In this archive story by Kristian Bertel, we are visiting the Juhu Beach, located on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Mumbai.
Read the background story of this archive photo by the photographer.
Juhu is an upmarket neighborhood of Mumbai and it is most famous for the sprawling Juhu Beach, which is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It stretches for 6 kilometers up to Versova. The short, rocky formations make up the Juhu Beach unlike the Marina Beach in Chennai that is primarily sandy. It is a popular tourist attraction throughout the year and is also a sought after destination for shooting films.
Juhu is an upmarket neighborhood of Mumbai and it is most famous for the sprawling Juhu Beach, which is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It stretches for 6 kilometers up to Versova. The short, rocky formations make up the Juhu Beach unlike the Marina Beach in Chennai that is primarily sandy. It is a popular tourist attraction throughout the year and is also a sought after destination for shooting films.
Kristian Bertel, Photographer By Kristian Bertel, Photographer
– Updated on October 26, 2023

Juhu Chowpatty

The beach generally gets more crowded on weekends and public holidays. The food court at its main entrance is famous for its 'Mumbai style' street food, notably 'Bhelpuri', 'Pani puri' and 'Sev puri'. Horse-pulled carriages used to offer joyrides to tourists for a small fee but have been banned now. Acrobats, dancing monkeys, cricket matches, toy sellers vie for tourist's attention. The beach is among the most popular sites in the city for the annual Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations where thousands of devotees arrive in grand processions, carrying idols of the Lord Ganesh of various sizes, to be immersed in the sea at the beach.




What is considered a beach?

A beach is a narrow strip of land separating a body of water from inland areas. A beach is a narrow, gently sloping strip of land that lies along the edge of an ocean, lake or river. Materials such as sand, pebbles, rocks and seashell fragments cover beaches.


One of the most popular tourist attractions in Mumbai
Chowpatty Beach is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mumbai and a favorite destination for locals. Located in the heart of the city, it is a vibrant and lively beach that is bustling with activity day and at night, where the beach is illuminated by street lights and is a great place to take a stroll. It is a great place for people-watching and offers a chance to soak up some of the local culture. Whether it is the street performers, the vendors selling food or the people milling around, there is always something to see and do. A great place for families and couples to spend the day. It is also the perfect place to take in the sights and sounds of Mumbai.

Whether you are looking for a relaxing day out or an exciting nightlife experience, Chowpatty Beach is the place to be. So it is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a memorable vacation experience in India. Located in the heart of the city, this beach is a great place to relax and take in the amazing views of the Arabian Sea.




"With its white sand and crystal-clear waters the Chowpatty Beach is a great spot to hang out with friends and family. There are a number of activities that can be enjoyed here, from swimming, sunbathing and volleyball to people-watching. During the day, the beach is filled with locals and tourists alike and at night"




A variety of street food vendors
The beach is also home to several local specialties that are unique to Mumbai. There is the famous 'Bhelpuri', a savory snack made from puffed rice, potatoes, onion and chutney, as well as the famous 'Pav Bhaji', a spicy vegetable curry served with buttered bread and you can also find dozens of food stalls selling delicious snacks and meals, Chowpatty Beach is also home to a variety of street food vendors, so there is no shortage of delicious snacks to try. There are also a few small restaurants and cafes located near the beach, so you can enjoy a meal while taking in the views of the beach.

Chowpatty Beach is also a great place to experience some traditional Indian culture. There are a number of festivals and events that take place here throughout the year, including the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival, which is the largest Hindu festival in the city. During this festival, people gather to pay homage to Ganesha, the elephant-headed god. Whether you are looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or a thrilling vacation experience, Chowpatty Beach in Mumbai is the perfect destination. With its beautiful views and lively atmosphere, this beach is sure to provide you with an unforgettable experience.

Freedom struggle at the Juhu Beach

Juhu Beach is also a popular spot for plane spotting as a portion of it lies underneath the departure path from Runway 27 and occasionally, the arrival path from Runway 09 of Mumbai Airport. There are several small entrances to the beach throughout the stretch, however the main and most used entrance is near Hotel Ramada Plaza. The best time to visit Juhu Beach is from September to May, as during the monsoon period of June to August the tide is mostly high which makes it dangerous to wander around on the beach. Beautiful sunset is the major contributor of the beauty of Juhu Beach. During the freedom struggle Mahatma Gandhi visited Mumbai and took many walks at Juhu Beach and there is a famous photograph of Gandhiji poking his grandson Kanaa during a walk at Juhu Beach, Bombay, 1937.




"To mark Gandhi's visit to Juhu, there is a famous statue of Gandhi by the beach and a lane towards the beach call Gandhigram Road. There is also a Gandhi Shiksha Bhavan school in Juhu"




A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles and the particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles and the particles can also be biological in origin, such as mollusc shells or coralline algae. Some beaches have man-made infrastructure, such as lifeguard posts, changing rooms, showers, shacks and bars and they may also have hospitality venues such as resorts, camps, hotels and restaurants nearby and wild beaches, also known as undeveloped or undiscovered beaches, are not developed in this manner. Wild beaches can be appreciated for their untouched beauty and preserved nature. Beaches typically occur in coastal areas where wave or current action deposits and reworks sediments in India.

Located on Maharashtra's coast
The Juhu Chowpatty Beach is located on Maharashtra's coast, Mumbai is India's most-populous city, and it is one of the largest and most densely populated urban areas in the world and it was built on a site of ancient settlement and it took its name from the local goddess Mumba, a form of Parvati, the consort of Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism, whose temple once stood in what is now the southeastern section of the city. It became known as Bombay during the British colonial period, the name possibly an Anglicized corruption of Mumbai or perhaps of 'Bom Baim', which means 'Good Harbour' supposedly a Portuguese name for the locale. The name 'Mumbai' was restored officially in 1995, although 'Bombay' remained in common usage.

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More archive stories

India is a land full of stories. On every street, on every corner and in the many places in India, life is rushing by you as a photographer with millions of stories to be told. In the archive story above, you hopefully had a readable insight in the story that was behind the photo of a sweeping man in Jaipur. On this website of Kristian Bertel | Photography you can find numerous travel pictures from the photographer. Stories and moments that tell the travel stories of how the photographer captured the specific scene that you see in the picture. The photographer's images have a story behind them, images that all are taken from around India throughout his photo journeys. The archive stories delve into Kristian's personal archive to reveal never-before-seen, including portraits and landscapes beautifully produced snapshots from various travel assignments. The archive is so-far organized into photo stories, this one included, each brought to life by narrative text and full-color photos. Together, these fascinating stories tell a story about the life in India. India, the motherland to many people around the world, a land of unforgetable travel moments. The archive takes viewers on a spectacular visual journey through some of the most stunning photographs to be found in the photographer's archive collection. The photographer culled the images to reflect the many variations on the universal theme of beauty and everyday life in India. By adding these back stories the photographer's work might immensely enhanced the understanding of the photographs.