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Walkeshwar | |
|---|---|
Neighbourhood | |
 View of the Walkeshwar Teertha at Banganga | |
  Walkeshwar | |
| Coordinates:18°56′51″N72°47′45″E / 18.9475964°N 72.7959574°E /18.9475964; 72.7959574 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Maharashtra |
| District | Mumbai City |
| City | Mumbai |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (MCGM) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Marathi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 400006[1] |
| Area code | 022 |
| Vehicle registration | MH 01 |
| Civic agency | BMC |
Walkeshwar (Pronunciation:[ʋaːɭkeʃʋəɾ]) is an affluent area inSouth Mumbai, India, at the north-western end of theMarine Drive loop. It has a large Gujarati population. It is mostly known forWalkeshwar Temple,Banganga Tank andJain temples.
Walkeshwar takes its name after LordShiva, one part of theTrinity ofHinduism. The modern form of the word derives from theSanskrit word for an idol made of sand -Valuka Iswar,[2] an avatar of Shiva - in a legend celebrated at theWalkeshwar Temple, situated at the highest point of the city.[3]
Legend has it thatHindu god,Ram paused at that spot on his way fromAyodhya toLanka in pursuit of the demon king,Ravana who had kidnapped his wife,Sita. ThenLord Rama was advised to worshipShiv linga and he is said to have constructed the originallinga of sand, after getting tired of waiting for his brother,Lakshman to bring an idol. The name is etymologically derived from theSanskrit word for an idol made of sand --Valuka Iswar, anAvatar ofShiva.
As the story progresses, later when Ram was thirsty, as there was no fresh water readily available (only sea water), he shot an arrow and broughtGanges over here. HenceBana (arrow in Sanskrit)Ganges. The water that feeds the tank stems from an underground spring at that spot, despite its proximity to the sea.
Walkeshwar also includesMalabar Hill, and is close to theHanging Gardens.Raj Bhavan, the official residence of thegovernor of Maharashtra, has the maximum number of Gulmohur trees thus making a pretty site in the season is located here besides some of the most expensive neighbourhoods in the whole country, prices ranging from Rs 92,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per square foot (approximately $US1656–1800 per square foot), which can be compared to residential luxury apartments in the US. It probably has the most expensive real estate in the whole of India. It has a lot of prime residential buildings in the area. Most of the buildings are sea facing and the location has lot of natural character. The sea is very calm here as it is the bay area. There is also aJain temple, near the Malabar Hill Police Station.
Kamala Nehru Park, named after the wife of PM Jawaharlal Nehru, is one of the oldest parks in Mumbai, a verdant oasis in the city. Its extent appears to be shoe-like so it is also known as Shoe Park.[citation needed]
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