Things to Know about Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai before Visiting

One of the iconic landmarks in Mumbai is Haji Ali Dargah, located on an islet in the Arabian Sea. The Haji Ali Dargah is a tomb and Mosque built in the 15th century, housing the last mortals of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.

The Dargah is quite eye-catching as it is positioned in the Indo-Islamic architectural style on the Arabian Sea.

Haji Ali Dargah is one of the most visited places in Mumbai in remembrance of Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. Let’s delve into the history that will unveil the hidden stories.

Once in a while, a wealthy merchant named Sayyad Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari from Bukhara (Uzbekistan), also a saint, saw a woman crying over a spilt oil she was carrying on the road.

He instantly pitied the woman and poked his finger into the oil, and the spill poured back into the vessel. The woman was happy, but the saint was not, as he felt disturbed by carrying out unnatural acts.

Dwelling remorse, he abandoned all his wealth and headed for the Mecca pilgrimage. His health started deteriorating when he reached Mumbai, and later, he decided to settle permanently in Mumbai.

His followers, who couldn’t leave him, stayed alongside him. He asked them not to bury him immediately after death but to throw his coffin in the sea and then bury him on the spot where it was found.

His followers did as instructed and built a Dargah and tomb in Worli on the same spot where his coffin rested. It has become a pilgrimage site, and devotees often visit the place to seek blessings.

The Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai is around 400 years old and a brilliant example of Indo-Islamic architectural style. Situated 500 metres away from the main coast, the Dargah is an eye-catching monument.

Let’s dive into the key facts about the architecture of Haji Ali Dargah:

• The mosque is built using ‘Makrana’ marble, the same marble used in the Taj Mahal. Eight marble pillars encircle the entire construction.
• The Dargah covers an area of 4500 square metres and a height of 85 feet. The building features a huge central dome and four small spires in four corners of the Dargah.
• A narrow, constricted lane connects the mainland to the mosque. The lane is inaccessible during high tide as it is submerged beneath water.
• Passing the entrance is the marble courtyard, the central holy place where devotees perform Namaz. Men enter through the southern entrance, while women enter through the western entrance.
• The main hall inside the Dargah is bordered on three sides by three halls, including South, West, and East. The walls and ceilings are engraved with the verses of Quran Sharief.
• The shrine houses a mosque and the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. All four sides of the tomb are covered with silver frames. The tomb is beautifully adorned with green or red chhadar (cloth).
• It is a complex that consists of a mosque, a dargah, and a sanatorium. The monument is beautifully decorated with mirror work and has an inscription of 99 names of Allah.
• The Dargah is connected with the seashore and a 700-yard-long walkway. There are no railings on either side of the pavement, so the visitors feel thrilled as the waves from the sea strike against the walkway.
• At night, the mosque brightens from the distance, surrounded by the Arabian Sea, creating a heavenly view. It appears to be floating on water without any relation to the mainland.

1. Best Time to Visit Haji Ali Dargah

The best time to visit Haji Ali Dargah is during the winter season, between October to March. You can also visit this Dargah to enjoy the rituals of Islamic festivals like Ramzan and Eid.

Apart from this, the annual Urs, or Sayyed Pir's death anniversary, is the biggest occasion here.

2. Haji Ali Dargah Location

The Haji Ali Dargah is located on an islet off the coast of Worli in the southern part of Mumbai.

3. Haji Ali Dargah Timings

• Days - Every day of the week
• Opening Time - 5:30 am
• Closing Time - 10 pm

Around 40,000 pilgrims visit the Dargah on all days, especially Thursdays and Fridays. On Fridays, Sufi musicians usually perform Qawwali.

4. How to Reach Haji Ali Dargah?

Once in Mumbai, visitors can reach Dargah by bus, taxi, or autorickshaw, as the city is well accessible to travel facilities.

• Nearest Airport to Haji Ali Dargah: The nearest airport to the Dargah is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, which is 20 km away.
• Nearest Train Station to Haji Ali Dargah: The Dargah is also well connected to train routes. Mumbai Central Station, Byculla Station, and Mahalaxmi Station are the nearest railway stations.
• Nearest Metro Station to Haji Ali Dargah: The nearest metro station to Haji Ali Dargah are Ghatkopar Metro Station (10 km) and Asalpha Metro Station (10 km).
• Visit Haji Ali Dargah via Sea: As the Dargah is located on an islet of the sea coast, the water transportation mode, like ships and cruises, are easily accessible.

5. Entry Fee for Haji Ali Dargah

The entry fee for Hali Ali Dargah is free for all tourists and visitors.

6. Haji Ali Dargah Nearby Places to Visit

Mumbai, the city of dreams, is filled with several tourist attractions. Some of the places to visit are as follows:

1. Mahalaxmi Temple
2. Nehru Planetarium
3. Gateway of India
4. High Street Phoenix
5. Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum
6. Babulnath Temple

With a fascinating history, there are also a few lesser-known facts about Haji Ali Dargah. Let’s take a look at these facts.

1. Although the Dargah is open for 16 hours a day, it can only be visited during low tide as other times the narrow lane is submerged.
2. Even during the massive storm of 1949 and heavy floods in 2005, the Dargah didn’t suffer any damage when Mumbai was destroyed.
3. The song of the Bollywood movie Fiza, Piya Haji Ali, which was released in 2000, was shot here. The Dargah welcomes people from all religions.
4. The Dargah is built using the marble known as ‘Makrana’, the same marble used in the monument of the Taj Mahal.

Haji Ali Dargah stands as a symbol of religious devotion with a fascinating historical significance that attracts devotees across the world to visit the place. With the scenic beauty of the coastal location surrounded by the waves of water, Haji Ali Dargah remains a landmark in Mumbai.