A green, serene space right in the middle of a bustling city, the Hanging Gardens of Mumbai is a terrace garden perched on the western side of the Malabar Hill. With a history of over 138 years, it stands as a popular spot where Mumbaikars come to spend a few moments in the cradle of nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the ever-buzzing city. The park offers outstanding sunset views of the Arabian Sea, making it a favorite evening hangout spot for travelers. If you are planning to book your hotels in Mumbai for a leisure trip, include this attraction in your itinerary and soak in its unbridled beauty.
Looking for more details about this heritage garden in Mumbai? Here’s everything you should know including the history, timings, entry fee, things to do, and the main attractions of the Hanging Gardens of Mumbai.
The Hanging Gardens, Mumbai Information:
Location | Malabar Hill, Mumbai |
Type | Terraced gardens |
Also Known as | Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens |
Timings | 5:00 am to 9:00 pm; every day |
Entry Fee | Free |
Still/Video Camera | Free |
Nearest Metro Station | Girgaon Metro Station |
Established in | 1881 |
Designed by | Ulhas Ghapokar |
Dedicated to | Pherozeshah Mehta |
The Hanging Gardens, Mumbai: History
The Hanging Gardens, one of the most relaxing places to visit in Mumbai, dates back to 1881. This century-old garden was designed and laid out by Ulhas Ghapokar over the main water reservoir of Mumbai. It is believed that the garden was designed to serve a deeper purpose than just being a beautiful space for relaxation. It was created to protect the city’s drinking water from getting contaminated from the activities taking place at the nearby Tower of Silence, a funerary tower where the Parsis or Zoroastrians left the dead bodies of their community members for excarnation as per their tradition.
The garden was officially named as the Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens in honor of Pherozeshah Mehta, a well-known lawyer, social activist, and politician. He was also known as the Lion of Bombay. In 1920, the garden was renovated and revamped to enhance its beauty and several attractions were also added over the last few decades.
The Hanging Gardens, Mumbai: Today
Today, the Hanging Gardens serves as a sprawling green space in Mumbai, a city that doesn’t have such places, parks, and gardens in abundance. It is a great spot for joggers and morning walkers to start their day on a fresh note. For the tiny tots, the garden is a lovely place to run and play around.
Over the years, this place has also turned into a major tourist attraction and a picnic spot. It is also frequented by shutterbugs who want to capture some stunning shots of the sun setting over the majestic Arabian Sea. More than anything else, the Hanging Gardens is a place where you can be close to nature, surrounded by greenery.
The garden is located right opposite Kamla Nehru Park, another major tourist attraction in Mumbai. The park is part of the Hanging Gardens Complex and travelers often combine these two attractions in one trip.
Main Attractions at the Hanging Gardens, Mumbai
As a green space that spreads over a vast area of land, the Hanging Gardens of Mumbai has several attractions within it, including:
- A sundial made of marble and placed on an upright concrete slab
- An attractive flower clock situated in the middle of the garden
- Pramod Navalkar Viewing Gallery from where you can catch great views of Marine Drive, Chowpatty, and Mumbai Harbor (next to Kamla Nehru Park)
Lesser-known Facts about the Hanging Gardens, Mumbai
- When viewed from above, you will be able to see the letters PMG in cursive writing in the garden. These letters stand for Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens.
Attractions near the Hanging Gardens, Mumbai
- Kamla Nehru Park (450 m)
- Haji Ali Dargah (2.6 km)
- Marine Drive (4.2 km)
- Nehru Planetarium (5.1 km)
- Chowpatty Beach (5.3 km)
- Crawford Market (5.3 km)
- Jehangir Art Gallery (6.6 km)
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (6.6 km)
- Elephanta Caves(7.1 km)
- Gateway of India(7.2 km)
- Colaba Causeway (7.6 km)
- Worli Fort (8.3 km)
- Siddhivinayak Temple (8.7 km)
Whether you are visiting Mumbai alone, with your special one, friends or family, a visit to the Hanging Gardens is a must. Also, if you are a shutterbug, you will get lots of opportunities to click some amazing shots. So, go ahead and enjoy some time in this heritage garden in Mumbai.