We all know how versatile Mumbai is when it comes to livelihood and occupation and standards of living. Mumbai is the same state that houses the biggest of industries as well as largest of slums. Here people live with dreams in their eyes and they strive everyday to fulfill those dreams as well. That is the reason that people living in Mumbai are hardworking as well. It is also one of the popular tourist destinations as well due to the variety of locations that you can visit here. However if you want to explore the “Other” side of the city then you need to visit the Dhobi Ghat Mumbai. Yes, the Dhobi Ghat, Maharashtra is one of the largest Dhobi Ghats that is still functioning and with much grandeur.
Now you must be wondering how a Dhobi Ghat can be a spot of tourist interest. Then I would say that is the specialty of the city maybe. This is one of the popular places to visit in Mumbai. And especially among foreign tourists this place is immensely interesting and popular. Here you will get to witness a different side of Mumbai which is extremely interesting to explore. If you are travelling to Mumbai or already there then you need to include the Dhobi Ghat Mumbai visit in your list of must visit locations here. Keep on reading this article as I will mention everything that you probably need to know about Dhobi Ghat in Mumbai. This will be a helpful read for you if you are trying to know more about the Dhobi Ghat Mumbai.
Dhobi Ghat Mumbai
Dhobi Ghat Mumbai location: 1, Anandilal P Marg, Shanti Nagar, Lower Parel, Dhobi Ghat, Dr. E Moses Road, near Mahalakshmi Station, Maharashtra
Timings of Dhobi Ghat Mumbai: The timing of Dhobi Ghat Mumbai is from 7 am to 10 pm on all days of the week
Entry fee of Dhobi Ghat Mumbai: There is no entry fee for Dhobi Ghat Mumbai
How to reach Dhobi Ghat Mumbai
By air
The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the nearest airport to reach the Dhobi Ghat. From the airport the Dhobi Ghat is 17 km away and you can reach there in about 37 minutes. You can easily take a cab or hire a car to reach Dhobi Ghat from the airport via Western Highway and the Bandra Worli Sea Link.
By train
The local trains in Mumbai are one of the most convenient ways to travel within the city. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is one of the nearest railway stations. From there the Dhobi Ghat is only 5.5 km away and you can reach there in about 15 minutes. The Mumbai Central Railway Station is yet another railway station near the Dhobi Ghat. From this railway station Dhobi Ghat is only 1.8 km away and you can reach there in about 8 minutes. Other nearby railway stations that you can opt for are Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Bandra Terminus.
By road
You can get buses from different parts of Mumbai if you are travelling by road so you can definitely opt for that. If you are travelling from nearby cities like Pune or Nagpur then also you will get regular buses plying on this route to reach Dhobi Ghat. Also you can travel by road from distant locations like Panaji or Ahmedabad as well. The nearest bus stop to reach Dhobi Ghat is the Mumbai Central. Moreover you can also take a car or a cab to reach here from different directions as well.
Best time to visit Dhobi Ghat Mumbai
The Dhobi Ghat is open all through the year so technically you can visit here anytime of the year. But to experience the best of the location the ideal time to reach here would be from October to March. This is also the time when the weather of Mumbai is comparatively cooler. Because of the pleasant temperature it would be comfortable for a visit here. You will be able to explore the whole area really well without any hassle. Try to avoid visiting here during monsoon as water logging is very common in Mumbai as the area receives heavy rainfall. The monsoon season would by far be the worst time to explore the Dhobi Ghat.
The summers also can be too humid for a visit here. But you can still try to visit here early in the morning to save yourself from the scorching sun. Avoid the summer afternoons as it would be too uncomfortable for a visit here.
Furthermore if we talk about the ideal time of the day for a visit here it would be the morning hours from 8 am. Usually the mornings are the busiest times for a visit to a location like this. If you visit here early in the morning you will be able to check out the dhobis in full action. Usually the washing takes place during the morning. And by noon or evening usually the clothes are all spread and hung on ropes for drying. However, even that can be a sight to enjoy. So plan your visit accordingly.
