Hello, history buffs and adventure seekers! Mumbai is a large archipelago that includes islands like Mahim, Madh, and Worli. These islands tell stories of their salt-sprayed past, which includes colonial forts and historic fishing communities. Bike rent in mumbai and take the 25-kilometer Island Explorer track from Mahim to Madh Island if you're hungry for a trip that combines forgotten tales with coastal breezes.
This journey traverses Mumbai's lesser-known islands, showcasing the mangrove-lined coastline, eroding walls, and Koli culture. RentnHop offers bike rentals in mumbai that will allow you to experience the city's maritime heritage while travelling through time. Are you up for riding a bike across the island essence of Mumbai? Let's get started on our April 2025 spring excursion.
Why Bike Mumbai's Island Heritage?
The seven islands that make up Mumbai—Mahim, Worli, Parel, Mazgaon, Colaba, Old Woman's Island, and Bombay—were joined by reclamation and are the city's original location. The history of Portuguese forts, British commerce, and Koli fishermen is still present in communities like Mahim and Madh Island. The best way to discover this legacy is to hire a bike in Mumbai, which will allow you to avoid city traffic, go through little hamlet roads, and stop for views of the sea without having to pay for a cab.
RentnHop, one of the best places to choose bike on rent in mumbai, offers hybrid bikes for ₹250 per day (with a ₹2,000 deposit) at their Mahim location. The robust locks, complimentary helmets, and speedy reservations offered by their app make it ideal for island hopping. Biking allows you to experience Mumbai's coastline charm, including fish shops, sea air, and waves breaking at the beginning of spring, while also saving you more than 1,500 rupees on taxi rates. Additionally, it's environmentally friendly, keeping your vehicle light on the busy city's ecology.
The Route: A 25 km Island-Hopping Loop
This 25 km one-way Island Explorer trail starts at Mahim, weaves through Mumbai's historic islands, and ends at Madh Island, taking 3-4 hours with stops. It's moderately flat with some village paths, ideal for adventurers and history lovers. Prefer a round trip? Double back for 50 km. Here's the journey:
Stop 1: Mahim Island (Mahim Causeway)
Start your journey at the historic Mahim Causeway, which connects Mahim Island to Mumbai's mainland. RentnHop's Mahim location, which is close to Mahim Station, offers bike rent in mumbai. Start at 7 AM, when the causeway is full of early risers and the April wind is brisk at 25 to 28°C. Pass Mahim Fort, a Portuguese remaining from the 16th century that overlooks the bay, as you pedal west down Lady Jamshedji Road.
Explore the fort's worn ramparts for fifteen minutes, then take a picture of the fishing boats waving below. The narrative of this historic island is made more colourful by the colourful nets used by the Koli fishing tribe. To start your journey, get a kanda bhaji (30) from a local stall.
Stop 2: Worli Island (Worli Village, 5 km)
Worli Village, once a stand-alone island belonging to the Koli people, is located 5 km south of Worli Seaface. Views of the cables of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link may be seen from the calm beachfront road. Arrive around 7:45 AM, park your bike (the locks at RentnHop are excellent), and explore the winding alleys of Worli Koliwada, where the air smells of fish-drying racks.
See the Worli Fort, a viewpoint with views of the sea and decaying walls from the British era. Take in the village atmosphere for twenty minutes, watching the children playing by the coast and the locals mending nets. Enjoy a vendor's coconut water (₹50) and experience Worli's island origins, unaffected by Mumbai's skyscrapers.
Stop 3: Bandra Island (Bandra Reclamation, 7 km)
Pedal 7 km north via Bandra-Worli Sea Link's access road and Bandra Reclamation to Bandra, historically part of Salsette Island's southern tip. Arrive around 8:30 AM, parking near Bandstand Promenade. This “island” is now a hip suburb, but its heritage shines at Bandra Fort (Castella de Aguada), a Portuguese watchtower by the sea.
Spend 25 minutes exploring the fort's stone arches and snapping Mount Mary Church against the waves with bike on rent in mumbai. Bandra's blend of colonial history and Bollywood glamour—spot celebrity homes nearby—makes it a lively stop. Grab a cutting chai (₹20) from a roadside tapri to refuel.
Stop 4: Madh Island (Madh Village, 13 km)
To reach Madh Island, a peaceful isle off the northwest coast of Mumbai, ride 13 km north via Versova and Marve Road. The salty wind leads you past fishing villages and mangroves along the way. Arrive at approximately ten in the morning and park close to Madh Fort, a seaside Portuguese fortress from the 17th century. Explore the fort's walls, which still have cannons pointing towards the horizon, for thirty minutes.
Explore the Koli alleyways of Madh Village, which are alive with vibrant boats and fish auctions. Spend some peaceful time at the peaceful Madh Church or dip your toes in the neighbouring beach. Get a fish fry (₹100) from a neighbourhood shack to experience the flavours of the island. The unadulterated beauty of Madh seems very different from the bustle of Mumbai.
Why This Trail Shines
This Island Explorer trail is Mumbai's archipelago laid bare—a journey through time and tides. Mahim sets the stage with Koli grit, Worli blends village roots with seafront charm, Bandra dazzles with colonial and modern flair, and Madh delivers serene heritage. A bike on rent in mumbai lets you hop these islands, pausing for fish curries or fort views, all while feeling the city's maritime heartbeat.
RentnHop's bikes make it practical: their Mahim outlet is trail-adjacent, and ₹250/day undercuts cab costs significantly. Biking's eco-friendly, easing your footprint in a coastal ecosystem, and the 25 km route is perfect for adventurers, history nerds, and anyone craving Mumbai's salt-sprayed soul.
The Bigger Picture
This Island Explorer path delves deeply into Mumbai's island DNA and is more than simply a ride. The stories of Bandra's colonial chill, Worli's fishing tradition, Madh's eternal escape, and Mahim's Koli determination are all told at each stop. In addition to saving money (a day's ride is less expensive than a taxi), RentnHop's bike rental in mumbai allows you to experience the city's marine history, complete with saline cool breezes, historic forts, and lively towns. For adventurers, culture eagles, and anybody else desiring a taste of the city's seaside core, the 25-kilometer route is ideal. With pictures, anecdotes, and a passion for Mumbai's island heritage, you'll cycle away.
CONCLUSION
The secret to answering the call of Mumbai's islands is renting a bike in the city. This 25-kilometer Island Explorer trek from Mahim to Madh Island is a salt-sprayed heaven when accompanied by RentnHop's dependable bikes. As you pedal past mangroves, towns, and forts, let the sea nourish your spirit. Get on your bike, explore the history, and learn why the islands of Mumbai are so magical.
