Dhobhi Ghat Attractions in Mumbai

Mumbai is a land of continuous changing interests and ancient facades. There are so many places to see here that the list is endless. With all the history it has, Mumbai has a lot more to show than one can see. So, while you are here in this commercial Indian capital, get to know the other side of Mumbai’s sightseeing. Apart from the grandeur and the extravagance there is something unique and intriguing about Mumbai and these places and such things are what make a trip to this city memorable. Visit the Dhobhi Ghat in Mumbai which is a sight to be cherished and stored in the treasure chest of travel kitty. This traditional laundry area in this city is the place where the entire city’s dirty linen are collected, washed and then neatly pressed to be delivered at your doorstep. All this is done for a very small amount and it is pittance when compared to the service and the convenience that it gives you. The “laundries” which wash these clothes are called the “ghats”. There are pens and coops for washing and each area has its own flogging stone. All he clothes are first soaked in soapy water and then thrashed on these stones. Then they are tossed into huge barrels of boilding starch and then hung out to dry. After this process is over, they are ironed and then piled neatly in rows. Dhobhi Ghat is an integral part of life in Mumbai and is a perfect antithesis to the city. With the grandeur of the Taj and the other monumental structures, the humble Dhobhi Ghat is but a small speck yet is a great landmark in Mumbai travel tours. In fact there are foreigners and foreign tourists who come all the way to Mumbai just to see this “laundries” wonder.

Saat Rasta in Mumbai near the Mahalaxmi station is the most famous Dhobhi Ghat. I remember when I went there with my cousin who had come down from the United States and had wanted to see it; I had seen more than two hundred dhobis at work there with their families. Today it is a hereditary occupation for them.  It is a fascinating sight to see all those rows and rows of wash pens made out of concrete and hordes of washermen washing clothes here. It is actually famous as the world’s largest outdoor laundry. It is here in Mahalaxmi that the dhobis give traditional service. All stubborn stains are removed and the vat which contains caustic soda ensures that the clothes are crisp, clean and washed well. After washing, the clothes are hung on the clothesline to dry. These brightly coloured clotheslines are visible when we have a panoramic view of the entire place. After the clothes are dried, they are subjected to being ironed under the heavy wood burning irons. It is interesting to see the dhobis as the washermen are called at work. A great photo capture this sight makes up the beauty of Dhobhi Ghat. In fact, go around Dhobhi Ghat and take photos and you are bound to get more curious looks than you give The washermen here find it very amusing that their daily routine is so much a topic of discussion across the world and so much a photographer’s focal point of attention.

The other Dhobhi Ghat is at Colaba on the Prakash Petha march. This is also easily accessible and evokes as much attention as the Mahalaxmi Dhobhi Ghat. There was a movie by the name of Dhobhi Ghat released some time back and this has evoked more curiosity among many. So it has taken an uptrend in tourist attraction sights.

If you see the Dhobhi Ghat from the flyover that goes to Saat Rasta, then the entire area of Dhobhi Ghat looks like a maze, like a game of Tetris, with all its interlocking pens and bundles of clothes to be washed, or pressed.

When we went into the Dhobhi Ghat I remember the whole area smelt of a lot of detergent and there was a certain fragrance in the air which filled the whole place with a bubble like atmosphere. The hustle and bustle that we saw here was fascinating, interesting and intriguing. Very different from the regular hustle and bustle outside in the city area. We had to pay an entry fee and this gave us permission to go around the premise. There was a guide here who was ranting away about the place, the number of clothes washed here, and the rent that they pay to the Government etc. The dhobis at Mahalaxmi Ghat were very cameral friendly and did not mind us snooping into their privacy. They just nonchalantly continued to work as they flogged the clothes to glory. Soap suds flew in the air and there was a certain rhythm about the whole thing that couldn’t be missed. The competence that they exuded was what charmed me and I was quite impressed with their attitude towards their profession and their humility towards the fact that they were rolling on camera.

The Dhobhi Ghat in Mumbai is certainly a must visit spot for all those tourists who would love its uniqueness