If you’re planning on visiting Mumbai one of the must-see places are the hanging gardens. Being one of the popular tourist places in Mumbai, thousands of people flock there every year. Mumbai is a fast-moving city as the quality of life is both great and not really, at the same time.
In conditions like that, a little greenery goes a long way in calming the mind- of which there aren’t many spots in the city. Hanging gardens, thus, makes a popular tourist place in Mumbai but it’s not just the tourists that visit it often. Many locals will be seen there on weekends and holidays.
Hanging Gardens were built in 1880 in memory of its barrister Pherozeshah Mehta, which is why these gardens are also known as Pherozeshah Mehta Garden. The gardens use terrace-style plantation on grass thus the word “Hanging” in their name. They became popular for the serene green surroundings and animal-shaped sculpted hedges.
They’re located in the Malabar Hills area of Mumbai. They had to be renovated and major maintenance and upgrades were done to the place in 1921. The flower clock at the center of the gardens is a place of peace and calm for the busy south-west Mumbaikers.
The rapid development of the area, South Mumbai, in particular, has left few places like the Hanging Gardens. At least, the places that are still around and not turned into concrete meshes of corporate slave-lands. It is the perfect getaway from the mind-numbing long work hours of the week.
As a sort of a tradition for over a century now, people have been taking walks, jogging, running, and breathing in the fresh air in the gardens. The grass swaying in the wind and intertwined paths through the trees form the most accommodating environment for relaxing.
Some lesser known facts about Hanging Gardens, Mumbai
The garden wasn’t always the popular tourist population in Mumbai that it’s now. The gardens were dedicated to a prominent Parsi political leader and built in his name. Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens was the name that was adopted for it before Hanging Gardens.
They were designed by Ulhas Ghapokar. The gardens are said to have been built over one of Mumbai’s main water reservoirs to protect it from getting polluted. This fact is further validated by the presence of the nearby towers of silence.
Pherozeshah Mehta was named the Lion of Bombay for his activism and contributions to society. The hanging gardens are a symbol of his contribution to society as a barrister, activist, and leader. He served as the President of Bombay Municipality for four distinct terms (1884, 1885, 1905 and 1911) and as the president of the Indian National Congress in 1890.
An attraction at the gardens is the Old Woman’s Shoe. Or the Shoe house. This brick and cement structure is made in the image of a Boot. It houses a slide and children visiting the park can climb it, slide and play.
The view of the open expanse of the Arabian Sea and the horizon is particularly underrepresented. It is one of the highlights of the park. Sunsets can be enjoyed at the end of dusk and the beginning of the night by the salty sea winds gushing through the gardens. It makes for one of the most beautiful experiences one can get out of Mumbai.
The gardens are close to the Kamla Nehru Park, another hotspot for taking a break from the busy work schedules of the Mumbaikers. The few pockets of green in Mumbai have their own rich history behind them, all of them are helping the air quality stay stable. The long walks at the gardens make some interesting conversations happen.
Things to try at the Hanging Gardens
There are plenty of opportunities to watch nature in action at the park. There are birds and all kinds of rare insects that can be observed in the park. The exploration of nature and a green setting is perhaps one of the largest appeals of the location.
Other than that, as mentioned above- The majestic horizon of the Arabian Sea. The Old woman’s shoe and the flower clock at the center make for good attractions to visit and have a swell time at the gardens.