesus. I have never been in a neighbourhood like this before. I felt a ‘Goa Goa’ feeling going on inside me!
Discoveries In The Chapel Road — Bombay wall art
The Christian neighbourhood was completely sleepy. The lane was almost deserted with an occasional passerby once in five minutes, but we saw in the balconies and the windows of those humble old houses sat grandmothers and grandfathers.
The grannies and granddads were not alone. They were given company by actress Bina Rai and actor Pradeep Kumar of Bollywood movie Anarkali (1953).
I wonder how many times has this house been photographed. The older it gets the better it becomes.
We all have 2 eyes right? Apart from the Hindu Gods and Goddesses I don’t know of any other creature who flaunts of the ‘eye of insights’ so openly!
But now the Hindu deity Lord Shiva will know where to go in case his third eye troubles him.
Who will not want to walk in these shops when the shutters are so inviting? The next time we visit Bandra we will make sure to grab a bite here!
I don’t know where but I have seen this weirdo figure somewhere! De-focus on the bizarre graffiti for a while and concentrate on the top left corner of the photo. Do you notice those plants hanging from the Carlsberg beer cans?
So the next time you get yourself a beer you know what to do with the can!
We don’t know who he is, just found him on the walls of a house. If you know him, please comment in the post below and increase my knowledge!
Looks like residents of the Chapel Road are indeed quite fond of elephants. I don’t blame them; I find elephants both strong and cute.
Enroute To Bandstand
The cobble stoned Chapel Road finally came to an end and after a few twists and turns we ended up on the branching road to Bandstand. Walking downhill will lead to the sea and walking uphill will take one to the Mount Mary’s Basilica. We found some artsy staircases at this point.
We were so surprised when a little way downhill we met Mr. Amitabh Bachhan.
After a brief interaction with him, we bid farewell to him and paced down towards the Arabian Sea, which was already visible now. As we kept on walking, a vehicle honked its horn. I got scared and turned around to save myself from any possible accident which may force me to enlist my blog under ‘wheelchair travel’ niche.
Well, on turning around I found Rajesh Khanna staring at me!
We hope to return in this place very soon as we believe there may be more of such murals waiting for us to get discovered!
Do you live in Chapel Road Bandra? Do you happen to know someone who lives in Chapel Road? Get in touch with us we would love to know more about your neighbourhood!
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Tania Banerjee
Tania is a freelance writer based in India who tinkers with words here and there but mostly focused on travel, food, arts and crafts. She writes for several Indian dailies and magazines.
76 Comments
Expat Panda
Absolutely stunning pictures! Love all of the street art!
Tania Mukherjee
Thanks a lot for checking out! 🙂
Divya Chandrashekar
Great captures.
Tania Mukherjee
Thanks a lot Divya! 🙂
anupriyabasu123
Wow! That’s such a nice discovery. I personally love Bombay, but have never seen these murals in Bandra. When I visited, I loved walking around in Juhu & Bandra. Those streets sure have an old-world charm.
Tania Mukherjee
Hi Anupriya! Any chance you from Kolkata or it’s suburbs? I love cobbled stoned streets but they are so rare to find in Kolkata! But in Mumbai it’s everywhere! 🙂 I love it and the old world charm associated with it!
anupriyabasu123
Hey Tania, I am a bong so we frequently visited Kolkata when I was a kid. I love both Kolkata and Mumbai! I don’t remember cobblestone streets in those cities but I distinctly adore the old world charm. Since I am a fan of cobblestone, I would try to find those on my next visit.. 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
They are almost non existent in Kolkata but Mumbai has many!
luxurycolumnist
Those murals are fabulous, I love the one with the 3 eyes! And I agree that it is possible to be happy and sad at the same time – I’m happy to travel but sad to think of someone ill in my family who can no longer do so
Tania Mukherjee
The mural with 3 eyes was the weirdest! This feeling happy+sad at the same time is the toughest ever feeling to handle!
Doreen Pendgracs
LOVE this post, Tania! I am a big fan of street art, and the ones of the Bollywood actors are really great! I also love those artsy staircases. Beautiful!
