10 Best Things To Do In Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

1. Climb up the Khargar Hills

Sitting at the heart of Navi Mumbai is the Khargar Hills, a chain of hills that overlook all of Navi Mumbai and Khargar. The main trail to the top of these hills is surrounded by massive rock formations and lush forest. These hills are a protected area. There is a temple you can visit and meditate in on the way to the top. The best feature of these hills is the waterfalls, including Pandavkada Falls. These falls come to life during the monsoon season, and are a sight to behold - just be sure to bring a raincoat or umbrella with you.

Khargar Hills

Address: Khargar Hills, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

2. Stroll at the Jewel of Navi Mumbai

The jewel of this city is indeed a park - one of the biggest parks in the city. The entrance has a large sign bearing the name of the park, and the walkway is just as elaborate in design. Going further in, you will reach Seawoods Lake, where many migratory birds and fish take refuge. Multiple walkways surround the lake and serve as paths for joggers. Sundown is the best time of the day to visit the park, as the sun provides a picture-perfect scene of the lake.

Jewel of Navi Mumbai

Address: Sector 26, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400706, India

Opening hours: 5am - 9am, 5pm - 9pm (daily)

Price: Free

3. Sit and chill at Central Park Kharghar

Located at the foot of the hills at Khargar, Central Park is a favorite recreation spot for many residents and visitors, thanks to its large open space, and multiple green patches. An artificial pond helps cool down the park during hotter days and is a sanctuary for many fish and birds too. An amphitheater is at the heart of the park, and many performances are held here. The park also has a playground with slides, swings, and some rides for the younger ones! Outside, a golf course sits right beside the park, and the beautiful Pandavkada Falls is just up the hill from the park!

Central Park

Address: Sector 23, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 410210, India

Opening hours: 6am - 9am, 5pm - 8pm

Price: Free

4. Marvel at the Nerul Balaji Temple

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Also called Sri Balaji Mandir, this temple sits in the heart of Nerul, well-kept by the people here. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Balaji and is visited by many pilgrims all year round. The elaborate and multicolored design of the gate is said to help fulfill wishes once you have performed the necessary darshan - or spiritual cleansing. This well-constructed temple complex features shrines that are artistically sculpted. These shrines are made out of granite stones and draw influence from the South Indian Temple Architecture.

Nerul Balaji Temple

Address: Plot 2 & 3, West, Sector 22, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400706, India

Website: Sri Balaji Mandir – Nerul

Opening hours: 6:30am - 12pm, 4:30pm - 9pm (Daily)

Price: Free

5. Watch the beautiful Pandavkada Falls

Sitting on the hill just above Central Park, Pandavkada Falls is a 107-meter (351 feet) high plunge waterfall. The water roars down the bare cliff face, which is a sight in itself. It can be seen from a mile away! Rainy season makes the falls even larger, and a second one can even activate nearby. The falls are pretty to view, but swimming is not allowed for safety purposes. It is recommended you come early so you won’t have to jostle through the large crowds that stream in during the later parts of the day.

Pandavkada Falls

Address: Forest Area, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 410210, India

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

6. Meditate at Sri Venkateshwara Swami Temple

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Sri Venkateshwara temples are a sight to behold in Southern India, and this temple in Nerul, Maharashtra draws inspiration from the south. Its ornate exterior is a crowd puller. The temple area remains quiet, enabling you to meditate and reflect in peace. It is even said that if you perform reflection and meditation here, you can have a wish granted. The temple holds some very elaborate rituals and prayers, that many devout followers attend and offer flowers to. You are highly encouraged to attend one of these the next time you visit here.

Sri Venkateshwara Swami Temple

Address: Plot No 2&3, Brahmagiri Road, Sector 22 A, Near Swami Naryan Temple, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, MH 400706

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6:30am - 11:30am, 4:30pm - 9pm; Sat - Sun: 6:30am - 12pm, 4pm - 9pm

Price: Free

7. Ride at Wonders Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Looking for some fun places to visit in Navi Mumbai? Wonders Park in Nerul is one of the bigger theme parks in the city. The park features replicas of the Wonders of the World, including the Great Wall of China, Temple of Tikal, Roman Coliseum, and even India’s own Taj Mahal! You can also hop on a roller coaster, a train, or the octopus ride. There are also child-friendly play areas, including swings, slides, and mini-houses. Finally, if you reach here in the evening, the fountain in the center of the park lights up, and displays a water show unlike any other here in Navi Mumbai!

Wonders Park

Address: Nerul East, Sector 19A, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400706, India

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 6am - 12pm, 3pm - 9pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 35 INR (.50 USD) onwards

8. View the city from Parsik Hill

Parsik Hill is located in Thane District and rises a few hundred feet above sea level. It is named after the Parsi settlers who fled when the pre-British-rule Portuguese government tried to enforce religious conversion. There are paths that ascend the slopes of the hill, and a meditation center sits along the path. Along the way are multiple restaurants that serve the best of Indian cuisine, so be sure to try some of their dishes. It gets cooler the higher up you go, so take in the fresh air. The treasure of this trip though is what you can see once you reach the top of the hill. You are treated to breathtaking views of the city, including Palm Road and all of the central district.

Parsik Hill

Address: Parsik Hill, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Thane, Maharashtra, India

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

9. Stop by to admire the structure of Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid Nerul is the largest mosque in Navi Mumbai; it is also one of the oldest in the area, having been completed in 1995. The structure is bright white in color, making it distinct from its neighbors. If you are a practicing Muslim, the marble floors and prayer mats will keep you cool and comfortable, especially if you have to kneel and sit for hours. The prayer rooms can hold hundreds of people at any given time. It is not hard to find this structure - look for the iconic twin spires in Nerul!

Jama Masjid

Address: Jama Masjid Rd, Nerul East, Sector 15, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400706, India

10. Row a boat at Mini Seashore

This seashore by a natural pond is one of the favorite evening attractions in Navi Mumbai, visited by most locals during the weekends. The shore also has a jogging path circling the pond, and two parks are seated adjacent to it. It is the ideal place to watch the sunset, with the sun setting behind the mini-forest. You can even rent a boat to enjoy the scenery with a date or family members! The boat rides are available during the evening, and book early if you want to get one of these popular rides.

Mini Seashore

Address: Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400703, India

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

Navi Mumbai, a new city on the rise

One of the fastest-growing areas in India, Navi Mumbai boasts many tourist spots. Thanks to the booming industrial sector here, the area is developing fast. In spite of all the rapid urbanization, parks and forests are still valuable here.