St. Michaels Church, Mumbai

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Sight Address : St. Michael’s Church,Lady Jamshedji Road, Off Mori Road, Opposite Mahim Bus Depot, Mahim West, Mahim, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400016 Edit

Detail InformationEdit

St. Michaels Church, Mumbai is one of the oldest Catholic Churches in India, let alone Mumbai. The present structure of the church was built in 1973, although the original church was formed way back in the 16th century. The Christmas Mass is immensely popular here and so are the Novena services, which began way back in 1948. It is believed, for the Novena services, devotees would have to attend a special mass for 9 consecutive Wednesdays (called Novena), and once they have done that, their wishes shall come true. Although primarily Catholic, devotees of all faiths are allowed to visit the church and even avail of its services. Most of the time, the church is attractively decorated and is constantly bustling with devotees. In recent history, thousands of devotees thronged the church to witness a reported ‘bleeding Christ’ image. However, the Parish of the church declined the miracle reports and explained that the red stains on the picture were due to the moisture in the air. If this has already caught your attention and you want to know more about the history, architecture and nearby places, read on.

St. Michael’s Church

HistoryEdit

The original St. Michael’s Church is believed to have been built in the early 16th century by a church builder called Antonio do Porto. It is said that during this time, the church was located on the banks of the Mandav and served as a convent. Ever since its construction, the church was frequently rebuilt and restored. Around the 18th century, there was a popular chapel in Bandra known as the ‘Our Lady of the Mount’. This building was believed to be destroyed by the Portuguese under British bidding. A famous picture of Virgin Mary, believed to have been rescued from the destroyed chapel, was given refuge at St. Michael’s Church. Ever since, the image has remained with the church and is also one of the key attractions at the church. For a long time after the attack at the chapel, there was growing tension between the Apostolic Vicars and the Padroado Order and eventually, the church was under the apostolic custody for the next 60 years. Following brutal sieges and counter attacks, the custody of the church was finally passed to the Portuguese Padroado Order. One of the only surviving Portuguese buildings, St. Michael’s Church serves as a proof of the influence of various colonial powers. The present structure that stands today was rebuilt in 1973.

Must SeeEdit

Attraction

Visiting TimeEdit

6:30 AM – 11.30 PM Everyday

Closed OnEdit

N.A.

Best Season to VisitEdit

October to March.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning , Afternoon , Evening.

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

N.A.

Ticket Required : No Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : N.A.

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : Metered taxis are a useful mode of transport in Mumbai. Since they are metered, they are economical and also relatively comfortable. However night fares are more expensive and charts for calculating fares are available online. It might be sensible to use one particular taxi throughout the stay, as most taxi drivers have mobile phones they can be contacted easily. While the regular tariff is Rs 14 per km, the night charges is around Rs 18 per km. Private taxi services are also available and they ply according to the government rates. Some of the main operators are – Meru Taxis- Contact No (+91 2240520100),Mumbai taxi- Contact No (+91 2244224422), International airport cabs Contact No (+91 228366767) , Domestic airport cabs-Contact No (+91 226152257),Classic taxi service- Contact No (+91 93711067115).

Bus : BEST bus services are second most extensive intra city transport system. Mumbai has an excellent road transportation system. State owned buses connect Mumbai to all neighbouring points. Many Deluxe and Super Deluxe buses are available to travel in and out of the city. Bus fare is about Rs 3 to 4 per kilometer.

Train : Mumbai is the headquarters of Indian railway system. Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Station is the major one which connects all most parts of Indian cities to Mumbai. Other railway stations in Mumbai are Dadar and Kurla, and Churchgate. Suburban railway is the backbone of the transport system. Three main railway lines connect most of the city. Trains are always on time and economical, however they might be crowded in peak hours. The basic fare may range from 5 INR to 100 INR. The trains run from 4 am to 1pm, and there are trains arriving at the station every five minutes. It is also advisable to take care of valuables even in the first class section. Rush hour constitutes office timings from 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 7pm. The traveller should avoid the rush hour. Women travellers can make use of the separate women compartments and they might be less crowded than the general compartments.

Air : Mumbai has its own domestic and international airport, known as Chatrapati Shivaji international airport , Located 30 km from centre of the city, Nariman Point and 4 km from the domestic terminal of Santa Cruz, this airport operates 24X7. Almost all airlines provide services to Mumbai. Mumbai is well connected to all major cities in India and also connected to many cities abroad including Singapore, New York, Bangok, Hong Kong and to many gulf cities. Taxi and Autorickshws is easily available from airport to City. Inquiry number for domestic airport – 26264145/26264000. Airlines no. GoAir- Tel.No:55420082, Jet Airways- Tel.No:22823275, Kingfisher Airlines Ltd- Tel.No:56499393 Ph No: 011-3295126. Air India -Ph: 91 22 2279 6666, Air Sahara- Ph No: (022) 22836000, (022) 56981111.

Others : Auto richshaws: The auto rickshaws of Mumbai are the most common means of transport and are cheap also. they charge Rs 9 for the first 1.6 km and Rs 5 for km covered afterwards. The night charge is 25% more of the total charge. However, one needs to be careful as these auto rickshaws use longer routes in order to increase their fare amount.

Things to CarryEdit

It is advisable to take lots of drinkable water with you from Mumbai itself. And also camera.

Safety / WarningEdit

All Travellers should be absolutely careful about their handbags and mobile phones.
For women, where available, use women’s only areas/compartments on public transportation. Never ride in the general men’s compartment.
If not taking a prepaid taxi or a metered taxi/rickshaw, negotiate the fare before taking off.