The Haji Ali Dargah is a mosque and dargah or the monument of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari located on an islet off the coast of Worli in the southern Mumbai. This mosque is also a tomb, An exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Architecture, associated with legends about doomed lovers, the dargah contains the tomb of Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. Bukhari was a Sufi saint and a wealthy merchant from Uzbekistan. Near the heart of the city proper, the dargah is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Mumbai.
Airports in Mumbai :- Click Now
Travel Accommodation / Book Now :-
- Hotels in Mumbai
- Guest houses in Mumbai
- Bed and breakfasts in Mumbai
- Resorts in Mumbai
- Apartments in Mumbai
- Lodges in Mumbai
- Inns in Mumbai
- Homestays in Mumbai
- Villas in Mumbai
- Campsites in Mumbai
- Hotels in South Mumbai
- Hotels in Central Mumbai
- Hotels in Navi Mumbai
- Apartments in Navi Mumbai
- Guest houses in Navi Mumbai
- Villas in Navi Mumbai
- Inns in Navi Mumbai
- Lodges in Navi Mumbai
- Plan your Trip with Agoda :-
Your trip to Mumbai A serene place nestled amidst the waves of the sea Haji Ali Dargah. Hundreds of hawkers and street vendors crowded the approach road, they even try to pull you towards their shops. However we loved the sea causeway that connects the dargah to land. Sea on both side, cool breeze and sunset, it was a perfect backdrop. The pebbled pathway that leads to this white ‘dargah’ (an Urdu term, meaning ‘tomb’) makes for a nice walk, with the waters of the Arabian Sea lapping over the land.
The Haji Ali Dargah is a mosque and located at around 500 yards inside the Arabian Sea, one has walk through a pathway to visit the mosque. The pathway has several small shops / hawkers. There was limited crowd and we offered Chadar and took blessing from the Pir. While entering the pathway, there are several shops on the main road, selling Chadar, flower etc.
Haji Ali Mosque is located at south mumbai . A sacred place for muslims for their worship . A amazing place loacted between the sea . Referred as a island in mumbai . You should visit this place if you have the guys to cross the sea by a single path with water waves crashing to it .
This place was very famous and popular & mainly people came from all over the world. People visit this place and pray with ALLAH (GOD) to complete their wishes. This Darragh is in mid off Sea and this open for all religions and communities.
Haji Ali Dargah Timings, Entry & Namaz Schedule
This mausoleum is open to visitors on every day of the week from 5:30 AM until 10 PM, and you don’t have to be Muslim to enter here. Nevertheless, you will mostly find devotees specifically from the Islamic faith when you visit this dargah. There is no entry fee, but donations are accepted. A portion of the money received by the trust goes towards the maintenance of Madrasas (Islamic schools) and the funding of scholarships. Photography is not permitted inside the mosque. However, you will be able to take photos of the picturesque white structure from outside, especially from the narrow pathway which connects this islet to the mainland in South Bombay.
The Islamic prayer or namaz is offered five times a day:
Fajr: This Arabic word meaning ‘dawn’ is the term for the first prayer of the day which is offered before sunrise.
Zuhr: This is the second prayer which is offered at noon when the sun is at its peak.
Asr: The third prayer is offered later in the afternoon.
Maghrib: Just after sunset, the fourth prayer is offered.
Isha: The final prayer is made in the night time.
Architecture of Haji Ali Dargah
The Haji Ali Dargah sports Indo-Islamic architecture from the Mughal period. This is evident in the set of minarets and domes that fill the area. The main gate which welcomes everyone is fortified with reinforced concrete cement. On the outside, it has a smooth layer of marble which makes it gleam from afar, especially in the afternoon. On Islamic festivals, this gate is lit up in green to signify purity.
The tallest minaret in the complex is 85 feet high. It is from here that the Muezzin (a person of good character) appointed by the mosque calls out to all the Muslims to worship at the five designated times of the day.
The central courtyard of the complex is made of marble, which also makes it convenient for those who prefer to walk barefoot. The Dargah Sharif stands at the centre, pristine white form the outside. When you enter it, you find the tomb of Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari wrapped in a gorgeous carpet (called chaddar) and a zari cloth. The carpet has fine brocade work all over it, mostly in green, red and golden.
One can see a lot of flowers and offerings from visitors on this. A frame of silver encases the tomb, and the entire structure is surrounded by eight pillars of marble. This is further topped by a crown.
The ceiling in the main hall is also of marble and has coloured mirror patterns decorating its surface. Also visible are Arabic designs which actually spell out various names (ninety nine to be specific) of the Muslim god – Allah. You will also notice verses from the Quran Sharif, written on the ceilings and the walls.
The complex has prayer rooms dedicated for male and female worshippers. The main hall is flanked on three sides by other halls – East, West and South. The East Hall is reserved for men to say their prayers, while women worship in the West Hall.
