View source for Horniman Circle Gardens

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox park
| name          = Horniman Circle Gardens
| alt_name      =
| image         = Mumbai, giardini di horniman circle, 03.jpg
| image_size    = 
| image_alt     = 
| image_caption = Horniman Circle Gardens in 2019
| type          = Municipal Park
| location      = [[Mumbai]], India
| coordinates   = {{Coord|18|55|55.5|N|72|50|4.04|E|type:landmark_region:IN_scale:100|display=inline}}
| mapframe = yes
| area          = {{convert|2.5|acre|2}}
| created       = {{Start date and age|1872|df=yes}}
| operator      = 
| status           = Closed for restoration
| publictransit    = {{rint|mumbai|suburban}} [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus]]; [[Churchgate railway station|Churchgate]]
}}
[[File:Bombay Green, 1767.jpg|thumb|The area before development in 1767. Spot the [[St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai|St.Thomas' Church]] in the centre.]][[File:Panorama - From the Cathedral, Bombay. No. 5. Across old Bombay Green (12674819783).jpg|thumb|View of Bombay Green from the Cathedral, looking towards the [[Asiatic Society of Mumbai Town Hall|Town Hall]]. Notice the offset alignment]][[File:Elphinstone Circle, Bombay in the 1870s (2).jpg|thumb|The gardens, then called Elphinstone Circle, in the 1870s.]]
The '''Horniman Circle Gardens''' is a large park in [[South Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]], which encompasses an area of {{cvt|1.01|hectare|acre}}. 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, later Elphinstone Circle. Following India's [[Indian independence movement|independence]] in 1947, the area was renamed in honour of [[B. G. Horniman|Benjamin Horniman]], editor of ''[[The Bombay Chronicle]]'' newspaper, who supported Indian independence.

==History==
The Horniman Circle was preceded by a vast circular expanse of land, called the Bombay Green. In 1842, the area had been just a dump of coconut shells and debris. It was described as a swamp during monsoon, and a 'receptacle' of rocks in 'fine weather'.  

The Green was very popular among the residents of Bombay. It was said that no part within the walls of the fort was so jealously guarded as the Green. A report from 11 April 1852 affirms this; A petition was sent by the residents of the city to the  Court of Directors at London, against the erection of any building on Bombay Green. A copy of this petition was sent to "every firm or individual that knew Bombay". James Douglas, in his book [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.529160/page/n482/mode/1up?q=Green ''Bombay And Western India'' ,1893] writes about the scene at night: [[Palkhi|Palkhees]], would be spread wide over the green, and 'hamals' would sing their 'see-saw' songs in a joyous night.<ref>{{Cite book |last=James Douglas |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.529160/page/n482/mode/1up?q=Green |title=Bombay And Western India Vol 1 |date=1893}}</ref> The vast expanse of land would be referred to as 'Chowk' by the natives, probably due to its central location in the fort township. 

At the centre of it was a statue of Governor General [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|Lord Cornwallis]], enclosed in a structure resembling a temple, which was installed through the effort of Bombay's residents, in 1822. It cost £5000. On its right and left were situated statues of Wisdom and Integrity. It was being put up on 14 October 1824.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Douglas |first=James |url=https://archive.org/details/glimpsesofoldbom00dougrich/page/81/mode/1up?view=theater&q=Green |title=Glimpses of old Bombay and western India, with other papers |date=1900 |publisher=London : S. Low, Marston |others=University of California Libraries}}</ref> A small courtyard surrounded it, and trees were planted along all its four sides. It was fenced by heavy metal chains. Owing to a misconception, the statue was worshiped by the poor, and the laborers, a practice which the government would try to stop.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Māḍagã̄vakara |first=Govinda Nārāyaṇa |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Govind_Narayan_s_Mumbai/50Hmdwd_bigC?q=Mahim+station&gbpv=1#f=false |title=Govind Narayan's Mumbai: An Urban Biography from 1863 |date=2008 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-1-84331-305-2 |pages=130 |language=en}}</ref> The statue would later be removed, and were found to be inside the Elphinstone Circle, along with a statue of Marquis Wellesley (which formerly located close to the former Churchgate) in 1895.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Douglas |first=James |url=https://archive.org/details/glimpsesofoldbom00dougrich/page/81/mode/1up?view=theater&q=Green |title=Glimpses of old Bombay and western India, with other papers |date=1900 |publisher=London : S. Low, Marston |others=University of California Libraries}}</ref> Both the statues presently lie in the premises outside [[Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum|Bhau Daji Lad Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=pedalandtringtring |date=2021-03-20 |title=IF STATUES COULD SPEAK? |url=https://pedalandtringtring.com/2021/03/20/if-statues-could-speak/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=Pedal And Tring Tring |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Police Commissioner, Charles Forjett, thought of converting the Green into a circle surrounded by buildings. He was supported by governors [[John Elphinstone, 13th Lord Elphinstone|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Horniman Circle Gardens |url=https://www.mumbai.org.uk/parks-gardens/horniman-circle-gardens.html |website=Mumbai Commercial Capital of India |access-date=28 March 2020}}</ref> An ornamental fountain was placed in the centre, but it was replaced by a modern [[art deco]] iron pipes design. The new circle was created North of the previous Bombay Green, aligned with the [[Asiatic Society of Mumbai Town Hall|Town Hall]], and the Churchgate Street.