Tania Mukherjee
You just made my day! 🙂 Encouraging words like yours inspire me to blog more! 🙂
usathroughoureyes
You have depicted this so well. The photos are intriguing and the words allow up to feel. Thank you for sharing with us.
Tania Mukherjee
Thank you a lot for following my journey! 🙂
incravingswetrust
Beautiful pictures! I loved living in Bandra during my high school years in Mumbai – let me know if Crepe Station and Mezbaan are still open restaurants in the area 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
Thanks! 🙂 I am new in the city and I will definitely now search for Crepe Station and Mezbaan! 🙂 Where do you live now?
incravingswetrust
Back in the US now, but update is that Mezbaan along Bandra Seaface closed a while back 🙁 I’m sure you’ll find another awesome butter chicken/daal makhani place in the area though!
Tania Mukherjee
It got closed ? 🙁 They probably gave in to some stronger competitor. Have to find out who they are.
Bhusha
Wow! That’s so beautiful! Mumbai was the first city that I moved to, soon after finishing college! Indeed a city of dreams! I managed to roam about a bit in Andheri, Borivali regions and didn’t venture to Bandra or VT areas much. Guess I totally missed seeing all these gorgeous murals! Absolutely stunning indeed!
Tania Mukherjee
But you must have discovered hidden stuffs in Andheri and Borivali..tell me more about it!
yukti
Wow! After living in Mumbai i was totally unware of this beautiful street art. Thanks for sharing now when I go to Bandra will definitely refer ur blog n try to figure out those places
Tania Mukherjee
Hey Yukti, it’s really easy to reach the place. Just follow google maps direction from Bandra station. And you know you can always ping me up if you need any company! 🙂
therainbowroute
I always miss my cat when I leave home too. I get so excited when I see a cat roaming about wherever we are travelling. Love the street art here – we need more of this in the world.
Tania Mukherjee
Now this is going to make you sad but..my cat disappeared right after a few days of me leaving my hometown. 🙁
Sandy N Vyjay
Wow those street art are stunning! I now want to go back to Mumbai and especially to Bandra and have a look at all these murals. Lovely pics. 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
So the next time you are in Mumbai, you know what to do! Ping me up and may be we can go together, I am still new in the city 🙁 and would love to make friends 🙂 !
Julie Cao
The painting in the Chapel road is so interesting and it makes the whole neighborhood looks like a graffiti alley. It also very peaceful and completely off-the-beaten path. I am surprised that Mumbai has such a artistic neighborhood like this. And yes I know what to do with the beer cans:)
Tania Mukherjee
This alley should totally be highlighted by the Ministry of Tourism! It is a gold mine of discovery! 🙂 Haha glad that you noticed those cans! 🙂
thetravelpockets
O wow! So many fun murals! I especially liked the artsy staircases. I also thought the one of Rajesh Khanna staring at you was so funny 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
And this house is just 5 minutes away from the Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan’s residence!
tweeteattravel
I really enjoyed this post because I really dig street art! This reminds me of some of the murals in downtown LA. Crazy how you can find some really cool murals in random places no? Cool shots!
Tania Mukherjee
I think I have read about the murals in L.A! But random murals aren’t that common in India 🙁 so I fetl elated when I discovered this mural street! 🙂
Thelittlelai: Beyond limits
There will always adjustment whenever we move to a different place, but surely you’ll get to use of it and along the way, you’ll enjoy and appreciate whatever that surrounds the new place. This place is a new haven for you and I’m sure that you’ll get a new comfort from all the scenery that it has to offer. I like those street arts they’re all beautiful and pleasing to the eye.
Tania Mukherjee
You are right. The adjustment process takes time but it does happen! The question “How are you feeling about the change?” triggered an unending twirl of confused complicated thoughts in my head!
Alice Chen
I love these murals! I’ve found that street art like this really brightens up any street. I really like the one of all the elephants and that staircase with the sun!
Tania Mukherjee
It is really incredible how the street art transformed the otherwise ordinary neighborhood to an extra ordinary one! 🙂
Jing
Oh wow! I so want to go to Bandra now. All the things you showed here are my little obsessions as a hobbyist photographer and traveler: 1) street art, 2) doors, 3) stairs. Numbers 2 & 3, I’ve created a series of these in my travels or even if I’m just in my neighborhood. Thanks for sharing! I’ve added this on my ever expanding list. 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
I would love to check out your series of doors and stairs! And now you have also put the thought inside my head! How beautiful!
