The Mahalaxmi Temple on Bhulabhai Desai Road is one of Mumbai's most important Hindu temples, dedicated to the goddess Mahalaxmi and two companion goddesses Mahasaraswati and Mahakali. The cliff-top temple has occupied this site since the 18th century, overlooking the sea and the racecourse. It draws enormous crowds of devotees, particularly on Fridays and during the Navratri festival when the temple is specially decorated.
The approach road is lined with flower stalls and prasad vendors. The temple is small but richly decorated and the deity is lavishly adorned. The narrow lanes leading to the temple give a flavour of old Bombay's Koli fishing and trade community. The adjacent Haji Ali Dargah is visible across the water from the temple headland — the two shrines serve the city's Hindu and Muslim populations in parallel.