“Your true traveler finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his liberty-his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely philosophically, but almost with pleasure.”
- Aldous Huxley
The Haji Ali Dargah is one of the most popular religious places in Mumbai, visited by people of all religions alike. Located on an island off the shoreline of Worli, Haji Ali Mosque looks stunning amidst the blue waters of the sea. It also makes the most popular recognizable landmarks of Mumbai.The dargah contains the tomb of Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.
HISTORY:
The Haji Ali Dargah was constructed in 1431 in memory of a wealthy Muslim merchant, Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari (R.A.).
There are a number of stories related to the life of Hazarath Haji Ali and about how this tomb came to be built. One version claims that Haji Ali was a rich local merchant who gave up his worldly possessions after a visit to Mecca and took to meditating. Another story is that Haji Ali was an Afghan mystic who lived and meditated, on the island on which the shrine now stands. It is said that he left instructions that after death, his body should be put in a casket and should be cast off into the sea off the shore of what is today Pakistan. Legend has it that the casket with his body in it emerged in perfect condition in the place where the tomb is today. According to another story Haji Ali was on a pilgrimage to Mecca and he died on the way. His body was put into a casket and disposed off at sea. It is said that this casket floated back to Mumbai; though some believe that Haji Ali drowned at the spot where the dargah is today.
ARCHITECTURE:
The edifice is a brilliant specimen of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture.The structure is white with domes and minarets like the Mughal architecture.
The whitewashed structure occupies an area of 4,500 square meters, and an 85 foot (26 m) tower is the architectural highlight of the edifice. Behind the sculpted entrance, a marble courtyard contains the central shrine.
Inside, the tomb is covered by a brocaded red and green chaddar (bed sheet), supported by a delicate silver frame. The main hall has marble pillars embellished with artful mirror work: blue, green, yellow chips of glass arranged in kaleidoscopic patterns interspersed with Arabic patterns which spell the ninety-nine names of Allah.
As per the Muslim traditions separate praying rooms for ladies and gents are provided here to pay their respects.
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| The walkway leading to Haji Ali’s Mosque. |
DARGAH TIMINGS:
- The Hazarat Haji Ali dargah attracts visitors in large numbers on Thursdays and Fridays.
- The dargah opens from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
HOW TO REACH DARGAH?
- It is located on an islet off the coast of Worli in Southern part of Mumbai.
- The walkway, offering 500-yard-walk, is the highlight of this expedition, where the touch of cool waters and pleasing breeze altogether will make this a divine experience. It is connected with the Mahalaxmi Temple via a small causeway, usually only accessible during low tide.
- The accessibility to the dargah is very much dependent on the tides. As, the causeway is not bound by railings, when the causeway gets submerged during the tides high tides it becomes inaccessible. Therefore, the dargah is accessible only during low tide. This walk on the causeway, with the sea on both sides, is one of the highlights of a trip to the shrine. During the high tide, the dargah seems completely isolated with no access. It looks more like a little island.
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