Andheri located in Mumbai Suburbs – A detailed guide to its neighbourhoods, railway station, metro connectivity, schools, colleges, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, markets, gaothans, communities and civic services.
Andheri is one of Mumbai's largest and most intensely urbanised suburban areas. It is not simply a residential suburb: it combines a major railway interchange, metro corridors, Mumbai's international airport, corporate and industrial districts, film and television activity, shopping areas, old villages and gaothans, premium residential neighbourhoods and some of the city's most important educational and medical institutions.
The character of Andheri changes dramatically from one side of the railway line to the other. Andheri West is strongly associated with D.N. Nagar, Amboli, Four Bungalows, Versova, Lokhandwala and the coastal Koli settlement of Versova. Andheri East stretches through Chakala, Gundavali, Mogra, Marol, Kondivita, MIDC and the SEEPZ area, and has a much stronger concentration of offices, industrial estates, hotels and airport-related activity.
The Mumbai Suburban District administration recognises Andheri as a taluka, while the BMC's K/East and K/West administrative wards cover Andheri East and Andheri West respectively.
Table of Contents
- Where is Andheri?
- Andheri Railway Station – The Heart of the Suburb
- Andheri Metro Connectivity
- The Old Villages and Gaothans of Andheri
- Communities of Andheri
- Important Schools in Andheri
- Important Colleges and Higher-Education Institutions
- Important Hospitals and Healthcare Services
- Important Hotels in Andheri
- Restaurants and Food Destinations Worth Knowing
- Markets and Shopping
- Major Business and Employment Districts
- Airport Connectivity
- Important Landmarks
- Civic and Government Services
- Why Andheri Feels Increasingly Crowded
- What Makes Andheri Different from Other Mumbai Suburbs?
1. Where is Andheri?
Andheri lies in Mumbai's western suburbs between Vile Parle and Jogeshwari. The railway line broadly divides the suburb into Andheri East and Andheri West, although the actual neighbourhoods extend considerably beyond the immediate railway station area.
Andheri West
- Andheri Station West
- Andheri Market
- Amboli
- D.N. Nagar
- Azad Nagar
- Four Bungalows
- Versova
- Aram Nagar
- Lokhandwala Complex
- Oshiwara
- Seven Bungalows
- Versova Koliwada
Andheri East
- Andheri Station East
- Gundavali
- Mogra
- Chakala
- J.B. Nagar
- Marol
- Marol Gaothan
- Kondivita
- MIDC
- Sher-e-Punjab Colony
- Mahakali
- Sakinaka-side commercial belt
- SEEPZ
- Sahar and the airport precinct
The postal codes vary considerably across the wider Andheri area, including 400053, 400058, 400059, 400069, 400093, 400096 and 400099.
2. Andheri Railway Station – The Heart of the Suburb
Andheri railway station is the most important transport node in the area.
The station is on the Western Railway suburban network, with fast and slow suburban services connecting Andheri with Churchgate, Dadar, Bandra, Borivali, Virar and other destinations.
It is also an important Harbour Line interchange, with Harbour Line services connecting Andheri with areas towards Goregaon and the Central Railway network through the Harbour corridor.
The importance of Andheri station is not limited to trains. The station area connects:
- Western Railway suburban trains
- Harbour Line services
- Mumbai Metro
- BEST buses
- Auto-rickshaws
- Taxis and app-based cabs
- Pedestrian routes between Andheri East and West
Because of this concentration of transport, the area around Andheri station is one of the busiest pedestrian and commercial zones in the western suburbs.
The Two Sides of the Station
Andheri West Exit
- Andheri Market
- S.V. Road
- J.P. Road
- D.N. Nagar
- Amboli
- Lokhandwala
- Four Bungalows
- Versova
Andheri East Exit
- M.V. Road
- Teli Gully
- Gundavali
- Chakala
- MIDC
- Marol
- J.B. Nagar
- Airport-side areas
The station therefore functions almost like a dividing line between two very different urban environments.
3. Andheri Metro Connectivity
Andheri is unusual in Mumbai because several metro corridors connect directly or indirectly through the suburb.
Metro Line 1 – Versova–Andheri–Ghatkopar
The original Metro Line 1 runs:
Versova ? D.N. Nagar ? Azad Nagar ? Andheri ? Western Express Highway ? Chakala ? Airport Road ? Marol Naka ? Saki Naka ? Asalpha Road ? Jagruti Nagar ? Ghatkopar.
