Mumbai, INDIA
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Few people know that the most fashionable address in town, home of Bollywood stars and Mumbai’s Beverly Hills, Bandra has its roots in a rustic, unassuming past. Originally inhabited by native Koli fishing folk, Bandra (from ‘Bandor’ a name given by the Portuguese colonizers) was a modest group of 24 villages with paddy fields, ponds and vegetable plantations. During the 16th and 17th-centuries, many of these villages converted to Catholicism. From Kolis to East Indians, and rural landscape to expensive real estate…Bandra has come a long way.
Today, Bandra may be the coolest address in Mumbai, but its history links back to a time when it was a cluster of rural settlements, home to the native Koli fishing community. A fascinating canvas of old churches, forts and villages, Bandra goes far beyond your notion of a hip neighbourhood that it epitomizes.
The day tour begins at the iconic Mount Mary Church, deeply venerated by people of all faiths and cultures. Mother Mary's Portuguese statue dates back to 1600s and her birthday is celebrated with a week-long fair in September. Nearby, at the old ruined Portuguese fort of Castelle de Aguada, learn about the stories of intrigue surrounding the victory of Maratha Peshwas over the British and Portuguese. Continue to St. Andrews to see the distinctive Portuguese era church, which survived destruction by cyclones and invasions.
Next, you will explore the old villages, which feature Portuguese architectural elements like porches, wooden staircases and ornate grills. This is also a great opportunity to understand the lifestyle and traditions of the resident East Indians. Local legends and folklores rooted in 350 years of history have turned Bandra into a cultural melting pot. Learn about the one-handed Goddess, the cross of the Bubonic Plague and the secular street during your exploration of Bandra.
Transport: Walking Tour 
Activity level: Easy to Moderate
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Private Knowledgeable guide, Entrance fee (if any). 
Exclusions: Meals. Personal Expenses and Souvenir. 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Caravne Serai Bandra 
End of tour location: Caravne Serai Bandra Duration: 2 Hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹3178 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹3,178 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!