Dharavi Tour
Dharavi is known to many as ‘one of the largest slums in Asia’. It is home to about one million inhabitants and has about 10,000 small scale businesses with an annual turnover of approximately US$ 665 million to US$ 1 billion.
Experience the heart of Mumbai’s vibrant culture with Dharavi Tours by Boundless Explorism. Our guided Dharavi tours offer an authentic insight into the renowned Dharavi slum, showcasing its resilient spirit and industrious community. Led by knowledgeable Dharavi tour guides, our immersive journeys provide a unique perspective on the local way of life, bustling small-scale industries, and the artistic ingenuity thriving within the slum. Discover the true essence of Dharavi as you walk through its narrow alleys, interact with locals, and witness the positive transformation underway. Join us for an eye-opening adventure that celebrates the human spirit amidst adversity.
We conduct this real-life educational Dharavi slum tour with a strong urge to give visitors a unique and untouched experience of people’s daily life. We provide a tool through which our guests experience and develop an understanding of a wide range of business activities like recycling, embroidery, bakery, soap factory, leather tanning, papadum-making, pottery-making and many more.
We’ll also visit the residential areas of Dharavi slums where people belonging to different religions and regions live with a strong sense of community. A famous metaphor describes Dharavi’s diversity that, a day in Dharavi begins with the call for the first prayer in the mosque and ends with the harmonious sound of bells ringing in the temple. The 2.5-hour educational walk in Dharavi will give you a substantial understanding of life and work in the slums of Mumbai. You can also select add-on- lunch with a local family, cooking class, pottery workshop or street art walk. You will not only have a fantastic experience but also contribute to our efforts in promoting community inclusiveness!
Please feel free to send us an inquiry on Mumbai@boundlessexplorism.com OR you can also send us a WhatsApp message.
Notice: We have no photography policy in Dharavi to protect people’s privacy and to keep locals comfortable with visitors.
Tour Details
Availability
Everyday
2.5 hrs educational walking tour.
Timings
Morning
9.30 am: Entrance of Third Wave Coffee.
(Outside of Mahim Junction railways station west side)
Afternoon
1.30 pm: Entrance of Third Wave Coffee.
(Outside of Mahim Junction railways station west side)
Please note: Available spots are limited so please book now!
Cost
INR 900 per person
INR 4,000 for a private group of up to 4 people.
Group Size
6-7 people maximum in a group
(For large groups please get in touch).
Inclusive
✔ English speaking guide
✔ All travelling cost
✔ Refreshment
✔ All taxes
Itinerary
Metal and plastic come from all over the city to Dharavi to be recycled. See the entire recycling process from sorting to the finished plastic pellets
We will use one of the factory rooftop for a spectacular view.
We will walk across the residential area to get an understanding of the housing, lifestyle and spirit of the resident.
We will visit the leather factory to understand the process of leather making from the very first animal hids to final product.
A visit to a local school will give you an idea about the education system in Dharavi.
Dharavi produces about 3.5 tons of food each day for e.g. Khari (puff pastry), Papadoms, and other Indian Savories.
The Kumbharwada neighbourhood is more than 150 years old and is the oldest part of Dharavi. Artisans create various types of earthen pots that are shipped all over India
Meeting point location
Meeting point: Our meeting point is the entry of Third Wave Coffee on the west side of the Mahim Junction train station. It is easy to spot this location but if you still find any difficulty, you can ask somebody for the navigation or you can contact us.
End point: Dharavi Kumbharwada (your guide will help you get a cab or navigate you to the nearby train station).
FAQ'S
There are a lot of people in Dharavi (one million approximately in an area of 0.7 square miles) and there is a strong police presence in the area. Dharavi is generally full of hard-working, honest people, although for security purposes we ask you not to take valuables with you on the tour. Although we cannot take responsibility, we believe that the places that we visit are very safe.
In the small alleys you have to be careful of low hanging roofs, open drains, and occasionally exposed electrical wires. Also, in some of the factories that we visit some fumes can be hazardous.
We focus on the small scale businesses in Dharavi, such as recycling, the making of clay pots, embroidery, bakery, soap factory, leather factory, papad (poppadom) making and many others, most of which take place in very small spaces. We also pass by the residential areas, where you get a feel of how the people live and the sense of community that exists in the area.
People from all over India and from all religions live in Dharavi, and you will see this diversity. On the tour, you will pass Hindu temples, mosques, churches in the area and when open we also visit a local school of Dharavi.
With the very high density of population and the limited infrastructure and sanitation facilities, there are areas which are quite dirty and smelly. We ask you to wear covered shoes.
We recommend that you wear covered shoes as some areas can be dirty, especially during the monsoon months from June to mid-September. We ask visitors to dress modestly which means no sleeveless shirts, short dresses, or low tops.
There are health hazards highlighted above which children need to be very aware of. Otherwise, we see no problem with bringing children of any age on the tour. Indians are very welcoming and receptive to young people.
We have a strict no-camera policy to respect the privacy of the residents. Dharavi has received a lot of attention from the media and the residents are very wary of being exploited. The policy may be considered strict but our relationship with the Dharavi community has been built over many years based on mutual respect. We do not wish for even the occasional photo as it could be incorrectly perceived as our starting to permit general photography on our tours. We can, however, send you a link to Dharavi photos which can be downloaded.
We don’t want you to feel obliged to buy anything. If there is anything in particular that you find interesting on the tour, then, by all means, you can speak to the guide and he can help you buy it.
Yes, it is possible to visit Dharavi on your own, and in our opinion, it is safe to do so. However you will not know the best places to go, the area is like a maze and you will not gain the same insight as with one of our guides.
Absolutely! Our tour timings were decided with this in mind. Have a look at the timings for the tours and let us know!
Yes, you have an option of booking a private tour in which your guide can customise the tour according to your requirements.
Generally, people are very busy with their work over there but you may find many occasions to speak to the locals. You also have an option of selecting Dharavi tour with family lunch or cooking experience. In which we visit a family and have food with them.