Home to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Vile Parle is one of Mumbai’s many outer suburbs. For most travellers, the district is a convenient base for long layovers. It’s home to a string of airport hotels, located just a few minutes from Chhatrapati Shivaji International. Choose from luxe chain hotels or budget-friendly guesthouses.

Beyond the Shivaji International Airport, Vile Parle hosts a colourful calendar of cultural events, from festivals to theatrical performances. Downtown Vile Parle is known for its cheap and cheerful food joints, loved by local students. The district is also home to the world’s first Parle-G factory. According to the company, it’s the biggest selling brand of biscuits on the planet.

Vile Parle is serviced by its own railway station, offering services to the Mumbai city centre and beyond. Vile Parle station is a short 15-minute drive to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, which makes it eternally popular with travellers. To the Mumbai waterfront and the trendy Colaba neighbourhood, the drive from Vile Parle takes around one hour.

While today Vile Parle houses Mumbai’s international airport and a busy railway station, it wasn’t always so modern. Its name is derived from a pair of ancient temples, Virleshwar and Parleshwar. Over time the temples crumbled, giving way to the modern Vile Parle district that exists today.