Overview of Dhobi Ghat Mumbai
The term Dhobi Ghat is common all over India and it refers to a specific area of washers. The washer men are the Dhobis and the place they washes clothes is the Dhobi Ghat. However the Dhobi Ghat Mumbai is one of the most popular Dhobi Ghats and an even more popular tourist spot in Mumbai as well. It is an open area laundry where people bring dirty clothes and linens from all over Mumbai. Everyday hundreds of washer men and women work all through the day to make the clothes clean, crisp and ready to use again.
From hospitals to hotels and spas, clothes from everywhere reach here so that the washer men can wash them. Nearly 7000 dhobis work here on a daily basis and they wash around one lakh clothes each day. Even though some machines are there for the washing purposes, most of the work of the Dhobi Ghat is common with hands. There are concrete wash pens that the dhobis share here and each of them also have its own flogging stone.
Even with so many clothes here none of the clothes ever get mixed or jumbled here. Such is the functioning of this location and precision of work. From the flyover of the Mahalakshmi Railway Station you will be able to notice the area. According to records the annual turnover of Dhobi Ghat Mumbai is 100 crore. The way the whole procedure takes place here is undoubtedly one of the most astonishing sights. Here the washer men clean and wash the clothes, dry them on ropes, press them and later even transport them to their designated areas.
What’s more?
Not just that the clothes are also refurbished here as well. This is something that takes place at this location apart from the regular washing and drying. For that the clothes especially sarees are refurbished. The workers first sterilize the clothes in boiling hot water after adding caustic soda in them. Then they take them for a wash and press them later, and they are too good to be sold as new. Yes, these sarees are very popular and get sold in Gujarat and Rajasthan in good numbers.
Previously washing clothes by hand was most common here. However at present there are some manual cleansing machines here as well. There is installation of some really large mechanical washing and drying machines here that facilitates the work of the dhobis. Most of the clothes that come here for washing are from big chain restaurants, garment dealers, mid-sized hotels, hospitals, wedding decorators, caterers, clubs etc.
Not just that, the Dhobi Ghat in Mumbai is home to more than 200 families who reside here. More often they pass down this occupation through generations as well. As the Dhobi Ghat is located near the Mahalaxmi Railway Station it is also popular as the Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat Mumbai.
Dhobi Ghat Mumbai History
Along with 50 washers the Dhobi Ghat came into existence in 1890 during British rule. The purpose of creating the Dhobi Ghat was to facilitate the purpose of washing clothes and till today the Dhobi Ghat is functioning with the same aim. In 2011 Dhobi Ghat Mumbai grabbed the Guinness Book of World Records entry when 496 dhobis washed clothes together here. That fetched Dhobi Ghat the place in Guinness Book as a location of “most people hand washing clothes at a single location”. Many Marathi and Hindi film shootings have also taken place here like Munna Bhai MBBs, Shootout at Wadala and Dhobi Ghat.
Things to keep in mind before visiting Dhobi Ghat Mumbai
1. The area here is huge with small lanes where it is easy to get lost. So it would be better if you can opt for a guided tour here for better exploration.
2. Make sure you are carrying waterproof gadgets if you are carrying any. Or else keep things in waterproof bags as the place is really wet.
3. You must be careful about pickpockets in this area.
4. To avoid the rush here it would be ideal to visit here early in the morning.
5. Everywhere you look you will find something exciting and interesting here. So make sure you are clicking photographs. There are no charges for clicking pictures here. Also if you are a photographer then this can be one of the best locations for you to visit.
Wrapping Up!
Of all the locations that you can visit in Mumbai, Dhobi Ghat can be quite a unique location to explore. So next time when you are visiting Mumbai make sure you are visiting here to look into the unique lifestyle and functions here. So let me know when you are planning a visit to the Dhobi Ghat. Also let me know if this article on the Dhobi Ghat is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
