Dhobi Ghat, Traditional open-air laundry facility in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai, India
Dhobi Ghat is a large open-air laundry in Mumbai with hundreds of washing platforms where clothes are washed by hand and beaten against stones. The facility operates daily with workers processing thousands of garments using traditional methods.
The facility was founded in the late 1800s to meet the city's growing laundry needs. It became the center of an established workforce and system that continues to this day.
The workers here, called dhobis, follow traditions passed down through generations and use hand-marked codes to track each piece of clothing. This practice binds their work to a craft that has roots deep in the city's daily life.
The best time to visit is early in the morning when most workers are active and the facility is busiest. The site is located near Mahalaxmi railway station, making it easy to reach.
The site earned recognition in an international ranking for the concentration of people doing this work at a single location. This recognition reflects how concentrated and organized the operation here truly is.
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