Pilgrimage Tours
Photo: Rakesh Krishna Kumar · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped
Mount Mary Basilica, properly the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, stands on a small hill about 80 metres above the Arabian Sea at Bandra in Mumbai, and is one of western India's best-known Christian pilgrimage sites. Jesuit priests working under Portuguese patronage set up the first chapel and its Marian statue here in the 16th century; the shrine was destroyed in 1738 during Chimaji Appa's Maratha campaign in the Bassein region, rebuilt afterwards, and the church seen today dates from 1904. Its focus is the venerated wooden statue of Our Lady with the Infant Jesus, which Pope Pius XII honoured with a decree of canonical coronation in 1954; tradition holds that after pirates damaged an earlier image, a statue was found floating in the sea by a Koli Christian fisherman who had dreamt of it. The building is a semi-Gothic structure of the British Bombay period, and people of every faith come to light candles and leave wax offerings shaped like hands, feet, houses or infants, according to the favour they are asking for.
November to February is the most comfortable stretch, with dry, mild Mumbai weather and no monsoon. The shrine's biggest occasion is the feast of the Nativity of Mary on 8 September, followed by the week-long Bandra Fair that begins the Sunday after; it draws very large crowds, the approach roads are packed with stalls and diverted traffic, and elders may find it hard going. Avoid mid-June to September if you want a quiet visit, both for heavy rain and for the fair rush.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is the nearest airport, roughly 8-12 km away depending on the terminal, with pre-paid taxis at both. Bandra is the nearest railhead on the Mumbai suburban Western and Harbour lines, about 2-3 km from the basilica; autos and taxis run from outside the station up Mount Mary Road. By road the shrine is reachable by car right up to the church precinct, though the last stretch is narrow and steep; BEST bus route 211 from Bandra station goes to Land's End, from where it is a short but steep uphill walk.
The basilica sits on a hillock and the final approach is uphill, with flights of steps on the Bandstand side lined with candle and flower stalls; a vehicle can go close to the entrance, which is worth arranging for elders. During the September feast and Bandra Fair week the roads are closed to traffic and the walk in is long and crowded. Modest dress is expected inside, and Mass and shrine timings should be confirmed with the basilica office before you travel.
Planned around you, not a fixed departure. Holiday Vibez arranges pilgrimages to Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra, Mumbai for families, elders and temple groups travelling from Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Madurai. Tell us your dates and how many are coming — we build the route around that. 100% customisable.
- Stays near the shrine — so elders aren't driven back and forth at 4am.
- Private transfers — pick-up from your door, not a meeting point.
- Meals that suit the group — including pure-veg and fasting requirements.
- Group travel — 4 people or 40, one coordinator, one itinerary.
- Someone on the phone — when you're in a queue three states from home.
Temple boards run their own darshan queues and quotas. No travel agent can sell you a special one, and agencies that promise "VIP darshan" are either misleading you or breaking the trust's rules. We help you book the official slots and we get everything else right.
Most of the people we send on yatra are over 55, or booking for parents who are. We plan shorter driving days, stays within walking distance where the shrine allows it, and we'll tell you honestly if a site involves a long climb or a trek before you pay — not after.
Can non-Christians visit Mount Mary Basilica?
Yes. The shrine is open to visitors of all faiths, and people of many religions come to pray and light candles here. Dress modestly and keep quiet during Mass.
What are the wax offerings sold on the steps?
Stalls near the steps sell candles moulded in the shape of hands, feet, eyes, houses, boats or infants. Pilgrims offer the one matching the need they are praying for, and offer a wax replica in thanksgiving when a prayer is answered. It is a long-standing local custom, not a compulsory ritual.
Is the Bandra Fair a good time to come with elderly parents?
Honestly, no. The week-long fair after 8 September brings enormous crowds, closed roads and a long walk in. For an unhurried visit with elders, pick an ordinary weekday between November and February.
Plan your Mount Mary Basilica yatra
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