Marine Drive

Marine Drive is a 3.6-kilometre C-shaped coastal promenade in South Mumbai built on reclaimed land as part of the Backbay Reclamation Scheme. Officially named Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, it is popularly known as the Queen's Necklace because its streetlights resemble a string of pearls when viewed at night. The boulevard features Art Deco buildings, palm trees, and tetrapod shoreline defenses, serving as a major public space connecting Nariman Point to Girgaon Chowpatty.

Visitors can expect a paved seaside walkway with views of the Arabian Sea and Mumbai's skyline. The promenade is lined with palm trees and historic Art Deco buildings. Tetrapods protect the shoreline along the curve. Visitors often sit on the parapet wall or benches to watch sunsets and enjoy sea breezes. Street food stalls are available near Girgaon Chowpatty at the northern end. At night, the curved line of streetlights creates the famous Queen's Necklace effect visible from elevated points.

Marine Drive was constructed on reclaimed land as part of the Backbay Reclamation Scheme initiated in the 1920s. The road and promenade were built by Pallonji Mistry and completed in 1940. It was originally known as Kennedy Sea Face, named after engineer John Pitt Kennedy who designed it. The Art Deco buildings along the drive, constructed between 1937 and 1939, are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai'.

Marine Drive is an iconic symbol of Mumbai's urban identity and civic life. It serves as a gathering place for residents across social strata and hosts major events including the annual Mumbai Marathon and cultural festivals. The Queen's Necklace imagery is deeply embedded in Mumbai's cultural consciousness and represents the city's resilience and vibrancy.