Horniman Circle Gardens Mumbai
  • ByAdmin
  • Thu Mar 1708473600
Horniman Circle Gardens Mumbai

General Information About Horniman Circle Gardens Mumbai:

  • Location: Fort District, South Mumbai
  • Attractions: Well laid-out walkways
  • Specialty :Well laid out walk ways with tall buildings encircling the Garden

More Information About Horniman Circle Gardens Mumbai:

In South Mumbai, Horniman Circle Gardens represent a green territory amidst the soaring buildings. This large park sprawls in an area of 10,101 sq m, in the Fort district. It is encircled by the office complexes lodging the leading banks of India. Horniman Circle Garden overlooks the prominent landmark of the city, the Asiatic Society of Bombay. Designed on the lines of London’s Park Crescent, the garden has a neoclassical porch, with a small park, well planned walkways and rows of trees. Horniman Circle Gardens is a huge park of Mumbai, which sprawls over an area of 10.101 sq m. It is located in the Fort District of South Mumbai. The park is situated amidst premier banks and was initially known as Bombay Greens. Horniman Circle Garden dates back to the 18th Century, when it was laid down with the purpose of providing an open space to the locals living in the walled city area. Since the garden has been planted with trees of every season; it blossoms with lush greenery throughout the year. Horniman Circle Gardens in Mumbai is a mega park in the Fort District of South Mumbai. Encompassing an area of 10.101 sq meters, the Horniman Circle Gardens is surrounded by premier banks. Primarily known as Bombay Greens in the 18th Century, Horniman Circle Gardens was meant to be an open space in the middle of the Walled city. With well laid out walkways, the Bombay Greens had trees planted all around. Later the whole complex was renamed as Elphinstone Circle after the then Governor, Lord Elphinstone.

This area was called Bombay Greens till the 18th century. Intended to be a large town square, with impressive structures, in the heart of the walled city, Bombay Greens was renamed Elphinstone Circle after Lord Elphinstone, the Governor in those times. As per the chronological accounts, the region became a landfill of coconut shells and garbage by the year 1842. Thanks to Charles Forjett, a Police Commissioner, he thought of renovating the greens into a circle bounded by buildings. Beautifully constructed and meticulously planned sidewalks surround it from all the sides. Horniman Circle Garden was renamed for the first time when it was given the name of Elphinstone Circle, after Lord Elphinstone (the then Governor). With time, the condition of the garden deteriorated and it started becoming a ground for dumping debris. It was only at the hands of Charles Forjett, the then Police Commissioner, that efforts were put in to restore the long-lost glory of the Horniman Circle Gardens. In the late 19th Century the condition of the park became atrocious and appeared as the dumping ground for the debris. However, the then Police Commissioner Charles Forjett resurrected the circle with active support from governors Lord Mountstuart Elphinstone and Sir Bartle Frère. By 1872, the Garden gained a new and captivating look. It was renamed after India’s Independence in 1947 into Horniman Circle Gardens, after Benjamin Horniman, a pro-freedom editor of the Bombay Chronicle.The Horniman Circle Gardens is a large park in South Mumbai, India which encompasses an area of 12,081 square yards (10,101 m²). It is situated in the Fort district of Mumbai, and is surrounded by offices complexes housing the country’s premier banks. The area was initially known as Bombay Greens in the 18th century. It was originally meant to be a large open space with grand buildings in the middle of the walled city. It had well laid out walkways and had trees planted all around. Later, the whole complex was named Elphinstone Circle after the then Governor, Lord Elphinstone. Located in the affluent section of the Fort District in South Mumbai, the Horniman Circle Gardens resemble an emerald in the midst of a concrete jungle. The gardens provide respite to the many office-goers of the area, lined with office complexes housing the most successful banks of India. The Horniman Circle Gardens have been built in close resemblance to London’s famous Park Crescent. A small park, neatly constructed walkways and a string of trees are all part of the Horniman Circle Gardens; however a stylish porch built in a neo-classical design and a lively ornate fountain are its high-points.For the purpose, he gathered support from other people too, like Lord Mountstuart Elphinstone and Sir Bartle Frère. With the arrival of the year 1872, the garden was completely overhauled and given a new look altogether. However, its name continued to be Elphinstone Circle only. The name ‘Horniman Circle Gardens’ was accorded to the garden after India’s independence. It was named as such in the honor of Benjamin Horniman, a pro-freedom editor of the Bombay Chronicle. Lord Elphinstone and Sir Bartle Frère, the Governors, supported the idea of Charles. In 1869, the restoration work was started and it was completed in 1872. The garden was festooned by an ornamental fountain that was located in its heart. Later, deco iron pipes design, a piece of modern art replaced the fountain. After country’s independence in 1947, the area was christened Horniman Circle Gardens after Benjamin Horniman, who was a pro-freedom editor of the ‘Bombay Chronicle’.In the pre-independence era, the garden was a preferred hangout of the Parsi community. Every evening, a band used to perform there. One of the most dynamic urban design settlements in Mumbai, Horniman Circle gardens has numerous novel structures from the British Colonial period. Nowadays, the laudable works of restoration by Horniman Circle Garden Trust and Horniman Circle Association are maintaining this vestige of the former times. A replica of London’s Park Crescent, the Horniman Circle has the neoclassical colonnade that faces a small park, flanked by the Historic Asiatic Society Library. Consisting of a circular ensemble of buildings, the Horniman Circle Gardens is one among the most dynamic urban design settlements in Mumbai with pioneering structures from British Colonial era. Years of neglect since 1947 caused deep damage to this historic landmark of Mumbai. However, with an active citizen initiative, the Horniman Circle Gardens saw another phase of restoration. Today the Horniman Circle Garden Trust and the Horniman Circle Association are making some praiseworthy works of restoration of this colonial vestige. The garden has been designed keeping in mind the Park Crescent of London. The neoclassical arcade of Horniman Circle Gardens is situated bang opposite a small park. Apart from a park, the complex comprises of a Historic Asiatic Society Library also. There is a circular assembly of buildings in the park, adding to its splendor. The design and architecture of the garden, along with the buildings situated within its premises, remind one of the colonial era. Presently, Horniman Circle Garden is being managed by the Horniman Circle Garden Trust.

How to Reach Horniman Circle Gardens Mumbai:

One can easily reach Horniman Circle Gardens by boarding buses or trains, or by hiring autos or taxis from the city. Board a local or hire a taxi/auto or bus.