The 11.40-km corridor connects the eastern and western suburbs and provides interchange with the suburban railway at Andheri.
This makes Andheri particularly useful for people travelling between the Western and Eastern suburbs without going through South Mumbai.
Metro Line 2A
The Yellow Line reaches Andheri West, with D.N. Nagar providing an interchange with Metro Line 1. The corridor runs along the western suburban side towards Dahisar.
Metro Line 7
The Red Line approaches Andheri East through Gundavali, Mogra and Jogeshwari East, with interchange connections around the Andheri and Western Express Highway area.
The growing metro network has transformed Andheri into one of Mumbai's most important multimodal transport areas.
4. The Old Villages and Gaothans of Andheri
One of the most interesting aspects of Andheri is that the modern high-rise suburb still contains pockets of its older village landscape.
The word gaothan refers to the traditional village settlement area. These settlements often have narrow lanes, older independent houses, community spaces, religious structures and a built form very different from the surrounding apartment towers.
Marol Gaothan
Marol is perhaps the best example of Andheri East's old village character.
The historic Marol Gaothan contains old houses, narrow lanes, crosses and community structures associated particularly with Mumbai's East Indian Christian heritage.
The East Indian community of Marol has preserved elements of its traditional culture despite rapid redevelopment around the settlement. Traditional East Indian life, Marathi influence and Portuguese cultural traces remain visible in parts of the settlement.
Marol also has the historic St. John the Evangelist Church, established in the 19th century, which has long been an important institution for the local community.
A particularly interesting part of Marol is Oleria, one of the zones within the gaothan. Its painted walls, old houses and narrow lanes have been used to preserve and display aspects of the area's East Indian heritage.
Why Marol Matters
Marol is an excellent example of the transformation of Mumbai:
Village ? Agricultural Settlement ? Suburban Development ? Industrial District ? Corporate and Airport-Oriented Business Hub.
Today, modern offices, hotels, Metro connectivity and high-rise residential projects surround remnants of the old village.
Gundavali Gaothan
Close to Andheri East station is Gundavali, another historic settlement.
Gundavali is a centuries-old gaothan situated surprisingly close to the heavily congested Andheri station area. The settlement historically had strong East Indian connections and was once associated with farming and agricultural landholding.
Today, the original village settlement is surrounded by:
- Western Express Highway
- Metro infrastructure
- Commercial buildings
- Apartment towers
- Shops and markets
- Transport infrastructure
The contrast is striking: within a short distance of the Andheri station crowds and modern towers, narrow lanes of the older village survive.
Amboli and Other Western-Side Gaothans
Andheri West also retains traces of its older village landscape.
Amboli historically had an East Indian presence, agricultural land and orchards. The old St. Blaise Church is an important landmark associated with the area's history.
The traditional settlements around Andheri West have increasingly been surrounded by apartment buildings and commercial development. Some older village lanes and community structures, however, remain visible.
5. Communities of Andheri
Andheri is one of Mumbai's most cosmopolitan suburbs, but its present-day diversity should not obscure its older communities.
East Indian Community
The East Indian community has particularly strong historical connections with:
- Marol
- Gundavali
- Amboli
- Sahar
- Versova and surrounding villages
The East Indians are an indigenous Christian community of the Mumbai region, with a distinctive cultural tradition combining Christianity with strong Marathi and local influences.
Marol continues to retain important evidence of this heritage.
Koli Community
The strongest indigenous fishing-community presence within Andheri is associated with Versova Koliwada.
Versova's Koli community has traditionally depended on fishing and the sea. The annual Koli seafood festivals have also helped showcase local cuisine and culture to the wider city.
Versova Koliwada is therefore not simply another residential settlement; it represents one of Mumbai's surviving traditional fishing villages.
Marathi-Speaking Residents
Marathi-speaking families have long been part of Andheri's residential and commercial landscape, particularly around older neighbourhoods and traditional settlements.
Gujarati, Jain and Business Communities
Andheri West and parts of Andheri East also have sizeable Gujarati and Jain commercial and residential presence, particularly around established markets, housing societies and business districts.
