AERIAL VIEW OF SOUTH MUMBAI FROM MALABAR HILL – MUMBAI

There are not many points of view in Bombay that allow you to appreciate the city the way Malabar
Hill does. Sure, if you live in one of the high-rises, all you have to do is look out the window, but your
view will probably be blocked by an adjacent building. A hundred years ago, there were no skyscrapers;
and with few obstructions, the horizon stretch further into the distance. One didn’t have to go to the
shoreline; the glittering waters of the Arabian Sea could be seen even from afar. And at night, the
Queen’s Necklace (Marine Drive) would shimmer like jewels and the grand structures of the Taj Mahal
Hotel and Victoria Terminus would be lit up in all their imposing glory.
From Malabar Hill one could, and still can, see the famous beach, Chowpatty. The name is actually Chaupati (four channels or four creeks) as per the Bombay City Gazetteer, I.27.
Malabar Hill is a hillock in South Bombay. Situated at a height of 50 metres (165 feet), it is the highest
point in southern part of the city. It offers one an unhindered view of Back Bay, Girgaum Chowpatty
beach and the Nariman point skyline, which makes the real estate prices in this area unaffordable to
the common man. This upmarket residential area is home to several business tycoons, politicians and
celebrities. Located here is Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor, and the bungalow Varsha,
the official residence of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
There are several parks in the area: The Hanging Gardens, Kamala Nehru Park and Priyadarshini Park are
popular picnic spots. However, buses began to ply here only after World War II. Also located in Malabar
Hill is the Banganga Tank; attached to the Walkeshwar Temple, it is the oldest standing structure in the
city. A Jain temple dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara and the Parsi Tower of Silence are two
other religious structures in this district.