Victoria Gardens, now named Jijamata Udyan, is the oldest public garden in Mumbai.
The area is also known as Byculla Zoo but there are many other attractions such as the one I had come to see, the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum www.bdlmuseum.org.
My map here.
Opened in 1872, the museum was intended as a showcase for the decorative and industrial arts. Once known as the Victoria and Albert Museum, it remains the oldest museum in Mumbai.
My principal reason for coming was to see the building itself which is stunning.
I can’t say I was that blown away by the actual exhibits, but there were a few nice objects that caught my eye.
Click on the gallery to go to a slideshow.
Out in the garden are several statues of establishment figures from the British era. Many of them are missing their heads or noses as a result of vandalisation by Indian nationalists after the annoucement of independence.
Other sights in the garden include the David Sassoon clock tower.
I would like to go back to find the ancient statue of the elephant taken from Elephanta Island (my post here) which is located to the east of the museum.
For more Victoriana, see my post on Victorian Gothic architecture.
Moving up into north Mumbai next…