Muslim and South Indian Communities
Parts of Andheri East, particularly around Marol and Chakala, have significant Muslim and South Indian cultural presence. Contemporary Andheri East is highly mixed rather than belonging to one single community.
The important point for visitors is that Andheri's identity is genuinely layered: old village communities, migrants, professionals, students, industrial workers, film workers and corporate employees now live within the same broad suburb.
6. Important Schools in Andheri
Important Colleges and Higher-Education Institutions
| College / Institution | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bhavan's College | J.P. Road, Old D.N. Nagar, Munshi Nagar, Andheri West, Mumbai – 400058 | Major autonomous degree college offering Arts, Science and Commerce education; part of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan campus. |
| S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) | Bhavan's Campus, Munshi Nagar, Dadabhai Road, Andheri West, Mumbai – 400058 | One of India's prominent business schools; located within the Bhavan's campus. |
| Shri G.P.M. Degree College of Science and Commerce | Teli Gali, Bima Nagar, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400069 | Degree college serving students from Andheri East, Teli Gully, Gundavali and surrounding areas. |
| M.V.L.U. College | Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Road, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400069 | Established higher-education institution in the Andheri East area. |
| Mithibai College (Near Andheri) | Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg, V.L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle West, Mumbai – 400056 | Major autonomous college; technically located in Vile Parle West but easily accessible from Andheri. |
| SVKM's NMIMS (Near Andheri) | V.L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle West, Mumbai – 400056 | Major university and professional-education institution; located in neighbouring Vile Parle rather than Andheri. |
8. Important Hospitals and Healthcare Services
Important Hospitals and Healthcare Institutions
| Hospital | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute | Rao Saheb Achutrao Patwardhan Marg, Four Bungalows, Andheri West, Mumbai – 400053 | Major multispeciality tertiary-care hospital; important healthcare landmark for Andheri, Versova, Lokhandwala and surrounding western suburbs. |
| Holy Spirit Hospital | Mahakali Caves Road, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400093 | Major multispeciality hospital serving Andheri East, Chakala, Marol and surrounding neighbourhoods. |
| CritiCare Asia Hospital – Andheri | Plot No. 516, beside SBI, Teli Gali, Maheshwari Nagar, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400069 | Multispeciality hospital conveniently located near Teli Gully, Gundavali and central Andheri East. |
9. Important Hotels in Andheri
There are more good Hotels in Andheri but below few of them listed.
| Hotel | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Radisson Blu Mumbai International Airport | Off Marol Maroshi Road, near Marol Naka Metro Station, Marol, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400059 | Upscale airport-area hotel; convenient for Mumbai International Airport, Marol, MIDC and business travellers. |
| Radisson Hotel Mumbai Andheri MIDC | X-22, MIDC Central Road, Hanuman Nagar, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400093 | Business-oriented hotel located within the MIDC commercial and industrial district. |
| Goldfinch Hotel Mumbai | Plot No. 34, 21 MIDC Central Road, Chakala Industrial Area, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400093 | Business and leisure hotel in the Chakala-MIDC area, close to corporate offices and Metro connectivity. |
| The Mirador | 131/B, New Link Road, opposite Solitaire Corporate Park, Chakala, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400099 | Hotel serving airport passengers and business travellers working around Chakala, Andheri East and nearby commercial districts. |
| Hotel Karl Residency | 36, Lallubhai Park Road, Andheri West, Mumbai – 400058 | Established hotel in Andheri West, convenient for Andheri station, Vile Parle, Juhu and western-suburban neighbourhoods. |
Restaurants and Food Destinations Worth Knowing
There are many good restaurants but below few of them listed.
| Restaurant / Food Destination | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Jamavar – Mumbai | The Leela Mumbai, Andheri-Kurla Road, Sahar, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400059 | High-end Indian restaurant known for sophisticated regional Indian cuisine; located within The Leela Mumbai near the airport. |
| Banjara | Goldfinch Hotel, Plot No. 34, MIDC Central Road, Chakala Industrial Area, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400093 | Restaurant within Goldfinch Hotel serving the MIDC and Chakala business district. |
| Nebo Fête House | Bimco House, Ground Floor, Andheri-Kurla Road, opposite Sangam Cinema, near J.B. Nagar Metro, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400059 | Restaurant and casual dining destination in the J.B. Nagar–Andheri East area. |
| Joey's Pizza – D.N. Nagar | Near D.N. Nagar Metro Station, Andheri West, Mumbai | Popular casual dining and pizza destination associated with the D.N. Nagar area. |
| Versova Koliwada Seafood | Versova Koliwada, Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai | Traditional local seafood destination where visitors can experience Koli-style fish and seafood cuisine. |
11. Markets and Shopping
Andheri West Market
The traditional market around Andheri West station is one of the area's busiest everyday shopping districts.
