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Mumbai Running Routes & Tips

Writer's picture: OwnerOwner
12 minutes ago4 min read

When & where to run in Mumbai


Even if you really love running outdoors—and I know few people in Mumbai do!—it can be challenging to find a good spot. In Mumbai, with it’s tropical climate and busy traffic, early mornings are definitely the best time of the day for running . Around 5-6 AM the temperature is usually at its lowest. The rest of the day is hot, no matter the time of year, and the humidity makes it feel even hotter. The best day to run is Sunday, when there’s little traffic. Saturday is second-best, but Sunday is much better.


There are only a few popular places to run in Mumbai, which seems weird in such an enormous city. The layout of the busy streets, the trash, and the multitude of shops and stalls on the sidewalks make it nearly impossible to run anywhere safely. Runners congregate almost exclusively in South Mumbai (Marine Drive), Bandra West, and around Juhu Beach. People run on the beach or use the roads that follow the coastline.


There are some neighborhoods further out that offer more opportunities for quiet and safe running: Thane, Navi, Andheri and Powai feature large parks and lakes that create natural spaces for outdoor running. These spots are easily recognisable on Google Maps, but they’re far away for me, so I only go there on weekends, usually for races. Also, Sanjay Gupta park has a few trails, but you have to have a “personalised park ID” to enter early and many of the trails slope steeply upwards.


Organized races = the way to go


From early August (when the monsoon ends) until March (when it gets hotter) there are many organised races in Mumbai (and other major Indian cities). These races are great for all levels of running, because they usually offer different distances (5K, 10K, sometimes 21K, and occasionally 42K). People with a wide variety of running ability join, so even though it’s a ‘race’ it’s not intimidating, and they’re affordable. I usually sign up 1-2 weeks in advance, pay 10-15 USD for the race kit, and sometimes come home with a (cash) prize.


Participating in organized races in Mumbai encourages a sense of community, because you see a lot of the same faces. These races are typically CSR events sponsored by major companies for charitable causes. Most importantly, organized races ensure a clear, relatively clean route with plenty of water stops. They’re also a good reason to wake up early, as they start around 6 AM. I’ve had a lot of fun with them, improved my timing, and managed to convince several friends to join. It doesn’t appeal to most people, but I keep promoting them so everyone can experience the adrenaline and satisfaction that comes with it.


Here are some of the races I completed in Mumbai 2022-2025. Bold means the event has over 5,000 participants.



Running clubs/trainers


There are running clubs in Mumbai, who tend to have kind, helpful members. I haven’t joined any of them due to my work schedule, but I’ve communicated with the Bombay Running club, which is a group of runners that gets together at least twice a week. I might be wrong, but I don’t think there are many clubs or tracks where you can practice. Generally, Mumbai is a place where people have “personal trainers.” Many of the runners that participate in races gush about their personal trainers on Instagram. Presumably, these trainers are easy to find.


The Bombay Hash


Another option I always explore in a new country is the presence of a Hash House Harriers group. As expected, Mumbai has one. The HHH are a fun, though perhaps aging/shrinking, group of people who get together to walk and drink beer. In some places, there’s actual running involved. In many others though, like in Mumbai, the members mostly walk, and it’s really more about the social aspect. I only joined the Mumbai HHH once and ran with two of the younger members. I had every intention of returning, even if it’s mostly about the post-run fun, but the once-a-month timing just didn’t work out with my schedule. Maybe next country!


BKC: My training ground


Ultimately, I end up running primarily in my neighborhood (BKC), despite the pollution and traffic-related challenges. I go on the treadmill when the AQI is through the roof. In BKC, there is only one mile-long stretch where I can run without being interrupted by traffic, but only in the early morning or after 7 PM. Instead of fighting it, I just accepted it. I mean, it’s easy to come up with excuses not too run—it’s much more interesting to overcome obstacles and do it anyway.


What NOT to do


  • Don’t run between approx. 8AM and 6:30PM. There’s too much traffic and it’s just way too humid and hot!

  • Don’t run anywhere cars can go fast—they just might run you over.

  • Be careful around street dogs. Mumbai street dogs are usually not aggressive, but especially in the dark they can be scary.

  • Don’t worry about what people might think or practice extreme situational awareness: in three years of running the streets in Mumbai, I’ve never had a negative experience with people.

  • Avoid crowded slums because they’re hard to get through and they’re grim (and the dogs are scarier there, too)


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