[1] It lies atop Bhandarwada hill, behind the Dockyard Road railway station, at an altitude of 32 metres (105 ft) and offers a panoramic view of the Mumbai harbour and the southern business district of the city.

It was originally named after John Hay Grant, the Municipal Commissioner of Bombay (1877–1881), who built the public garden spread over 1.5 acres (0.6 ha) above a water reservoir between 1880–1884.

After the British arrived in Bombay in the 1660s, they selected Bhandarwala Hill, a basalt rocky outcrop as a site for the Mazagon Fort, that was built in 1680.

However, the fort was completely razed by Siddi ruler Yakut Khan after he withdrew his siege on the orders of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb.

[1] Local residents however are upset over the plans for the makeover, and have claimed that the BMC have uprooted trees, thrown away wrought iron gates.