Quick answer: Taraporewala Aquarium on Marine Drive, opened in 1951, is one of India’s oldest public aquariums, but it is closed to visitors. According to a July 2026 report in the Free Press Journal, it shut during the Covid-19 pandemic and has not reopened; the building was declared structurally unsafe in 2022, and the Maharashtra government plans to replace it with a new aquarium. There are no current visiting hours or ticket prices. Check with the Maharashtra Department of Fisheries before planning a visit.
Taraporewala Aquarium at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road (Marine Drive), near Charni Road, South Mumbai |
| Status (October 2026) | Closed; redevelopment planned |
| Opened | 1951 |
| Run by | Department of Fisheries, Government of Maharashtra |
| Timings and entry fee | Not applicable while closed |
Is Taraporewala Aquarium open?
No. An earlier version of this article listed opening hours (10 am to 8 pm, closed Mondays) and ticket prices from ₹30 to ₹200, plus photography charges. Those details applied before the closure and are no longer valid. Some travel and map websites still show old timings, so do not rely on them.
The Free Press Journal reported on 14 July 2026 that the aquarium closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and has stayed shut since. It was declared structurally unsafe in 2022, after which the state government began planning a complete redevelopment. Earlier news reports quoted the state’s fisheries commissioner as saying the old structure would be dismantled and a new aquarium built in its place.
The redevelopment plan
In the same July 2026 interview, Maharashtra’s Ports Development and Fisheries Minister, Nitesh Rane, described the plan:
- an estimated cost of about ₹900 crore, with ₹400 crore from the state and about ₹500 crore from a private partner;
- a new building on the Marine Drive waterfront, with two floors reserved for the Department of Fisheries;
- around 38,000 fish and new visitor experiences, including scuba diving;
- an international consultant on the project, with a groundbreaking ceremony (bhoomipujan) expected by around October 2026.
No completion date has been announced. These are plans, not a confirmed timetable, so check for news before you travel.
History of Taraporewala Aquarium
The aquarium opened in 1951 and was inaugurated by Dr Rajendra Prasad, India’s first President. It cost about ₹8 lakh to build. The Parsi philanthropist D. B. Taraporewala donated ₹2 lakh towards construction, and the aquarium is named after him.
The aquarium displayed both sea-water and freshwater fish in a building facing the Arabian Sea.
The 2015 renovation
The aquarium was closed for a major renovation and reopened on 3 March 2015. The work cost about ₹22 crore, roughly ₹7.5 crore for the aquariums and ₹16.5 crore for building work by the Public Works Department. The renovated aquarium added a 12-foot acrylic glass tunnel that visitors walked through, coral-reef and exotic fish tanks with LED lighting, and a touch pool for children. This is the version of the aquarium most visitors remember, and it was in use until the pandemic closure.
An earlier version of this article described the tunnel as giving a 360-degree view; published descriptions give it as a 180-degree tunnel. Earlier counts of species and tanks have also been removed, as we could not verify them.
Things to do near Taraporewala Aquarium
The aquarium site sits on one of Mumbai’s best-known stretches of seafront, and there is plenty to see nearby even while it is closed:
- Walk along Marine Drive, the curving seafront promenade, especially at sunset.
- Head north to Girgaon Chowpatty, the beach at the end of Marine Drive known for its street food.
- Climb to the Hanging Gardens on Malabar Hill for views over the bay.
- Visit the Babulnath Temple, an old Shiva temple on a hillock above Chowpatty.
Where to see marine life in Mumbai while it is closed
The Taraporewala site has no displays open at present. For an outing with children in the area, Marine Drive and Girgaon Chowpatty remain the main attractions. Families looking for animals can also consider the Byculla zoo (Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan); check its current timings and fees before you go.
How to reach the aquarium site
- Suburban rail: Charni Road station on the Western line is the closest.
- Metro: Mumbai Metro Line 3 (the Aqua Line) has a station at Girgaon, inland from Marine Drive.
- By road: The aquarium building is on the Marine Drive seafront road, reachable by taxi from anywhere in South Mumbai.
Frequently asked questions
Is Taraporewala Aquarium open in 2026?
No. As of October 2026 it remains closed. It shut during the Covid-19 pandemic, was declared structurally unsafe in 2022, and is due to be redeveloped.
When will the new Taraporewala Aquarium open?
No opening date has been announced. In July 2026, the state fisheries minister said a groundbreaking ceremony was likely by around October 2026 for a project estimated at about ₹900 crore.
Who built Taraporewala Aquarium?
It was built in 1951 at a cost of about ₹8 lakh, with ₹2 lakh donated by the Parsi philanthropist D. B. Taraporewala, after whom it is named. President Rajendra Prasad inaugurated it.
What was the entry fee for Taraporewala Aquarium?
The earlier version of this article listed ₹60 for adults, with higher rates for foreign visitors and extra charges for cameras. Those prices no longer apply, and the new aquarium’s prices have not been announced.
Status and history checked in October 2026 against Free Press Journal reporting from July 2026, the Maharashtra fisheries minister’s published statements and published records of the aquarium. Plans can change, so check for the latest news before visiting.
