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Borivali's Hidden Gems: Explore 450-Bell Shop, Fish Parks Today
From a fish park in IC Colony to an old-school pan shop with hundreds of hanging bells, here’s what’s pulling locals and visitors into the neighbourhood’s own itinerary.
How we reported this
Borivali has always been a gateway to Sanjay Gandhi National Park. But a handful of micro-experiences scattered across the suburb are getting renewed attention, with residents and travel operators alike taking a closer look at what’s available without leaving the neighbourhood.
The timing matters. With global headlines dominated by renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and a fresh cycle of US-Iran escalation (BBC, July 14), long-haul travel is becoming less predictable. Domestic and local tours are seeing a shift in interest. In Borivali, that means a chance to rediscover what’s already here.
The national park and beyond
Sanjay Gandhi National Park remains the anchor. Operators run local tours that include trekking to the Kanheri Caves, boat rides on park lakes, and hikes to Jambulmal, at 468 metres, the highest point in the city (samedayagratour.co.in). It’s a solid day out without leaving the suburb’s northern edge.
For something more offbeat, there’s Mumbai’s first Fish Park, tucked away in IC Colony. The park features eight themed aquarium tanks (YouTube, source 2). A few kilometres away in Lokmanya Tilak Nagar, Ghanta Wala Pan Mandir draws curiosity with roughly 450 hanging bells suspended from its ceiling, a spot that’s become a quiet Instagram draw (source 2).
Heritage walks offer another layer. Tours typically take in St. Francis D’Assisi Church, the Mandapeshwar Caves, and the Global Vipassana Pagoda meditation centre (travenix.com, source 3). It’s a route that mixes colonial-era architecture, ancient rock-cut caves, and a modern meditation dome in one loop.
Street food, markets and adventure on the edge
For those who prefer their tours edible, Jambli Gali and Borivali Bazaar are the go-to stretches. Street food stops include Dharma’s Sandwich and Mangesh Tasty Vada Pav Centre (lbb.in, source 5). The markets also turn up clothes and handicrafts, no fixed price list, but bargain hunting is part of the experience.
Adventure operators point to Bhavan’s Nature Adventure Centre in nearby Gorai. It’s close enough for a day trip, combining Gorai Beach with village tours (tripperjourneys.com, source 4). Not quite Borivali proper, but close enough that local tour packages bundle it in.
None of this is brand-new. What’s changed is the context. With international travel looking less certain and global instability making headlines daily, Borivali’s own tour circuit, lakes, caves, bells, fish tanks and vada pav, is getting a second look from people who might otherwise have booked a flight.
For anyone planning a visit, the advice from operators is simple: book locally, go early, and bring cash. The Fish Park doesn’t take cards, and the best vada pav runs out by noon.