Mumbai is a very big city, and so it can be difficult to find the right church. The best churches in Mumbai are not always where you expect them to be. We have done all the research for you and compiled a list of 10 of our favorite places of worship that we think will meet your needs.
1. Mount Mary Basilica, Bandar
Mount Mary Basilica is the best place to go for an old-school Catholic experience. It’s a gorgeous white church with stained glass windows and beautiful statues of saints. The interior is lit up by natural light from high, slanted ceilings that let in plenty of visual beauty. The atmosphere inside is peaceful and serene, so come here if you want to escape some busy city noises or just find your center for a while!
2. St Andrew’s Church, Bandra
The St. Andrews Church in Bandra is another beautiful example of an old-school church with a unique style and atmosphere. This one was built in 1869, so it’s definitely been around for quite some time! It has the same white exterior as Mount Mary Basilica but inside you’ll see that this place has more stained glass windows than any other building we’ve mentioned thus far. The walls are lined by wooden pews (the originals from 1913!) where people can sit to pray or just gaze up at the ceiling which features arches that look like they’re made out of pottery. Don’t forget to go up into the bell tower if you want a spectacular view of Mumbai City!
3. Afghan Church, Colaba
The Afghan Church is an interesting place of worship. This church was commissioned by the Afghan community in Mumbai and it’s a great representation of that culture, as you’ll see when you get inside. It has intricate Persian-style carvings on its exterior which match up with other Islamic architecture found throughout India. The interior looks like something out of a medieval mosque! There are lots of stained glass windows to provide natural light during prayer time, but they’re framed by intricately carved arches instead of traditional crosses or crucifixes. You can also climb onto the roof for one last view before leaving this amazing building behind (but remember: no shoes allowed!)
4. St Thomas Cathedral, Fort
The best churches in Mumbai are not always where you expect them to be. One of the oldest examples is St Thomas Cathedral located inside Fort, which was built on land that had been gifted by British colonialists back in 1874. This church has a lot of history behind it and its architecture reflects this! It’s so old that there are even remnants from when the Portuguese were ruling India… just don’t think about how much time they’ve spent sitting here without any air conditioning before deciding whether or not to visit for Sunday mass!
5. St Peter’s Church, Bandra
St Peter’s Church is a great place to go if you’re looking for another old-school Catholic feel. It was built in 1887 and it has the same white exterior as Mount Mary Basilica, but this building features plenty of stained glass windows that let light shine through during prayer time like St Andrews church mentioned above. The interior includes an off-center altar with ornate wood carvings on either side which create a beautiful contrast against the red backdrop (it looks so good!). There is also some amazing Indian art work inside! If you’re feeling adventurous, head upstairs where there are two little balconies overlooking the body of worshippers below–perfect for people watching or just taking in all of Mumbai from
6. Gloria Church, Byculla
Gloria Church is another great example of a Catholic church, but it has its own unique style. Its white exterior may be the same shade as Basilica and St Peters, but this building features an award-winning architectural design that stands out from any other churches in Mumbai! The architects went for a modern look with dramatic triangular shapes on either side which create windows that let natural light stream into prayer time so people can feel like they’re inside some sort of futuristic spaceship or crystal palace. You’ll also find some Indian art work here if you decide to take a tour around–don’t forget your camera because it’s hard not to get mesmerized by all the colors and patterns found throughout Gloria Church!
7. St Michael’s Church, Mahim
St Michael’s Church is a beautiful example of what you can find in Mumbai. This church features a white exterior with blue accents and it stands out from any other building on the block because instead of being flat, this one takes up more vertical space as well! You’ll also notice that all of the stained glass windows have crosses or crucifixes inside–very Catholic-like!–which are contrasted by red curtains draped across either side to remind people that Sunday Mass is happening right now. The interior has some awesome Indian art work too which makes St Michaels stand out even more! It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for something different than your typical churches found around India (although there isn’t anything
8. Wodehouse Church, Colaba
Wodehouse Church is a great place to go if you’re feeling spiritual and want to visit more than one church in Mumbai. It’s not traditional white, but instead has been given an artistic look with pink accents that stand out from any other construction on the block. This building was constructed back in 1892 so it doesn’t have as many stained glass windows like some of the others, which can make for darker worship time–you’ll need all of your faith here! The interior decoration includes lots of statues depicting Jesus Christ along with Hindu gods inside this Catholic-Hindu temple hybrid because Bombay used to be known as Mumbai before there were laws about what could be written down on public signage. There are also pillars covered
9. St Anne’s Church, Mazgaon
St Anne’s Church is located in the Mazgaon district which has a long-standing Portuguese history, so this church features a white exterior with blue accents and an off-center altar. The interior decoration includes lots of ornate wood carvings that create an amazing contrast against the red backdrop–it really looks like something from another era! There are also some great stained glass windows on either side to bring more natural light into prayer time. This place doesn’t have any Indian art work inside because it was built way back in 1885, but there are plenty of places nearby where you can find that if you’re looking to explore other churches as well!
10. St John the Baptist Church, Andheri East
St John the Baptist Church is a great example of what you can find in Mumbai. It’s got that traditional white exterior with blue accents and it stands out from any other building on the block because instead of being flat, this one takes up more vertical space as well! You’ll also notice that all of its stained glass windows have crosses or crucifixes inside–very Catholic-like!–which are contrasted by red curtains draped across either side to remind people that Sunday Mass is happening right now. The interior features some awesome Indian art work too which makes St Johns stand out even more! It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for something different than your typical churches found around India (although there isn’t anything
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