| Haji Ali |
| The Haji Ali shrine is a mosque and dargah situated on a small island near by the coast of Worli in Mumbai. Shrine contains the tomb of HAZRATH HAJI ALI, a Muslim Sufi saint. In the heart of the city, the dargah is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Mumbai. The dargah cannot be entered at high tide since the causeway leading to it gets submerged in water. Therefore, the dargah is accessible only during low tide. Haji Ali is open to everyone and is very popular among Hindus from Mumbai, other parts of Maharashtra and southern Gujarat although it is a mosque and dargah. Prayers offered at the dargah fulfill one's wishes is the belief of Mumbai. Mosque looks particularly beautiful at sunset with its reflection on the crimson waters. |
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| A wealthy Muslim merchant and saint named Haji Ali built the dargah in 1431. Haji Ali renounced all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Legend has it that Haji Ali died on his way to Mecca and his body, in its casket, floated back to Mumbai. However, some believe that Haji Ali drowned at the place where the dargah stands today. The mosque is picturesque with a vast courtyard and refreshment stalls. It contains the tomb of the Muslim saint Haji Ali. |
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| As many as 40,000 pilgrims visit the shrine on Thursdays and Fridays. |
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| In the middle of Worli Bay, in the vicinity of Worli, the dargah is built on a tiny islet located 500 yards from the coast. By a narrow causeway the islet is linked to the city. One of the highlights of a trip to the shrine is with the sea on both sides the 500-yard-walk on the causeway. |
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| An area of 4,500 metres, and an 85 foot (26 m) tower is the architectural highlight of the edifice is occupied by dargah the whitewashed structure. The structure is a slim solitary minaret. The mosque is covered by a brocaded red and green chaddar (tomb cover sheet) within the tomb and is supported by an exquisite silver frame. Colored mirror work i.e. blue, green, yellow chips are embellished and ninety-nine names of Allah are written on pillars in the main hall of dargah. Behind the sculpted entrance, a marble courtyard contains the central shrine. Hundreds of worshippers stoop to press their forehead against the richly brocaded red and green chaddar covering the tomb, lying in an exquisite silver frame supported by marble pillars. |
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| Due to saline winds blowing from the surrounding sea most of the structure is gradually being demolished. In the 1960s it was last repaired, the structure is beyond further repair was the words by civil engineers. The Dargah Trust is awaiting permission to raze the structure and rebuild it with Makrana marble, the same marble used to build the Taj Mahal. Permission must be obtained from the Central Government as the shrine lies within the Coastal Regulation Zone. A cool courtyard generally full of people and refreshment stalls are present in the whitewashed mosque |
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| To reach dargah |
| One can easily reach Haji Ali by boarding buses or trains, or by hiring autos or taxis from the city. |
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