Jing
Welcome to the club! 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
Hey I got your email! Thanks for it! 🙂
Jing
you’re welcome! 🙂
Only By Land
The street art in the Chapel Road neighborhood is incredible and worth the visit alone. The Goa Goa moment you experienced when you saw a cross, Goa Goa is a new phrase to me! It’s amazing how much you discovered just through walking the streets, very interesting. I’m tempted to do something similar in a big city myself and see what unique things I get to photograph.
Tania Mukherjee
I am so happy you found Bandra’s street art incredible. Now let me explain you what’s this ‘Goa Goa’ moment! Goa is basically a beach state in India, both famous and infamous for this ambiance. The beaches are famous for hosting parties and music festivals. However, the residents of Goa are predominantly Christians, and that is rare to find in a Hindu majority country. This particular neighbourhood is a Christian one with a cross of Jesus in front of EVERY single home, so I felt somewhat like I am in Goa! 🙂
Diana Chen
I love finding cool street art in new cities! The cobble stone steps remind me of the painted steps in San Francisco. Would love to visit Bandra one day!
Tania Mukherjee
I would love to visit San Francisco some day! <3
Cori Carl
Chapel Road seems really cool. What a photogenic place! Of course, even a photogenic places requires a good photographer.
Tania Mukherjee
Chapel Road is so unique, not many places like that are found in India!
travelerettenyc
This seems like a fascinating place. I love taking photos of random cats, so I really enjoyed your pics of the feline friends. The street art seems very exciting too. I love seeing the Bollywood actors looking so glam!
Tania Mukherjee
I love picturing stray cats and dogs too! However my feline friend in my hometown went missing soon after I shifted. 🙁
Tara
Wow, what talented artists in Bandra! Such a lovely, quiet neighborhood too. I would love to explore more of this area! Good luck in your new city!
Tania Mukherjee
Bandra is a popular neighbourhood in Mumbai but I highly doubt if this stretch of Chapel Road is popular at all! Hope you get to explore it some day! 🙂
Paige Wunder
These are stunning photos! I’m a street-art lover myself! The elephant and the stairs are my absolute favorites! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous shots and you’re experience.
Tania Mukherjee
Thank you, they surely do catch the eye! 🙂
The Fashion Matters
that looks so cool!
Tania Mukherjee
It was cool indeed!
The Travel Ninjas
Bandra is such a cool neighborhood. The street art is beautiful and fun. The painted stairs were our favorite. Thanks for introducing this interesting, hidden place.
Tania Mukherjee
Bandra just gave me an idea! Now I may go back to my hometown and paint my house’s wall with fun murals! 🙂
Chris
I love a good bit of street art, and this stuff is great!
So colourful, I especially like those that take me back to older Bollywood movies! 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
I know that feeling! It makes me nostalgic!
neha
That definitely looks like the signature street art of Mumbai. What better than the bollywood faces of course !! When I happen to visit Mumbai next, will definitely go to chapel road
Tania Mukherjee
You must. I don’t know why this little neighbourhood is not yet popular! It is so unique!
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Global Girl Travels
I’ve always been fascinated by street art and murals like this. You have found so many of them and good ones at that! These are so beautifully done and reflect the character of the city so well!
Tania Mukherjee
Yes. I am surprised that these murals are not very popular in the city! Not many people know about them.
Tania Mukherjee
Yes, they reflect the most important industry in Mumbai– The film industry : Bollywood!
Ami Bhat
I am so glad you shared the path you had taken cos I am gonna just hop over whenever next to see these. They are so beautiful and I never realised how many of them are there. Thanks for opening my eyes. And well done!
Tania Mukherjee
I am so glad my post inspired you! 🙂
bottomlesslake
That street art is beyond beautiful! Thank you for sharing them with us, I just browsed through your blog and I love it!!
Tania Mukherjee
Thank you a lot for checking out my work! And yes, the street art I found here was indeed beyond beautiful. I wish to meet the artist someday. 🙂
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