Page 465 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

MUMBAI  463

The Hanging Gardens, perched
at the top of Malabar Hills,
provide a pleasant open space
with views of the city.

u Banganga
Walkeshwar, Malabar Hill.
Hidden amidst the soaring
skyscrapers of Malabar Hill
is the small settlement of
Banganga, set around a sacred
tank. According to legend, Rama,
hero of the Ramayana (see p31),
pausing here while on his way The Mahalaxmi Temple, dedicated to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth
to rescue his abducted wife Sita,
shot an arrow into the ground coastal village. The low, tile-roofed washed away repeatedly. The
and a spring gushed forth. This cottages have timber eaves and contractor dreamt that if a
is the origin of the tank, and open verandahs with cast-iron temple was built to Laxmi, the
devotees take regular ritual dips balconies, the focal point for most wall would hold. Nearby is the
in it. The site has several temples daytime activities. The inhabitants Mahalaxmi Race Course, next
– the Jabreshwar Mahadev, at were converted to Christianity to Mahalaxmi Station, which
the tank’s corner, is the prettiest, by Portuguese missionaries has horse races every weekend
while the Walkeshwar Temple, and adopted names such as from November to April.
built in the 18th century, has a Fernandes, D’Costa and D’Lima.
linga said to have been built by
Rama himself. Around the tank p Haji Ali Mosque
and temples are rest houses o Mahalaxmi Off Lala Lajpat Rai Marg. Open daily.
(dharamsalas) for pilgrims. Temple
Approached by a long causeway,
Mahalaxmi Temple Lane, which gets submerged at high
off Bhulabhai Desai Rd. tide, is the dargah (tomb) of a
rich merchant, Haji Ali Shah
Devotees, both rich and poor, Bukhari, who gave up his wealth
throng this temple dedicated to after a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth The dargah dates to the 15th
and Prosperity, also known as century, but the dazzling white
Laxmi in Maharashtra and in mosque was built in the early
parts of Gujarat (see p422). One 20th century and seems to float
of the most famous temples in on its small island, off the coast
Mumbai, its approach is lined of Worli. The causeway, usually
with stalls selling offerings, such lined with beggars, leads to a
as coconuts, flowers and plastic huge marble courtyard. The
icons. The temple’s history dates tomb lies at its centre and
to the 18th century, when an devotees touch their heads to
embankment being constructed the heavily embroidered chador
along the bay was allegedly (ceremonial cloth) covering it.
Khotachiwadi’s narrow lanes and
balconied houses
i Khotachiwadi
Bounded by Jagannath Shankarshet
Rd & Raja Ram Mohan Roy Rd, Girgaum.
In the narrow bylanes of Girgaum
in central Mumbai is the old-
fashioned neighbourhood of
Khotachiwadi (literally,
“Headman’s Orchard”). It grew as
a suburban settlement, north of
the Fort, in the 19th century, and
retains the sleepy quality of a Haji Ali Mosque, built on an island linked to the shore by a causeway

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