Tour of Dharavi Slum

I had the pleasure of taking this tour with Yash as our guide and Sachit as our driver. Yash was fantastic company for the afternoon as he showed us around Dharavi where he lives and grew up. He is clearly known and respected here so it made us feel welcomed by everyone. Yash studied geopolitics and he brings a worldly perspective to this local experience. He gave us interesting insights into the local economy, lifestyle and politics and we learned a lot. Sachit was flexible to meet our driving needs and even helped us get from our hotel to our next destination after the tour. We appreciated the chance to learn about this city within a city with Yash, a fun and knowledgeable guide who will change your impression of what a slum is.

Our guide Yash and driver Santosh were awesome. They were really informative about the slum tour and about Indian history, food, and sports. On the way back from the tour we even stopped to get a cricket jersey I have been trying to get for 5 days. I think he made like 5 calls to make it happen. So thank you so much!! I would highly highly recommend the tour. It was perfectly safe and a great overall experience!

This tour is one we will not soon forget. Learning how these warm & friendly people live and work was an incredible experience. We were able to put a human face & story to the circumstances of those living in this vibrant neighborhood. While the differences in the way we live is remarkable, the commonalities we have also came flooding through. Like everyone, the people of Dharavi want to work and provide their families as everyone does. They go about the daily business of life like every does globally. Our guide Divya made this visit incredibly special. As a resident of this area, her insights into the industry and way of life here brought such color to this visit and made it all the more personal and profound. Her warmth and smile were infectious. She allowed us an up close and personal view into everyday life in the slum. We were able to watch and then taste the fresh chapati made daily for the workers, we enjoyed chai tea and warm Gulab jamun in a small cafe and were introduced to a fruit that was new to us - the ice apple! This was the total tour. The sights, smells, sounds and tastes of life in Dharavi. The highlight was a visit to Divya's home which she so graciously opened up to us. Divya then gave us her story and background of what it was like growing up, being schooled, living and working in this tight knit community. Hearing her insiders’ viewpoints made this a once in a lifetime opportunity. Our takeaway from this tour is that, while at first glance it may seem an undesirable place, it is also a place where beauty lives. This was evident by the warm greetings, waves and smiles of the residents we passed and met along the way. The children who welcomed us to join them in a game of Cricket. The young girl excitedly practicing her English with us. The young lady proud to show us her beautiful Henna design on her hands. We were left with an indelible impression of this colorful place. By the end of this tour Divya was no longer a guide, but a friend. She is the one who made this so much more than just a tour. But instead allowed us inside her life story. We are forever grateful and humbled to have had the experience of visiting Dharavi. 10 out of 10 and would absolutely recommend Divya and this tour to anyone visiting this magical place. Jim & Leslie Paterson