Haji Ali Dargah is one of Mumbai’s most iconic and sacred spots. The dargah (tomb) and mosque complex appears to float in Worli Bay, giving it an unusual feeling of importance and mystique. Of course, in reality it’s built on a tiny island situated a little way off shore.
Throughout the day 10-15,000 pilgrims pack the 500-metre (550-yard) long causeway that provides the only access to it (consider timing your visit away from Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, when as many as 30,000 visit). Queuing reverently, they stretch from the gates of the complex gates all the way to the mainland.
The dargah was built in 1431 in memory of a wealthy Muslim merchant, Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. Legend has it Haji Ali died at the spot where the dargah now stands shortly after departing on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
For such an ancient construction built in such an inhospitable place (the Arabian Sea lashes the island and causeway during rainy season) the complex has stood the test of time remarkably well.
Sadly there are concerns about how much longer it will last. The Trust responsible for it want to underpin its foundations with the same marble that the Taj Mahal is built with. How they will achieve such an incredible feat of engineering is anyone’s guess. Best visit sooner rather than later is all we’ll say.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Images: nehasingh7; my hovercraft is full of eels; lecercle; Paul Carvill; Tom Spender; Shreyans Bhansali; travelwayoflife)
