5/5 Pankaj D. 3 years ago on Google
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
office
complexes
housing
the
country's
premier
banks.
Designed
to
be
a
large
open
space
with
grand
buildings
in
the
middle
of
the
walled
city,
the
area
had
been
known
as Bombay
Green in
the
18th
century,
while
the
area
around
it
was
called
Elphinstone
Circle.
Following
India's independence in
1947,
the
area
was
renamed
in
honour
of Benjamin
Horniman,
editor
of The
Bombay
Chronicle newspaper,
who
supported
Indian
independence.
The
building
was
begun
in
1821
and
not
completed
for
twelve
years.
In
1842,
the
area
had
been
just
a
dump
of coconut shells
and
debris.
The
Police
Commissioner,
Charles
Forjett,
thought
of
converting
the
Green
into
a
circle
surrounded
by
buildings.
He
was
supported
by
governors Lord
Elphinstone and Sir
Bartle
Frère.
The
garden
was
planned
in
1869
and
completed
in
1872
with
well
laid
out
walkways
and
trees
planted
all
around.
The
whole
complex
was
then
renamed Elphinstone
Circle after
the
Governor, Lord
John
Elphinstone. An
ornamental
fountain
was
placed
in
the
centre,
but
it
was
replaced
by
a
modern art
deco iron
pipes
design.
The
park
was
a
favourite
social
venue
of
the Parsi community.
In
the
pre-independence
era,
a
band
used
to
perform
there
every
evening.
The Asiatic
Society
of
Bombay overlooks
the
Horniman
Circle
Gardens
and
the
Reserve
Bank
of
India.
Close
by
(on
Veer
Nariman
Road)
is St.
Thomas
Cathedral,
the
first
Anglican
church
in
Mumbai,
completed
in
1718.
Horniman
Circle
hosts
the
annual Sufi and
mystic
music
festival, Ruhaniyat.
It
is
also
one
of
the
venues
of
the Kala
Ghoda
Arts
Festival when
several
music
and
dance
concerts
are
held
at
the
park.
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