Hanging Garden

Hanging Gardens (the historic 1881 terraced botanical garden officially named Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens sitting high on the Malabar Hill water reservoir) in South Mumbai (celebrated globally across colonial landscape architecture, urban horticulture, and Arabian Sea sunset viewpoints as Mumbai's most iconic hilltop garden terrace), world famous for its animal shaped bush topiaries, the central giant floral clock, sunset viewing pavilions overlooking Back Bay, and an intensely refreshing, deeply tranquil coastal garden atmosphere), located on the crest of Malabar Hill in Mumbai in Maharashtra, stands as Mumbai's premier botanical heritage garden.

Ingeniously laid out in 1881 over the massive subterranean municipal water reservoir that supplies filtered drinking water to South Mumbai, this lush terraced park provides city dwellers an oasis of tranquility.

It's the home of artistic hedge topiaries carved into the shapes of elephants, peacocks, horses, and giraffes, the functioning mechanical floral clock surrounded by blooming marigolds and petunias, wide stone paved jogging pathways shaded by ashoka and banyan trees, and an intensely peaceful, deeply calming park ambiance filled with sea breezes from the Arabian coast, the scent of fresh cut grass, and golden sunset rays illuminating Back Bay.

It represents a rich Maharashtra civic garden heritage apex, Victorian engineering, and coastal urban tourism where manicured hedges, Kamala Nehru Park viewpoints, Marine Drive sea walls, and Mumbai travel circuits unite in Hanging Gardens.

Located along BG Kher Marg on Malabar Hill directly facing Kamala Nehru Park, it sits 4 km from CSMT, 2.5 km from Grant Road and Charni Road Stations, 20 km from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), 1 km from Banganga Tank, 1.5 km from Babulnath Temple, and 3 km from Marine Drive, easily reached by taxi, bus, or local train.

The Reservoir Engineering & Animal Topiaries

Constructed in 1881 on top of three massive water reservoirs holding over 30 million gallons of freshwater, the garden was designed to protect the municipal water supply from external contamination.

Gardeners sculpt hedges into animal forms including grazing elephants, leaping horses, and peacocks, while the operational floral clock at the center features living flowering plants on its dial.

Truth is, strolling along the western promenade as the sun dips into the Arabian Sea while cool evening breezes rustle the palms will give you a timeless Mumbai memory.

Arabian Sea Sunsets & Kamala Nehru Park

Sunset Promenade: The western edge of the gardens offers stepped seating terraces and gazebos where hundreds gather each evening to watch orange sunsets over the open sea.

Kamala Nehru Park Synergy: Directly across the street sits Kamala Nehru Park, famous for the Old Woman's Shoe and elevated panoramas over the Queen's Necklace curve of Marine Drive.

Hanging Gardens & Malabar Hill Day Plan

The Malabar Hill Green & Cultural Trail: Early morning walk along the tree lined avenues of Hanging Gardens (7:00 AM to 8:30 AM: view animal topiaries & mechanical floral clock) -> cross the road to Kamala Nehru Park for children's boot house and Queen's Necklace photography (8:45 AM to 10:00 AM) -> walk down to 12th century Banganga Tank and Babu Amichand Panalal Jain Temple (10:15 AM to 12:15 PM) -> coastal lunch in Chowpatty -> explore Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum in Gamdevi (2:00 PM to 3:45 PM) -> return to Hanging Gardens sunset viewpoint or walk along Marine Drive promenade (5:00 PM to 7:30 PM).

Visiting Code & Conduct: Please do not walk across manicured hedge sculptures or pluck flowers; use paved walking paths; the park is an eco sensitive zone with strict anti littering rules.

After exploring the lush terraces of Hanging Gardens, visit Kamala Nehru Park, explore Banganga Tank, or tour Marine Drive.