Banganga

Banganga
Location: Walkeshwar Temple, Malabar Hill
Attraction: Banganga Festival
How to Reach: One can easily reach Banganga by boarding buses or trains, or by hiring autos or taxis from the city.


Banganga, which once had been a gorge, is today present in the form of a water tank in the Malabar Hill area of Mumbai. To be found in the complex of Walkeshwar Temple, this tank has a mythological legend behind its emergence. In the 12th century, the temple is believed to have been built by the rulers of the Silhara dynasty. Banganga Tank was reconstructed in 1715 with the donation made by Rama Kamath. The tank is a rectangular pool bounded by steps on all four sides.

Every year in the month of February, the tank is cleaned up for the Banganga Music Festival of Maharashtra. According to the legend, Lord Rama - the exiled hero of the Ramayana, took halt at the point while looking for his wife - Sita, about five thousand years ago. As he felt thirsty, he asked Lakshman (Rama's brother) to get him some water. At once, Lakshman shot an arrow in the ground and fresh water gushed out.

It is believed that Banganga is the tributary of the pious river, Ganga, which flows at a distance of over thousand miles. The place was called Banganga because Ban suggests an arrow and Ganga refers to the Ganges. Whatever is the story or legend, the reverence for the holy waters of Banganga is never questioned. It is worshipped by people with great respect. At religious events, people in large numbers come to take a holy dip in the mossy waters and make offerings.