The [[The Asiatic Society of Mumbai|Asiatic Society of Mumbai]] building (Town Hall) overlooks the Horniman Circle Gardens and the Reserve Bank of India. Close by, in Nariman Street is [[St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai|St. Thomas Cathedral]], the first [[Anglican church]] in Mumbai, completed in 1718.

==Events==
Horniman Circle hosts the annual [[Sufi]] and mystic music festival, [[Ruhaniyat - The All India Sufi & Mystic Music Festival|Ruhaniyat]].<ref name="dna">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1134476|title=Sufis to regale this weekend|date=21 November 2007|publisher=DNA Express|access-date=2009-02-09}}</ref> It is also one of the venues of the [[Kala Ghoda Arts Festival]] when several music and dance concerts are held at the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caferati.com/kgaf/events |title=Kala Ghoda Gazette |access-date=2009-02-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131182905/http://www.caferati.com/kgaf/events |archive-date=31 January 2009 }}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Bombay Green.jpg|Bombay Green,1751
File:The Town Hall and part of Elphinstone Circle Gardens.jpg|The [[The Asiatic Society of Mumbai Town Hall|Town Hall]] and part of Horniman Circle Gardens, c. 1905
File:KITLV 92017 - Unknown - Elphinstone Circle in Bombay in India - Around 1860.tif|Horniman Circle, ca. 1860
File:Bombay Green (c. 1860s).jpg|Bombay Green (c. 1860s)
File:Old Bombay Green (12675742934).jpg|Bombay Green, looking towards the [[St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai|St. Thomas' Cathedral]]
File:Town Hall Bombay & Cotton Green - before Elphinstone Circle was built. (12488176425).jpg|Town Hall Bombay & Cotton Green - before Elphinstone Circle was built. (12488176425)
File:TimesOf Buildings.jpg|[[The Times of India|Times of India]] Buildings, corner of Horniman Circle), ca. 1880
File:The BSE Bull, and the Common Man Sculptures near Horniman Circle, Mumbai.jpg|The [[Bombay Stock Exchange|BSE]] Bull, and the Common Man Sculptures near Horniman Circle
File:Resting Place, and Pyau- Beside Horniman Circle.jpg|Resting Place, and Pyau beside Horniman Circle
File:Pyau at Horniman Circle.jpg|Pyau at Horniman Circle
File:Plaque of the Resting place near Horniman Circle Pyau.jpg|Plaque of the Resting place near Horniman Circle Pyau
</gallery>
==References==

{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Kamala Ganesh, Usha Thakkar and Gita Chadha. eds., ''Zero Point Bombay: In and Around Horniman Circle,'' Lotus Collection, Roli Books (2008) {{ISBN|978-81-7436-659-7}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Horniman Circle}}
* [http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/e/019pho0000002s3u00008000.html Elphinstone Circle, Bombay, 1870] [[British Library]]
{{Tourist attractions in Mumbai}}
{{Mumbai topics}}

{{Coord|18|55|55|N|72|50|6|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Parks in Mumbai]]
[[Category:1872 establishments in India]]