Explore Bandra through this night crawl to learn new aspects of the neighbourhood

Participants decipher a clue during a previous night crawl session. PICS COURTESY/DABOMBAES

While one could argue that any evening spent navigating the never-ending maze of coffee shops and boutique sneaker stores is no less than a scavenger hunt, a group will take the idea a step further this weekend, setting out after dark for a nocturnal treasure hunt. City-based community DaBombaes and Bengaluru-based wellness collective Sisters-in-Sweat are calling for eagle-eyed Mumbaikars to put their thinking caps on.

The certificate features a 1764 map of the region of present day Mumbai and it suburbs, drawn by JN Bellin

"Nightlife in Bandra doesn't stop at bars," say founders Mohit Bhatia and Puja Vora. Their treasure hunt is designed to get participants to look beyond the neighbourhood's usual haunts and discover its hidden cultural spots, local history and lesser-known corners. Over 90 minutes, participants will be divided into teams and ferried around Bandra in autorickshaws arranged specially for the hunt, rather than trekking from one clue to the next (phew!).

While the duo wishes to keep the locations and clues confidential to steer clear of spoilers, they assure us that the clues are easy, and will feature a mix of history, pop culture, and local know-how. "You don't have to be a historian, or know the city inside out before you sign up. Solo players are welcome too, and we'll sort them into groups,"
say the founders.

Players are all smiles after cracking the treasure hunt

Win or lose, participants get to take home a little piece of old Bombay. Their certificates feature Jacques-Nicolas Bellin's 1764 map of the region that now forms Mumbai and its suburbs, offering a glimpse of the city before it grew into the megapolis we know today. The map marks out villages including Cayman, Mayen, Colay, and Bandura. The duo assures us that if the Bandra edition proves a hit, it won't be the last. The team is already back at the drawing board, scouting for the next neighbourhood to turn into a playground of riddles and clues. Any guesses?

ON September 5; 9.30 pm
MEETING POINT Revealed on registration
LOG ON TO @dabombaes
ENTRY Rs 1800 (includes post-game refreshments)