Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Mumbai

Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Mumbai

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, better known as the Mount Mary Church, is a Roman Catholic Basilica with a history dating back to the 16th century when Jesuit priests from Portugal brought the wooden statue of Mother Mary here.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, better known as the Mount Mary Church, is a Roman Catholic Basilica with a history dating back to the 16th century when Jesuit priests from Portugal brought the wooden statue of Mother Mary here. Standing on a hillock in Bandra at 80 metres above sea-level, the semi-Gothic facade is flanked by two 98 ft tall towers topped with crosses. The 4 corners of each tower has stone Corinthian columns.

The statue of Ave Maria is on a 7-step marble high altar in the Sanctum Santorum, while the low altar has a beautifully detailed marble relief depicting 'The Last Supper'. The walls of the nave have murals depicting events from the life of Mary. The church also holds a relic containing a drop of blood of St. Pope John Paul II.

According to a myth, the church has healing powers, and wax-figure candles representing illnesses are lit at the altar by patients in the hope of getting better. The church is best known among locals for its annual Bandra Fair in September that is held during the Octave following the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary.