Flora Fountain in Mumbai
Location:It is located in the Fort 'business' district of South Bombay.
Significance:
Flora Fountain is a stone fountain in South Mumbai that was inspired from Flora, the Roman Goddess of Flowers. It has a magnificent statue of Flora, the Roman Goddess of Flowers on top. It is surrounded by huge and impressive colonial buildings on all the sides. It is now counted one of the heritage structures of the city.
What it is Famous for?
Also known as Hutatma Chowk, Flora Fountain has been acknowledged as a heritage configuration that continues to soothe the passers-by with its spray of water. Surrounded by grand colonial buildings, the fountain still symbolizes the royal times. In short terms, Flora Fountain is city's famous milestone that definitely deserves a visit.
The fountain today is located just at the point where once the original Church Gate of Bombay Fort stood. Flora Fountain is near to a number of interesting places where one can travel around and spend some time. A chief center of commercial activities, Fountain is near a building that houses all the major banks along with the country's premier stock exchange, Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
History related to it:
In 1864, it was constructed by the Agri-Horticultural society of Western India to commemorate the memory of those martyrs who laid their lives in the formation of Maharashtra State. It was carefully designed by R. Norman Shaw. The Flora Fountain was raised by the Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India when Cursetjee Fardoonjee Parekh donated Rs.20,000 for its construction. And then crafted out of imported Portland stone, Flora Fountain was erected at a total sum of Rs. 47,000. Today, this glorious fountain has been coated with white oil paint. Primarily, it was intended to be named after Sir Bartle Frere, who was the governor of Bombay at the time of its construction. Nonetheless, it was decided to change the name just before its inauguration.
How To Reach the fountain?
As a well-known sight in South Mumbai, Flora Fountain is easily reached from across the city. One can arrive at the spot by air, train and road. Once in the city, one can get in local train, buses or taxis too to reach the fountain area.
By Air :
The domestic terminal at Santa Cruz is at the distance of 25km from downtown Mumbai. The Sahar International Airport is 30km north of the city's center. All the terminals are well connected with taxis or cabs and other transport services.
By Rail/Train :
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal is the main railway station along with Bombay Central, Churchgate, Dadar and Kurla, which are the other prominent railway stations.
By Road :
Most of the long distance buses leave from the State Transport Terminal situated opposite Mumbai's Central Railway Station.