Mount Mary Basilica is a Roman Catholic church on a hill in Bandra that is one of Mumbai's most visited religious sites, drawing Hindus, Muslims, and Christians who come to pray to the statue of Our Lady of the Mount — a 16th-century Portuguese-era Madonna believed to answer prayers. The current Neo-Gothic building dates to 1904, but the site has been a pilgrimage destination since the 17th century.
The annual Bandra Fair (Bandra Feast) held the week after 8 September fills the streets around the basilica with over a million pilgrims and the stalls selling wax figures, candles, and the traditional Bandra Fair sweets (hand-churned butter, sugar candy figures) that are unique to this festival. The view from the basilica steps across Bandra and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is one of the best in the northern suburbs.
Verified Facts
The current basilica dates to 1904 in Neo-Gothic style
The Madonna statue dates to the 16th century Portuguese era
The Bandra Fair draws over a million pilgrims annually
The fair is held the week after 8 September
Get walking directions
Mount Mary Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, 400050, India
