Malabar Hill

Welcome to Malabar Hill, the highest point in South Mumbai and its most elite residential enclave. As a scholar of history and urban planning, I see Malabar Hill as a unique palimpsest where spiritual antiquity, colonial legacy,…

We begin our exploration at the top of the hill in Kamala Nehru Park and the adjacent Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, popularly known as the Hanging Gardens. Established in 1881, these gardens are not 'hanging' in the Babylonian…

Descending toward the western edge of the hill, we encounter the Banganga Tank, one of the oldest inhabited places in Mumbai. This sacred reservoir was built between 810 and 1214 CE by the Silhara dynasty. …

A recent addition to Malabar Hill is the 'Elevated Nature Trail,' often called a 'Singapore-style forest walk.' This 500-meter-long bridge (1 kilometer round trip) takes you through the canopy of the forest that clings to the…

No tour of Malabar Hill is complete without a walk along Altamount Road, also known as 'Billionaire’s Row.' This is arguably the 'richest street in Mumbai' and perhaps the world by concentration of wealth. The most famous…

Tucked away in a 54-acre forest on Malabar Hill is the Doongerwadi, or the Tower of Silence. This is a deeply 'sacred and private' place for the Parsi community, followers of the Zoroastrian religion. …

Our final stop on the hill is the Pramod Navalkar Viewing Gallery. This 'very nice viewpoint' offers a 'panoramic view' of the entire southern part of Mumbai. …

As we conclude our journey across Malabar Hill, I hope you have gained an appreciation for the 'endless depths' of this 'vibrant city.' We have climbed from the 'ancient freshwater springs' of Banganga to the 'modern sky-high…