Right in the heart of Mumbai, Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo, commonly known as Rani Bagh is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year. The BMC has approved a proposal to change the name of Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo, popularly known as Byculla Zoo or Rani Baug, by adding ‘Vanaspati’ or ‘Botanical’. This comes in the year when the garden is celebrating its160th anniversary….
History
Rani Bagh was the first grand public project undertaken by the British government after it took over the control of India from the East India Company, and the Palladian architecture of its monuments is one of its kind in Mumbai originally planned to be designed like Kew Botanical Garden, London
Rani Bagh was born in 1842, initially located in Sewri, the eastern suburb in central Mumbai, but the British government wanted that plot for a cemetery and offered 33 acres of land in Byculla. The plants were shifted to the new space on November 19, 1862, which was then known as Victoria Garden. In 1969 Victoria Gardens was renamed Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and later in 1980 the term ‘Zoo’ was officially added to its name.
Garden and Zoo
According to a tree census of the garden conducted in November 2016, the garden recorded 4,213 trees with 256 species belonging to 54 botanical families and the Zoo with most of wild animals, aviary and the latest attraction of Penguins is the most-visited park recording a footfall of over 8,000 per day on an average, and on holidays this goes up to 40,000.
In 2007, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced plans for a makeover of the Zoo. There was the threat that some trees would be lost forever in the makeover. The Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden Committee was formed to make sure that the renovation doesn’t destroy the garden The great floral diversity of Rani Bagh, its antiquity and heritage status and the inalienable fact that it is Mumbai’s most visited park are the most compelling reasons to preserve this city jewel. Later the demand to change the name of the garden and zoo to Botanical Garden was made by NGO Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden Foundation which is realized in the 160th year of the garden.
Green Treasure
The garden’s botanical wealth is astounding, with rare trees like Amherst nobilis (or Pride of Burma), Adansonia digitata (or Baobab), Colvillea racemosa (or Colville’s Glory), Ficus benghalensis variety krishnae (or Krishna’s butter cup) are the treasure of the garden.. Castanospermum australe and Strophanthus boivinii—are the only one of their kind in the city.
Among the many indigenous species, there is the Sundari or Heritiera littoralis, with its crisscrossing root system. A native of the Sunderbans which is found nowhere else in Maharashtra.
One of the star attractions of the garden is the Krishna fig, its cup-shaped leaves are associated with the Krishna, who is believed to hide butter with these leaves.
The plant Mumbai Sugran, Litsea fernadesii is endemic to Mumbai island, the Rani Bagh Sugran is now the sole surviving member of its species.
Wonder Architecture
Rani Bagh is also a wonder of built heritage. The imposing clock tower, a stately museum, an exquisite triple-arch screen, an outstanding plant conservatory, historical statues, a few old-world drinking fountains, and a bandstand. The overall plan is one of symmetry with fountains, small terraces, stairways, bridges, and artificial waterbodies.
As its 160th anniversary year draws to a close, there are hopes that it will be officially known as Veermata Jijabai Bhonsale Vanaspati Udyan va Pranisangrahalaya (V.J.B. Botanical Garden and Zoo). The trustees emphasise that having proved its ecological and egalitarian credentials in full measure over 160 years, the least it deserves is the honour of being called a botanical garden.
The botanical garden-cum-zoo serves as vital urban lungs that pump precious oxygen into the polluted skies of Mumbai. It is a must visit place to fill your lungs with fresh air which must be preserved and protected…
–Dr Siddhivinayak Barve
Editor, ScienceNow Digital
