If you’re in Mumbai then visit Haji Ali Dargah in Worli is a must. It’s built on an islet and has live Sufi musicians humming the soulful music on occasions!
Haji Ali Dargah Information
| Place | – | Dargah Rd, Haji Ali, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Build in | – | 1431 |
| Architectural styles | – | Modern architecture, Indo-Islamic architecture |
| Constuction in the memory of | – | wealthy Muslim merchant, Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari |
| Owned by | – | Government of Maharashtra |
History of Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai
This is the tomb and a mosque which is located in South Mumbai and off the coast of Worli. It is located near the heart of the city and is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Mumbai.
The Haji Ali’s Dargah was built in memory of a saint whose name was Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.
The Dargah was built in 1431 in memory of Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari who was a rich merchant who gave up his possessions and worldly ties to visit the holy pilgrimage site of Muslims, the Mecca.
Haji Ali’s Dargah has several legends about it including the one about doomed lovers. The Peer traveled around the world before he chose to settle down in Mumbai in the early 15th century AD.
There’s a story that surrounds the life of Haji Ali where it’s said that once he saw a woman crying abruptly.
He asked the woman the reason for her state, she told him that she was carrying some oil in a vessel when she fell and spilled the oil and now she was being beaten by her husband for this mistake.
Haji Ali was shocked on this brutality and he jabbed his fingers in the ground. As soon as he did that, oil gushed out from the earth and the woman filled her vessel and went away happily.
Also, read the article about Golden Temple
Later Haji Ali had a remorseful and recurring dream that somehow he had injured earth with this act. Filled with remorse he grew sick and asked his followers to cast his coffin in the Arabian Sea when he dies.
Haji Ali died when he was traveling to Mecca and like a miracle, the coffin carrying his body floated back to the shores of Worli in Mumbai. The coffin got stuck between the rocky islets and at that very place, Haji Ali’s Dargah or tomb was raised.
The causeway leading to the Haji Ali’s Dargah has no boundaries or railings on either side. So it is virtually impossible to visit the shrine on a high tide day.
On a high tide day, the causeway is submerged in water so the visitors can go up to the Dargah. However, the same causeway which connects the Dargah to Mahalaxmi and is 0.62 miles long is a major interest amongst tourists visiting the shrine.
The structure is completely white in color with an area of 4500 square meters and has an 85 feet high pillar which makes it all the more picturesque.
The Muslim tradition is to provide separate praying rooms for men and women and that can be seen here too. The 400-year-old Haji Ali’s Dargah has corroded due to constant contact with seawater and the high tides affecting the sides of the structure.
The structural renovation work started in October of 2008 and was scheduled to get over in two to three years giving the Dargah a look of Taj Mahal in water as the white marble is the same used!