Location: Andheri Market Road, Fish Market area, Andheri West, Mumbai – 400058.
It serves the surrounding residential population with:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Fish
- Meat
- Groceries
- Clothing
- Household goods
- Small restaurants and food stalls
The market area is considerably more local and functional than the large shopping malls elsewhere in the suburb.
Lokhandwala Market
Location: Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West, Mumbai – 400053.
Lokhandwala is known for its combination of:
- Fashion stores
- Cafés
- Restaurants
- Salons
- Grocery stores
- Boutiques
- Residential towers
The market has a very different atmosphere from the traditional Andheri station market.
Marol Market
The Marol Municipal Market is an important neighbourhood market serving the East Indian, Marathi, Muslim and other communities living in and around Marol.
The BMC has undertaken redevelopment of the market, including space for licensed vegetable and fish vendors and modern market facilities.
12. Major Business and Employment Districts
Andheri East is one of Mumbai's major employment zones.
MIDC Andheri
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area around Andheri East contains a mixture of industrial establishments, corporate offices, hotels and service businesses.
Important roads include:
- MIDC Central Road
- Mahakali Caves Road
- Andheri-Kurla Road
- Marol Maroshi Road
- Cardinal Gracious Road
SEEPZ
The Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) is one of the most important employment districts associated with Andheri East.
Despite its name, SEEPZ is located in the Andheri East–Mahakali/Marol area rather than near Santacruz.
The area's corporate concentration has made Andheri East a major destination for IT, technology, export-oriented and business-service employment.
Metro Line 1 was specifically designed to improve access to MIDC and SEEPZ.
13. Airport Connectivity
Andheri East is immediately associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
The airport precinct includes:
- Terminal 1
- Terminal 2
- Sahar
- Vile Parle East-side access
- Airport hotels
- Airline offices
- Cargo and logistics facilities
The airport's proximity is one of the major reasons for the large concentration of hotels and business establishments in Andheri East.
14. Important Landmarks
Gilbert Hill
One of Andheri West's most unusual geographical landmarks is Gilbert Hill, a vertical column of basalt rising above the surrounding urban landscape.
It is a rare geological feature within a heavily developed part of Mumbai.
ISKCON Temple, Juhu
Although administratively in the neighbouring Juhu area, the ISKCON temple at Juhu is one of the major religious and cultural landmarks easily accessible from Andheri West.
It is particularly close to areas such as Four Bungalows, Versova and Lokhandwala.
Versova Beach
Versova's coastal area is one of the major recreational spaces associated with western Andheri.
It is also closely connected to the historic Versova village and Koliwada, making the area culturally more significant than a conventional city beach.
Versova Koliwada
This is one of the most important surviving indigenous settlements in western Mumbai.
It retains:
- Fishing activity
- Community houses
- Traditional wells
- Religious spaces
- Seafood traditions
- Koli cultural practices
The Koliwada's old wells and community spaces are important elements of the settlement's heritage.
Mahakali Caves
Located on the eastern side of Andheri, the Mahakali Caves are an important archaeological and Buddhist heritage site.
Their presence is a reminder that the area around modern Andheri East has a history much older than the railway, airport and corporate districts.
15. Civic and Government Services
BMC K/West Ward Office
Address: Paliram Road, opposite Andheri Bus Depot, near Swami Vivekanand Road, Andheri West, Mumbai – 400058.
K/West covers:
- Andheri West
- Jogeshwari West
- Vile Parle West
BMC K/East Ward Office
Address: Azad Road, Gundavali, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400069.
K/East covers:
- Andheri East
- Jogeshwari East
- Vile Parle East
Residents should therefore identify whether their civic complaint belongs to K/East or K/West before approaching the BMC ward administration.
Andheri Police Station
Address: Opposite Andheri Railway Station, Vertex Junction, Andheri East, Mumbai.