Apart from this, there is a three storey sanatorium and a Qawwal Khana where Qawwali performances are held. Qawwali is a traditional Islamic musical performance where all the singers and instrument players are seated on the floor. While pop culture knows this art form only through Bollywood songs, the type of Qawwali performed inside the Haji Ali Dargah is devotional in nature.
Who was Haji Ali?
Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari was a rich merchant from present-day Uzbekistan who was known for his kindness and often regarded as a Sufi saint. This Muslim merchant from Bukhara spent his early years, in the 15th century, travelling around the world. Before he was to make the mandatory Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Pir Haji Ali Shah renounced all his possessions. He finally settled in Mumbai’s Worli neighbourhood, quite close to where his tomb is now kept. He spent his time in India teaching people about Islam and spreading his faith.
There is a legend that Haji Ali once came across a poor lady sobbing on the street because she had spilled the oil which she was carrying back home. He accompanied her to the place where she spilled the oil, and made the earth spew it out with a press of his thumb. Despite solving the woman’s problem, Pir Haji Ali was disturbed that he had hurt the earth, so he left for India.
Things to Keep in Mind While Visiting the Haji Ali Dargah:-
1. Conservative dressing is advised for both men and women. You will be required to cover your head when you enter the mosque (but not when you are crossing on the causeway.
2. Before you enter the shrine, remove your footwear.
3. The sun can be a tad too hot in the afternoons. So make sure your wear some sunscreen lotion and carry a parasol or a hat with you.
4. The crowds soar on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. So, plan your visit accordingly.
5. During high tide, the causeway becomes submerged in sea water. Listen to the guards and try not to cross over to the other side until it’s time for low tide when the pathway is visible again.
How to Reach Haji Ali Dargah
Local Trains: If you are travelling on the Central Line, you can get off at Byculla station and then hail a taxi. It is 3.6 km from here and should take about 15 minutes via taxi. If you walk from here, you will take 40 minutes through a shorter route of 2.6 km. On the Western Line, Mumbai Central and Mahalaxmi are the nearest railway stations, both a little more than a kilometre from the shrine. If you don’t find a taxi, you can walk for 20 minutes. For those arriving on the Harbour Line, change into Central Line at Kurla.
City Buses: The closest bus stop to the mosque for the State-run BEST buses is Vatsalabai Desai Chowk. This is at a walking distance from the house of prayer and buses ply every few minutes.
Private Transport: For a comfortable ride, you can hire a private cab (kaali-peeli or black-and-yellow taxi) or a radio taxi run by Uber, Ola, Meru, etc. Parking may be a problem as the area is heavily crowded because of the dargah and the food shops closeby, so avoid driving by yourself.
Places to Visit Near Haji Ali Dargah
After you are done exploring the Haji Ali Dargah, you can make your way to a number of sightseeing spots nearby:
1. Mahalaxmi Temple: Located only 500 metres away on Bhulabhai Desai Road, this Hindu temple is dedicated to the mythological goddess Mahalaxmi. Built in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, this temple has three idols of goddess Mahakali, Mahalakshmi (goddess of wealth and prosperity), and Mahasaraswati (goddess of wisdom and learning).
2. The National Museum of Indian Cinema: This brand new museum was recently unveiled on 19th January in 2019. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM, entry to the museum only costs INR 20 for Indian adults. If you are a child below the age of 12 or a student, you can enter for free. Foreigners will have to pay INR 500 for each ticket. Movies are screened daily from 4 PM to 5 PM at one of the auditoriums here.
3. Mahalaxmi Race Course: Perhaps the most upscale place to hang out in Mumbai, this horse racing track remains a favourite with the city’s elite population. Spread over 225 acres of oval land, the place also serves as the only helipad open to civilians. If you wish to see a race, visit between mid-November and April. At other times, you can learn to ride a horse, join a Tai Chi class in the morning or just run around the track. During the derbies, remember to be impeccably dressed as dress codes are strictly followed here.
4. Nehru Planetarium: Barely a kilometre from the Haji Ali Dargah, this planetarium is a must-visit spot for children and adults alike. There are plenty of interactive exhibitions and models at this Science wonderland which will help you understand a lot of Physics principles in a fun and easy way. There is a dome-theatre in the complex where short films on astronomy are screened. On certain winter nights with clear skies, the Nehru Planetarium also holds special star-gazing sessions where the night sky is examined with a giant telescope, in search of constellations, planets and other heavenly bodies.
5. Dhobi Ghat: This is Mumbai’s unique wash-house, and also the largest open-air laundry in the world. This is where most of Mumbai’s textile businesses and hotels send their linen and clothes to be thoroughly cleaned, dried and ironed. The washers are called ‘dhobis’, and they are quite a sight to watch when they are in action. Tours that span at least an hour are offered for visitors to watch how these dhobis scrub and wash clothes in their own washing pen. The clothes are also beaten on a flogging stone for that extra edge in washing.
0 comments:
Post a Comment