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Mumbai Jewish Heritage Tour: Private Journey Through History and Architecture
5.0
7 Ratings
Mumbai
Embark on a private journey through Mumbai's Jewish heritage, exploring the rich history and architectural wonders created by the Bene Israel and Baghdadi Jewish communities. Visit synagogues, docks, the Jewish Library, and the iconic Chabad House.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Gateway of India - Find out the Jewish links to Gateway of India- which is one of the most iconic monuments of Mumbai.
- Sassoon Dock - Get to know more about the Sassoons- the Jewish family who built the Sassoon docks and about the contributions it made to Mumbai’s economy.
- David Sassoon Library and Reading Room - We take you to an erstwhile mechanical institute which is now converted into a library that overlooks the famous Kalaghoda area.
- Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue - Visit the stunning Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue that is hidden away, in the art district of Kalaghoda. This Baghdadi Jewish synagogue stands tall, as an insignia of the rich Jewish heritage of Mumbai. Every Friday evening, they have a service followed by a Kosher meal.
- Magen David Synagogue - Stand in awe of the architectural masterpiece that is the Magen David Synagogue, where centuries-old traditions are meticulously preserved and heartfelt prayers reverberate through its sacred halls.
- Chabad House - Prepare to witness the indomitable spirit of resilience and unity as we pay homage to Chabad House—a symbol of strength rising from the depths of tragedy. Here, we honour the memory of those impacted by the heartbreaking events of 2008. Listen to stories of unwavering courage, unshakeable determination, and an unwavering commitment to faith, community, and hope that emerged from the darkest of times.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Hop-on hop-off tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- All Fees and taxes
- Driver
What's Not Included
- Additional transport cost for North Mumbai pick-up
- Gratuities
- Additional cost for the services of a language guide (besides English)
Additional Information
Jews have always played a vital role in the fabric of Mumbai’s society and demographic composition. The city’s Jewish residents were principally categorized into two distinct sections, the Bene Israel and the Baghdadi. The Bene Israel, also known as the Sons of Israel, have roots in Mumbai dating back over 1600 years. In contrast, the Baghdadi Jews arrived in the 19th century and established themselves as merchants.
Upon settling, these sects worked towards the advancement of their community and were instrumental in the creation of significant architectural landmarks that now form an important piece of Mumbai’s Jewish cultural legacy.
This excursion honors the Jewish influence in Mumbai and features visits to two magnificent synagogues, the harbors, the Jewish Library, and, if possible, the Chabad House - the very site that came under assault during the notorious terrorist attack on Mumbai.
- Children who are below 5 years of age can do the tour free of cost
- We do not conduct this tour on the day of the Mumbai Marathon
- The tour can be cancelled based on the discretion of No Footprints. The guests will be informed in advance of the same
- The sequence of the tour is at the discretion of No Footprints and its guide on-ground
Location
Gateway of India
Apollo Bandar, Colaba
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(7 Ratings)
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Happiness28083989225
Feb 12, 2024
A great experience - We had a great tour guide her name is Disha, very knowledgeable. She made the tour incredibly interesting in a light hearted manner.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kimberly
Jan 11, 2024
Unexpected Jewish history delight in Mumbai - The Jewish Heritage tour of Mumbai was an unexpected highlight of our time in Mumbai. Krupesh Pandya (KP as we called him) is a fantastic guide. We didn’t know much about the Jewish history of the city and we visited the Chabad house, which was one of the victims of the tragic terror attack in 2008. The current rabbi was there and my husband and son put on Tefilin, chatted about NYC and we visited the memorial to the terror victims, next a drive by of Sassoon docks and a visit to the Sassoon library to learn about David Sassoon, an Iraqi Jewish immigrant to Mumbai. Sassoon contributed much to city in the 1800’s. We visited the two synagogues founded by him, both with his signature clock towers. KP shared the history with us of both buildings. The beautiful Sephardi architecture Kenereth Eliyahoo and the room showing all its famous visitors and then to the Magen David synagogue, where the Ben-Israeli Jews reside. KP’s knowledge of the Jewish history was impeccable…Are the Ben-Israelis a lost tribe or aren’t they? Regardless, we met the Hazzen, sang with them , heard the shofar blown and had such a meaningful visit. They also run a Jewish school that has mostly Muslim students. KP taught us a side of Mumbai that we had no idea about and we highly recommend him and this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tourist38674490251
Jan 8, 2024
BRILLIANT tour with Disha - My family and I had such a great time on our tour today with Disha- she was extremely insightful, funny, captivating and above all a really lovely person to hang out with for the day. We have done various tours around Mumbai and this was by far the most interesting; her depth of knowledge and pure love for the city really shone through. Honestly, it was such a privilege to have her show us around!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robertc8217
Dec 26, 2023
Unique perspective on Mumbai through the lens of jewish history. - This Jewish heritage tour was amazing and gave us an unexpected and unique window on Mumbai. Our guide, KP, was super knowledgeable about Mumbai history and provided great insights. We ended up being the only couple on the tour so basically got a private tour. KP met us at our hotel, asked us what kind of transport we were comfortable with and then negotiated a taxi for the morning and handled everything.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyager55891186616
Dec 25, 2023
Wonderful experience in Mumbai with KP as our guide - Our excellent guide KP was cordial, professional and highly accommodating in all the four tours we took in Mumbai with him. The Jewish heritage tour was very meaningful as my husband’s family are Iraqi Jews like the Sassoon family. We saw several sights and KP gave in- depth explanations on each site. The tours were well paced and covered many aspects of Jewish and Indian history. KP gave us a feeling of the real people not just monuments. I would highly recommend KP as a guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Freedom60524921112
Dec 21, 2023
Best Tour in Mumbai - It was fascinating and the tour guide was a walking encyclopedia. His knowledge is in a league of its own.Kupesh made it seamless, quick and easy.
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Namtil
Nov 24, 2023
Jewish heritage tour - Our fabulous knowledgeable guide Kupresh gave us a concise and careful history of the Jews who first arrived in India 150BC. We had the privilege to visit three synagogues, meet the Rebbetzin of CHABAD house, hear the Chazan blow the shofar and sing for us. It was truly a privilege and one we highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
