Madh Island, Mumbai: quick answers to common questions

Madh Island is a group of fishing villages and farmland on the north-west edge of Mumbai, with the Arabian Sea to the west and Malad creek to the east.¹³ These are the questions people ask about it most, with short answers and where each answer comes from.

Where it is

• Where is Madh Island? In Malad West, in the Mumbai Suburban District, at the north-west edge of the city.¹⁴ It sits between the Arabian Sea and Malad (Versova) creek, across the creek from Versova in Andheri.³⁴
• Is Madh Island in Mumbai? Yes. It's part of Mumbai, in the BMC's P/North ward (Malad).¹⁷
• What is the PIN code of Madh Island? The Madh post office's PIN code is 400061.⁸
• What are the villages on Madh Island? Madh, Bhati, Erangal, Dana Pani and Aksa are the best known: see the villages of Madh Island.
• Is "Mud Island" in Mumbai? People sometimes write Madh as "Mud". If you're looking for Mud Island in Mumbai, you almost certainly mean Madh Island, in Malad West.

The name, and the island

• Is Madh Island really an island? Not any more. It was once a true island, separated from Malad by creeks. Land reclaimed in the 20th century joined it to Malad, and today it's a peninsula.¹²
• Why is it called Madh Island? Because it was an island when the name took hold. A 2016 study for Maharashtra's archaeology department notes that Madh was "an Island in true sense" not long ago, and that roads joined the reclaimed land to the rest of the city only in the 20th century.²
• What does Madh mean? We couldn't find a reliable source that explains the name, so we won't guess. Old records spell it in more than one way: one chronicle gives "Madh (Mhad)".² In Marathi it is मढ, and the island is मढ बेट: see Madh Island in Marathi.

Getting there

• How far is Madh Island from Malad? About 13 to 15 km from Malad railway station by road.³⁴ Autos, app cabs and BEST buses run from the station.⁴
• Which bus goes to Madh Island? BEST bus 271 runs from Malad Station (West) to Madh Jetty, by way of Aksa, Erangal and Bhati.⁵ The air-conditioned A-269, often listed as 269, runs from Borivali Station (West) to Madh Jetty.⁴⁶
• How far is Madh Island from Andheri or Versova? By ferry it's a crossing of about five minutes from Versova jetty.⁴ By road, round through Malad, it's about 20 to 22 km,⁴¹¹ and the drive can be slow in traffic. More in how to reach Madh Island.
• How far is it from the airport? About 22 km from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.³
• Is there a bridge to Madh Island? Not yet. A bridge across the creek from Versova is planned: see the Versova–Madh bridge for where it stands.

Beaches, the fort and things to do

• What are the beaches on Madh Island? Aksa, Dana Pani, Erangal, Silver and Madh.¹³ See Madh Island's beaches and Aksa Beach.
• Can you swim at Madh Island's beaches? No. BMC lists Aksa (Dana Pani) among Mumbai's beaches that are unsafe for swimming, and says no beach can be called permanently safe.⁹ Enjoy them from the sand.
• Can you visit Madh Fort? Not inside. The fort, also called Versova Fort, is in a defence area and closed to the public.¹⁰ You can see it from outside: see Madh Fort.
• What is there to do on Madh Island? Take the ferry, walk the beaches at sunset, see the 16th-century St Bonaventure Church at Erangal,³ and eat in the fishing villages. See things to do on Madh Island.
• Why are so many films shot on Madh Island? Its bungalows and beaches are often hired for films and TV serials, and many Bollywood films and soap operas have been shot here.³⁴ See weddings and shoots on Madh Island.

Staying on Madh Island

• How much does a bungalow on Madh Island cost? It depends on the bungalow, the season and the day of the week, and we don't print prices we can't check. Ask the owner directly: bungalows and stays listed on Madh Local show their own contact details.
• Is Madh Island good for a day trip? Yes, if you plan around the ferry or the road. Come early, avoid the monsoon months for the beaches, and stay out of the sea.⁹

For the island's long story, read a history of Madh Island.