Birthed during colonialism and awash with history, here's a peek into Mumbai's 133-YO Dhobi Ghat

There are so many glorious sights in Mumbai, which have held the fascination of travellers for centuries. You'll find everything from beaches to picnic spots and picturesque standouts, marking the city's corners. And today we are going to talk about one such place.

Chaotic at first glance, Mumbai’s 133-year-old Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat reveals a hidden order with deeper perusal. Known as the world’s largest open-air laundromat, thousands of dhobis stand knees-deep in chemical-infused water, manually scrubbing the dirt out of laundry. Besides, Dhobi Ghat is also a Grade II B Heritage Structure, where more than 100,000 garments are washed, ironed, and bleached every day.

Built during the British Raj in 1890, Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat speaks volumes of the history of 'Bombay'. This ghat started off as a central laundry system in the city and gradually grew to become the main source of income, for hundreds of families.

From hospitals to hotels and spas, laundry from around the city arrives at Mumbai’s famous government-regulated Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat, to be washed by almost 7000 dhobis every day. If you try to look through, you’ll find colours fluttering in the wind. Blue, red, green and all shades of white, clustered together, in rows, criss-crossing each other. A bunch of thin sheets hung over wires, shining under the sun highlighting the day’s labour. 

Further, Dhobi Ghat also holds a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, for having 496 laundry workers wash clothes collectively. This set a record for the 'largest gathering of people hand-washing clothes at a single location.'

Here, you can witness washerman pounding their dirty laundry against stones, placed strategically to remove dirt, stains and bacteria, without any electricity.

At Dhobi Ghat, you will also be greeted by rows and rows of Dhobi Thalis - which are used by washermen to separate and clean different types of clothing.

Further, after all the hard work, the clothes are stacked together, steamed with the help of a bulky charcoal iron, folded and piled for the owners. Veterans claim that to date, no laundry item has ever been lost or misplaced.

Mumbai, the City of Dreams, houses the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor, with the middle-class citizens sandwiched in between. This contrast is starkly visible at Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat, with tall buildings rising right behind it.

However, now 42-storey-high rehabilitation towers are being set up in Mumbai, that will provide homes to those living in slums, near the Dhobi Ghat. Currently, around 1000 families have received keys to their new homes during the Phase 1 handover.

So if you plan to visit, plod here between 07 AM and 10PM, to find hundreds of washermen at work. And if you're into photography, these premises will be your wonderland.

Address: 1, Anandilal P Marg, Dhobi Ghat, Shanti Nagar, Lower Parel, Dr. E. Moses Road, near Mahalakshmi Station (the 6th station on the Western Line from Churchgate), Mumbai