Horniman Circle Gardens

The Horniman Circle Gardens is a large park in South Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, which encompasses an area of 1.01 hectares (2.5 acres).

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.

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.

At the centre of it was a statue of Governor General Lord Cornwallis, enclosed in a structure resembling a temple, which was installed through the effort of Bombay's residents, in 1822.

The new circle was created North of the previous Bombay Green, aligned with the Town Hall, and the Churchgate Street.

The Asiatic Society of Mumbai building (Town Hall) overlooks the Horniman Circle Gardens and the Reserve Bank of India.

The area before development in 1767. Spot the St.Thomas' Church in the centre.
View of Bombay Green from the Cathedral, looking towards the Town Hall . Notice the offset alignment
The gardens, then called Elphinstone Circle, in the 1870s.