While exploring the old structures, buildings and constructions in the city of Mumbai you definitely need to visit the Flora Fountain Mumbai. This structure is more than 150 years old and is one of the heritage structures in the city as well. This is basically a water fountain that reflects beautiful carved architecture. The architectural style of this structure is one of the things that attracts visitors here. So if you are in Mumbai you definitely need to visit this beautiful structure here. You can check out the Flora Fountain photos and you would know how marvelous this structure looks. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about the Flora Mountain. This will be a helpful article for you if you are planning a trip to this location.
Flora Fountain Mumbai
Where is Flora Fountain?
Veer Nariman Road, Kala Ghoda, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Timings: Open all day throughout the week
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport to reach the Flora Fountain Mumbai is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. From the airport Flora Fountain is located at a distance of 20.7 km. You can easily reach there in about an hour from the airport. To reach the location you can either take a cab or take buses as well.
By train
The nearest major railway stations to reach Flora Fountain Mumbai are Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Mumbai Central railway stations. From the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus the Flora Fountain is located at a distance of 900 meters. You can easily reach the location from the railway station in about 4 minutes. You can even walk up to the Flora Fountain to reach there in about 15 minutes from the railway station. Another major railway station near the Flora Fountain is the Mumbai Central Railway Station. From the Mumbai Central railway station the location of Flora Fountain is 5.5 km away. It would take around 25 minutes to reach the location from the railway station. You can take a cab or take a bus to reach the Flora Fountain from the railway station.
By road
If you are travelling from major cities you will get private as well as state run buses to reach here. Buses are also available from locations like Pune and Nagpur. From Pune the distance is 154 km and it would take around 3 hours to reach there. The nearest bus stop to reach here is the Mumbai Central Bus Depot which is located at a distance of 5 km away from the Flora Fountain.
Best time to visit
The ideal time to visit a location like Flora Fountain would be during the cooler months. During the time from October to March the weather remains most favourable and it is the ideal time to explore the location comfortably as well. So if you are planning a visit here try to visit during these months to enjoy this location to its best. Also try to avoid visiting during the scorching summer months. The heat and the humidity during this time would make it hard for you to explore the area well. And if we talk about the ideal time of the day for a visit to the Flora Fountain, then the evening hours would be the perfect time. This would be the best time to enjoy the illuminated gleaming look of the fountain. So try to visit here in the evening.
Overview of Flora Fountain
The Flora Fountain Mumbai is a beautiful architectural marvel located amidst the business hub of Mumbai. This is also one of the popular sightseeing spots that you can visit in the city of Mumbai. This beautiful structure is one of the many artistic constructions and a heritage structure as well. Basically this is a collection of sculptures that reflects the finest carvings. On all the four corners, the Flora Fountain has different statues. And there is also a basin below which the figures of lions and fishes surround.
The main part is the statue of Roman Goddess Flora who crowns the top of the fountain. That is why this structure is called the Flora Fountain. This is one of the most spectacular architecture in the city. However during the evening time the Flora Fountain looks even more beautiful when it is illuminated. So if you are visiting here try to visit during the evening time to enjoy the best view of this location. The Flora Fountain area is also popular for the book market located there. So if you are visiting there you can even explore that too.
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Flora Fountain History
Till the year of 1860, Mumbai, which was then Bombay, was basically a walled city. It had a total of three gates, the Church Gate, Apollo Gate and the Bazaar Gate. Later the then Governor of Bombay, Sir Bartle Frere ordered the take down of those gates to extend the city. In 1864 the Flora Fountain Mumbai was built on the location where earlier the Church Gate used to stand. The Agri Horticultural Society of Western India constructed this beautiful architectural structure. During the time of its construction, the total cost of building this structure was Rs. 47, 000. Out of the whole money Seth Cursetjee Fardoonji Parekh donated a sum of Rs. 20, 000 for this construction.
Flora Fountain is basically a beautiful Water Fountain. Earlier it was called the Frere Fountain as the fountain was dedicated to Bartle Frere. But before the inauguration itself, the name changed to the Flora Fountain and the whole area itself later became popular as the Flora Fountain area. The Flora Fountain Mumbai was officially opened for public visit in 1869.
There is yet another structure near the fountain which was built in 1960. It is a stone structure where patriots are holding torches and the structure commemorates the loss of the lives of 105 people who died while fighting for a separate state of Maharashtra. To honour the dead people the area also got renamed as the Hutatma Chowk or the Martyrs Chowk. In 2016 this structure underwent some renovations and by 2019 finally the work was completed.
Architecture of Flora Fountain
Designer R. Norman Shaw is the person who outlined the structure of the Flora Fountain. This structure reflects a beautiful mix of Neo Gothic and the Indo Saracenic styles of architecture. This sculpture is made out of Portland stone. On top of it there is a coat of white oil paint as well. Also on each corner there are different statues on all the four sides. And on the lower part of the fountain you will find a water basin. There you will see four fishes and twenty heads of lions. Engineer James Forsythe sculpted this beautiful water fountain according to the designs. The highlight point of this fountain is the statue of Roman Goddess Flora and she adorns the top of the mountain. The statue is 7 feet high and on the basis of this statue the fountain got its name as the Flora Mountain.
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Things to do at Flora Fountain
1. You definitely need to admire the beauty of this beautiful structure here. During the evening the whole ambiance of the area becomes even more beautiful. So if you are visiting in the evening the surroundings here would look prettier.
2. If you are visiting here then you also need to explore the Flora Fountain Book Street. This book market is one of the major attractions of this area. If you are someone who loves books then this would be like a paradise for you to visit. From academic books to novels, fiction to non-fiction and literature to poetry you will get all sorts of books here. So make sure you are definitely exploring this book market.
3. Do visit the nearby historic locations as well. There are many notable locations nearby like Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Asiatic Society, St. Thomas Cathedral etc. So do explore and visit these areas as well.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all you needed to know about Flora Fountain Mumbai. Now you just need to plan a visit to this beautiful location. It would take about an hour for you to explore the whole structure. So even if you have little time in hand you can plan a visit to Flora Fountain. Let me know when you are planning a trip to this location in Mumbai. Also do not forget to let me know if this particular article is helpful for you in planning a trip to this fountain.
