Haji Ali Dargah

Haji Ali Dargah, the mausoleum of the famous Muslim Saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, is situated on the islet about 500 yards from the Worli, Mumbai coastline in the Arabian Sea off Lala Lajpatrai Marg.
The whole edifice including the white-colored dome and minarets portrays the Indo-Muslim or Mughal architecture. Built amidst the sprawling 4,500 sq. m. picturesque surroundings, Haji Ali Dargah comprises a Masjid, the tomb of the Sufi saint Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, a Qawwal Khana, and a three-story sanatorium. A 700-yard long walkway connects the Dargah to the shore.

The visitors will feel thrilled as the waves from the Arabian Sea lap against the walkway, as there are no railings on either side. When the tides are high, the whole causeway gets submerged underwater. During this period, the mausoleum appears to float on the water with no connection to the mainland.

The Dargah Sharif adorned in pristine white color on the outside stands in the middle of the marble laid central courtyard. Inside the Sharif lies the mausoleum of Haji Ali draped in an elaborately woven exquisite rug, mostly in red, green and golden colors (chaddar) and intricately designed zari cloth. The tomb is enclosed on all sides by silver fame and is flanked by eight marble pillars supporting the crown at the top.

The marble ceiling of the main hall is decked with multi-hued mirrors forming patterns and inscribed with 99 names of Allah. Verses from Quran Sharief are also engraved on the ceilings and walls of the main hall. Three prayer halls encircle the main hall on East, West, and South sides, of which East hall is reserved for men and West hall for women to say their prayers.

Approximately 10 -20 thousand people of all religions, faiths, and regions visit the Dargah to seek the blessing of the legendary saint. The numbers increase considerably during Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Lakhs of devotees visit it on the 2nd day of Ramadan and Bakrid Eid. People believe that their desires get fulfilled and wishes granted by the grace of the Saint.

History:
Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, a 15th century Sufi Saint, was a rich businessman from Uzbekistan, who relinquished his materialistic wealth, before undertaking the spiritual tour to Mecca. A story doing rounds is that Haji Ali felt troubled after making the earth spew the spilled oil back to a poor lady and left for India to spend his remnant life teaching and spreading Islam in India.

In honor of his death wish to bury his body, where it surfaces after dropping his shroud (kafan) in the Sea, his followers built his tomb in the Worli Bay in the middle of the Arabian Sea, where it resurfaced. The early Dargah along with the mosque was built in the year 1431.

After the Haji Ali Dargah Trust took over the management in 1916, the structure underwent a series of renovations and new additions. A three-story sanatorium was commissioned in the complex in 1980, along with an entrance gate. 1964 saw a lot of redecorations and reinstallations carried out on the Mosque and Dargah. The pathway that connects to the Masjid got re-laid in 1990. The memorial thus came to occupy 5000 sq. m. after all the restorations.