Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ by spreading love and joy. Beautiful Carols, family gatherings, elves, and Santa’s gifts come to mind whenever someone mentions Christmas. Being a secular nation multiple festivals are celebrated with fanfare in India and Christmas is no different.
Beautifully lit-up streets, home-cooked sweets, Santa decorations, and carols can be heard all around the nation during the festival! There are multiple Christmas events in Mumbai to explore if you’re visiting the city during December. From malls, buildings & churches the city of dreams glows beautifully during the auspicious festival of Christmas. So if you’re visiting Mumbai for the first time during December, here are 6 fun things to do in Mumbai on Christmas:
1. Visit the Historical Churches of the City
Mumbai is a paradise for everyone who admires authentic gothic architecture. Mumbai is a hub of ancient architectural marvels designed during the colonial British era. The city is saturated with beautiful churches filled with history. Some of these churches were built over 400 years ago. Attending the midnight Christmas mass in these churches is the perfect Christmas celebration in Mumbai and makes you immediately fall in love with the city. Some of the iconic churches in Bandra are built near the shore, making your trip more fruitful. Here are some of the best churches for Christmas celebrations in Mumbai:
- The Wodehouse Church, Colaba
- Mount Mary’s Basilica, Bandra
- The Afghan Church, Colaba
- The White Church, St. Thomas Cathedral
- The historical church of Bandra – Saint Andrew
- The tallest towers of Gloria Church
2. Go Shopping for Decoration
Christmas is incomplete without the thoughtful gifts we give to our loved ones and the decorations we use in our homes. Going on a Mumbai market tour will help you find the most beautiful and traditional decorations to add to your Christmas trees and homes. Mumbai is filled with street markets that sell custom decorations used around the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. To buy the decorations at the best price and witness the celebration of Christmas in India you can visit markets like:
- Hill Road, Bandra West
- Crawford Market, Mumbai Fort
- IC Colony, Borivali
- Orlem in Malad
- Colaba Causeway
- Linking Road, Bandra West
You can also visit the Lila Nursery in Santacruz and Floral and in Bandra to buy a traditional Christmas tree for your home!
3. Grab special Christmas treats
Apart from spicy street food and the iconic vada pav, you can also find some delicious and authentic Christmas treats in Mumbai. The city is filled with cafes, bakeries, and food vendors that sell special Christmas delicacies. he Goan Baath cake, Mangalorean kuswar, East Indian marzipan, and date rolls can be found during the Mumbai Christmas celebration. There are multiple cafes to visit if you feel like grabbing traditional Christmas treats like the Yule log and Bûche de Nöel with a Christmassy vibe. Here’s a list of cafes you can visit:
- American Express Bakery, Bandra
- Moner Bistro & Dessert Bar
- 1BHK at Andheri
- Poco Loco at Khar
- Gallery Café at Andheri MIDC
4. Go shopping for costumes & gifts
If you’re someone who’s always confused about selecting the right presents for your family and friends, then Mumbai is the place to be! It doesn’t take a local to find stores that offer a wide variety of quirky and unique presents to choose from. The streets are also a fun place to be for finding some exceptional presents for your loved ones. Multiple malls in Mumbai are also heavily decorated during Christmas opening specialized stores for the festive season. Bandra is one such place to be if you want to buy the perfect Christmas presents with stores like cheap jack, 7 & seven, Archies gallery, etc. You can also support a social cause by donating money and old gifts to organizations that work towards spreading joy to the poor and underprivileged.
5. Take a walk around Mumbai’s iconic spots
The streets of Mumbai are filled with lights and special decorations to celebrate the joyous nights of Christmas. From crip building competitions, life-sized presents, and trees decorated all over, certain streets are the best places to visit during Christmas in Mumbai. The Ranwar village, one of the oldest parts of Bandra is one such place to be. The narrow lanes, Portuguese-inspired architecture, and rich history of the Village feel like a trip to the past during Christmas. The Bandra reclamation along with schools and Mount mary hill is also heavily decorated during Christmas. Finally, a stroll around the calm breeze, serene sunset, and iconic lights of the Marine drive adds a golden touch to your festive vibe.
Mumbai is a very happening place to be for celebrating Christmas. It doesn’t matter if you’re far away from home as the city adopts a complete western vibe during Christmas. Apart from the things mentioned above, there are multiple other events, clubs, and restaurants you can visit for a complete Christmas experience that feels like home. If you plan to experience other iconic parts of the city then Magical Mumbai tours are the place to be. Our Mumbai tours are specially tailored to provide you with a safe and fun experience around the most iconic parts of Mumbai. So give us a call today to make your trip to Mumbai memorable and exciting with Magical Mumbai tours.
