A basalt archway facing the Arabian Sea, right on Mumbai's waterfront — free, always open, and one of the most heavily used public shoot backdrops in the city.
Built to commemorate the 1911 visit of King George V and Queen Mary, the Gateway of India was completed in 1924 in an Indo-Saracenic style, combining Hindu and Muslim architectural elements in yellow basalt and reinforced concrete. It stands directly on the Mumbai waterfront facing the Arabian Sea, with the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel immediately behind it.
As a free, unticketed public monument in one of Mumbai's busiest tourist areas, the Gateway sees constant foot traffic, boat touts, and street vendors — genuinely different working conditions from the ASI-managed monuments in this batch. It rewards planning around timing (early morning is dramatically calmer) rather than expecting an empty frame at any point in the day.
Boats to Elephanta Caves depart from the jetty right beside the Gateway, which is worth knowing if a shoot brief involves the harbour or wants that specific boats-and-monument combination in frame.
Nearest airport
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport — 20.0 km
Parking
Limited roadside and designated public parking nearby; fills up during peak hours.
Full address
Apollo Bunder, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
Entry timings
Open 24 hours — no fixed timings
Open days
Monday–Sunday
Closed on
None
Drone policy
Drone use is restricted in this part of Mumbai given the dense urban airspace and proximity to sensitive sites — don't assume drone clearance here is simple.
Permission requirements
Permission is required for shoots at this location. See the process below.
Permission process
No permission is needed for personal photography. Larger commercial productions involving crew or equipment should coordinate with local authorities given how busy and heavily monitored this specific waterfront area is.
0.0
0 reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to shoot here and share how it went.
Shot here before?
Log in to share how your shoot went.
Spotted something outdated — charges, timings, or facilities?
