Colaba, Commercial district in South Mumbai, India
Colaba is a neighborhood in southern Mumbai near the Arabian Sea where the streets lead toward the water. Brick buildings with balconies and arched windows line the main roads while smaller lanes run toward the waterfront promenade.
Portuguese sailors reached the peninsula in the 16th century and named it Kolbhat. British forces took over the site in the late 18th century and developed it into a military post with barracks and administrative buildings.
The name comes from the word for blackthorn that Portuguese sailors used when they anchored here. Today art galleries line the streets while vendors sell their goods in small shops along the paved walkways.
Visitors usually walk along the Causeway where hotels and guesthouses in different price ranges are located. The streets are busy during the day and the promenade is most comfortable in the early morning or late afternoon.
The docks receive fishing boats every morning bringing fresh catch from the Arabian Sea. Traders sort the goods right on the wharf while seagulls circle above the wooden jetties.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