The police station serves the central Andheri area and is located immediately around the important railway and commercial transport zone.
Regional Transport Office – MH-02
The Mumbai West Regional Transport Office (MH-02) is located at:
D-111, Ambivli Village, New Manish Nagar, Versova Road, Mumbai – 400053.
It handles vehicle and driving-licence related services for its jurisdiction.
16. Why Andheri Feels Increasingly Crowded
Andheri's congestion is not simply because there are many residents.
Several different flows converge here:
- Western Railway passengers
- Harbour Line passengers
- Metro passengers
- Airport travellers
- Office workers travelling to MIDC and SEEPZ
- Students attending schools and colleges
- Shoppers visiting Andheri and Lokhandwala markets
- Residents travelling between East and West
- Commercial vehicles
- Auto-rickshaws and taxis
- Delivery vehicles
- Construction and redevelopment traffic
The result is that some parts of Andheri experience intense crowding even when the residential density alone does not explain it.
The Andheri station–S.V. Road–Andheri East interchange area is particularly congested because several transport systems and commercial activities converge within a very small area.
Civic reporting has also highlighted traffic congestion, water issues, waste management, encroachment, subway flooding and infrastructure pressures in the wider K-East area.
17. What Makes Andheri Different from Other Mumbai Suburbs?
Andheri's importance comes from the combination of functions, rather than from any single landmark.
It is simultaneously:
- A railway interchange
- A metro interchange
- An airport gateway
- An employment centre
- An educational hub
- A healthcare destination
- A shopping district
- A hotel district
- A residential suburb
- A film and entertainment centre
- A collection of surviving historic villages
Few Mumbai suburbs contain such a sharp contrast between centuries-old gaothans and modern corporate towers within the same broad locality.
For a visitor, Andheri is therefore not one single neighbourhood to explore. It is better understood as a collection of distinct areas:
- Andheri Station – the transport hub
- D.N. Nagar – metro, residential and commercial Andheri West
- Lokhandwala – premium residential and shopping district
- Versova – beach, Koliwada and entertainment
- Amboli – old village heritage mixed with dense urban development
- Gundavali – historic gaothan beside modern transport infrastructure
- Chakala – corporate, hotel and airport-side district
- Marol – old village, East Indian heritage and modern business development
- MIDC – industrial and corporate Andheri East
- SEEPZ – major employment and export-oriented business zone
This diversity is what makes Andheri one of the most representative examples of Mumbai's transformation from village settlements into a megacity.
Andheri at a Glance
| Category | Important Places / Information |
|---|---|
| Main railway station | Andheri |
| Railway network | Western Railway + Harbour Line |
| Major Metro | Line 1, Line 2A and Line 7 connections |
| Major airport | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport |
| Major business districts | MIDC, SEEPZ, Chakala, Marol |
| Major western neighbourhoods | D.N. Nagar, Amboli, Four Bungalows, Versova, Lokhandwala |
| Major eastern neighbourhoods | Gundavali, Chakala, J.B. Nagar, Marol, Kondivita, MIDC |
| Historic settlements | Marol Gaothan, Gundavali Gaothan, Amboli, Versova Koliwada |
| Major college | Bhavan's College |
| Major management institute | SPJIMR |
| Major hospitals | Kokilaben Hospital, Holy Spirit Hospital, CritiCare |
| Traditional market | Andheri West Market |
| Major modern market | Lokhandwala Market |
| Indigenous community heritage | East Indians, Versova Kolis |
| Important archaeological site | Mahakali Caves |
| Geological landmark | Gilbert Hill |
| Major beach | Versova Beach |
| BMC ward – West | K/West |
| BMC ward – East | K/East |
| RTO | MH-02 |
Sources and Verification
The information in this guide should be maintained using authoritative and reliable sources wherever possible. Government departments, institutional websites and established Mumbai publications should be preferred for addresses, administrative boundaries, transport infrastructure, heritage and community history.
- Mumbai Suburban District Administration
- Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC)
- Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA)
- Western Railway
- Maharashtra Transport Department
- Official websites of individual schools, colleges and hospitals
- Established Mumbai publications for heritage and community-history reporting
Addresses and operational details of institutions and businesses should be periodically checked because establishments can relocate, change ownership or modify their contact details.
