Explore Mahim Koliwada Seafood Plaza | Authentic Koli Cuisine Historic Fishing Village & Seafood Hub

Introduction to Mahim Koliwada

Mahim Koliwada is one of Mumbai’s traditional fishing settlements, home to the indigenous Koli community that has lived along this coast for generations.[1] Tucked beside Mahim Bay and the Mahim Causeway, it offers a rare window into the city’s maritime roots amid rapid urban growth.[1]

Origins and History

Mahim was once one of the original seven islands of Bombay and emerged as an important centre during the rule of local dynasties and later coastal trade networks. Over time, Koli fishing hamlets clustered along the shore evolved into what is now known as Mahim Koliwada, with its own markets, shrines, and neighbourhood names.

The Four Neighbourhoods of Mahim Koliwada

Locals broadly describe Mahim Koliwada as comprising four main areas: Sulup, Mori Road, Kapad Bazaar, and the Mahim fishermen’s colony. Each pocket has its own character, from the bustling fish-market axis of Kapad Bazaar to the older lanes closer to Mahim Bay in Sulup.

Life of the Koli Community

The Kolis of Mahim have traditionally fished in the relatively sheltered waters of Mahim Bay and Mithi Creek, using small boats known as hodya.

Older residents recall a time when the water was so clear they could see the sea floor, a clarity they describe as “kaanch pani” in their dialect.

Commonly caught seafood here has included boi (flathead grey mullet), black crabs, clams, pearl oysters, and occasionally the prized ghol fish. These species supported not only daily household consumption but also a vibrant local trade that linked Mahim to other parts of the city.

Seafood, Markets, and Food Culture

Fishing shapes the entire food culture of Mahim Koliwada, from early-morning auctions at the landing points to lunch plates piled with fried and curried fish.
Historically, local innovations such as using free goat tripe from a nearby slaughterhouse as bait in crab traps helped make Mahim’s crabs famous across the city.

Kapad Bazaar and the adjoining lanes function as a central marketplace where fish, daily provisions, and marine-related gear circulate side by side.
For visitors, walking through these streets during peak hours reveals the sounds of bargaining, the smell of drying fish, and the sight of nets being mended in doorways.

Beliefs, Shrines, and Local Legends

Mahim Koliwada’s cultural landscape is dotted with shrines that reflect the community’s mixed spiritual influences and seafaring anxieties.
One local legend centres on Murdum Baba, a figure believed to patrol the Koliwada on horseback at night from his dargah to the causeway, protecting honest fishermen.

An enduring anecdote says that Murdum Baba would secretly place mud in the baskets of virtuous fishers, which turned into gold when they reached home.

Changing Coastline and Environmental Pressures

In recent decades, Mahim Bay and Mithi Creek have seen heavy pollution and reclamation, significantly impacting fish populations and Koli livelihoods.
Elder fishermen describe a sharp decline in marine diversity compared to the past, when mud and sand crabs, clams, and fish were far more abundant.

Urban infrastructure projects and industrial effluents have altered tidal flows and water quality, making traditional nearshore fishing more uncertain.
These environmental changes not only reduce income but also threaten an intimate body of ecological knowledge built up over generations.

Urban Regeneration and Housing Challenges

Discussions around urban regeneration and redevelopment frequently raise questions of who benefits from “beautification” and whether fishing communities can remain in place.
For Mahim’s Kolis, secure tenure, functional infrastructure, and the ability to continue marine-related work are central concerns.

Festivals and Community Celebrations

Festivals in Mahim Koliwada blend Koli customs with broader coastal and urban traditions, often centred on the sea and local deities. Processions, music, and decorated boats during key occasions highlight the community’s pride in its maritime identity and shared history.


What Local Tourists Can Experience

Food-lovers can seek out local eateries or home-style stalls that serve fresh fish thalis, fried crab, and Koli-style preparations made from the day’s catch.

Responsible and Respectful Visiting

Supporting small vendors, buying fish directly from Koli families, and listening when residents share stories helps keep economic and cultural value within the community.Such mindful tourism can create a more balanced relationship between visitors and hosts, rather than turning the Koliwada into a backdrop.


Why Mahim Koliwada Matters to Mumbai

Mahim Koliwada encapsulates crucial themes in Mumbai’s story: indigenous settlement, coastal ecology, fishing economies, and uneven urban development.
As the city continues to densify and gentrify its waterfronts, places like this stand as reminders of older relationships between people, sea, and land.