We’re all familiar with this Hindi movie scene: strolling along the beach indulging in chaat or ice gola. Welcome to Juhu, the iconic Mumbai neighbourhood these idyllic shots are filmed in. While beaches are famous for sunsets, this one boasts the biggest and brightest stars of Indian cinema – Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and others own opulent homes here. However, there’s more to Juhu than celeb-spotting. Here’s our list of the top things to do in Juhu to make the most of this affluent area.
1. Watch a Sunset at Juhu Beach
The beating heart of Juhu is where the waves lap against the shore rhythmically – Juhu Beach. Buzzing with families, scampering kids and street food lovers this stretch of Mumbai’s coastline has sunsets that make the sky blush in shades of tangerine, lilac and rose. Whether you’re snapping selfies or taking yourself on a little mental health walk this place cuts it. During cooler evenings, you might catch live music or street performers pumping up this lively atmosphere’s energy.
2. Catch a Contemporary Play at Prithvi Theater
Founded in honour of Indian cinema legend Prithvi Raj Kapoor’s dramatic legacy Prithvi Theatre is the epicentre of Mumbai’s theatre scene. It’s easy to spend hours at the outdoor garden cafe and bookshop here but the real magic happens indoors on the stage graced by thespians like Naseerudin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Shabana Azmi and others. Plays in Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and English are performed here and the annual theatre festival is a cultural highlight. Trust us, watching a play at Prithvi is every theatre nerd’s bucket list item. More info here
3. Visit the ISKCON Temple
The ISKCON temple is a serene retreat from the city’s hustle. This spiritual spot offers a peaceful ambience where you can come to seek the blessings of Lord Krishna or dance to the devotional Krishna bhajans and chants of Radhe Radhe sung during the evening aarti. You can also tuck into a delicious vegetarian meal at the temple’s in-house restaurant. Find details here
4. Enjoy nature at the Airplane Garden
This Juhu park is famous for a stationary airplane installation that kids can scramble into and play pretend. Adults can too, because why not? Surrounded by greenery and fitted with plenty of benches, this open space is a relaxing haven you can lounge around in for some fresh air. Joggers, residents seeking a slice of nature and neighbourhood kids who want to let loose on the swings and merry-go-rounds inside frequent this green space.
5. Relish Street food at Juhu Chowpatty
No list of things to do in Juhu is complete without mentioning its legendary street food. The southern end of this sprawling 6km-long beach is known as Juhu Chowpatty and is synonymous with street food. The mouth-watering aroma of fresh pav bhaji, bhutta (corn on the cob) and bhel puri drifting in the air will have you make a beeline for these food stalls. Got a sweet tooth? Plenty of food carts serving kulfi and ice gola dripping with syrup will give you that sugary fix.
6. Shop till you drop at Juhu Tara Road
Quirky little stores and indie boutiques flank this main road that runs through the Juhu neighbourhood offering everything from trendy clothes to funky accessories across budget brackets. But it is one little stretch of this thoroughfare that has the highest concentration of designer labels. Ateliers by titans of Indian fashion like Ritu Kumar, House of Masaba and Aza Fashions stand shoulder-to-shoulder with homeware and decore label Project Blue and multi-designer store Sans.